Expansion Thread 2026

[Lobot]

Is it not against NCAA rules about gambling? It seems like the entire LSU leadership is in violation.

They found a loophole by having a 3rd party involved. The LSU leadership is absolutely trash from the admin to the state government. Corrupt all the way. This is the state that gave us Huey Long after all.

I should probably point out that the capital group that did this for them, also has money on South Carolina on Kalshi. I'm unsure whether SC had knowledge of that

[bearcatbret]

A little more info on what's up here with LSU. LSU apparently took insurance out against Lane Kiffin's possible national championship bonus in case he wins the whole thing. The insurance company than turned around and hedged against paying the insurance by betting money on LSU not winning the whole thing on the prediction market Kalshi.

Is it not against NCAA rules about gambling? It seems like the entire LSU leadership is in violation.

[Lobot]

A little more info on what's up here with LSU. LSU apparently took insurance out against Lane Kiffin's possible national championship bonus in case he wins the whole thing. The insurance company than turned around and hedged against paying the insurance by betting money on LSU not winning the whole thing on the prediction market Kalshi.

[Lobot]

Anti-expansion.

The SEC is meeting to discuss expelling LSU from the conference. This probably won't happen but I think they're trying to get state government's attention here. Lot of La. political meddling going on with the university

[Lobot]

Not so much expansion but a rebrand. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has decided not to be confused with the MAC anymore and has rebranded to the Metro Conference. Seems familiar..lol

[Lobot]

Happy July 1. The PAC-12 is an 8 team league again

[bearcatbret]

How the Big 12 is falling behind in revenue:
Why Big 12 revenue gains aren’t translating to payouts

[bearcatbret]

I'd say that the NCAA should allow them to play in post season if they qualify. Heck, they are allowing pay to play and all of the other nonsense. Let the little guy have a chance.

[swilsonsp4]

From social media: PFSN CFB ·

Follow
17h ·
North Dakota State won 10 FCS national championships since 2011, produced three first-round NFL draft picks, and compiled a 9-5 record against FBS opponents. No program has ever dominated the FCS the way the Bison did for over a decade. N
ow NDSU is making the jump to the Mountain West starting this July, and athletic director Matt Larsen is petitioning the NCAA to waive the two-year postseason ban that currently blocks the Bison from bowls, the conference title game, and the College Football Playoff until 2028. The Mountain West is backing the appeal.
Larsen called the rule "antiquated," arguing that the transfer portal and other industry changes have fundamentally changed how fast programs can build competitive rosters. Delaware and Missouri State both reached bowls in their first FBS season last year.
James Madison went 11-1 during its own transition in 2023, got denied the same waiver twice, then reached the College Football Playoff two years later once the ban expired. Critics point to that exact timeline as proof the system works.
NDSU also enters FBS spending roughly $7.5 million on football, well below the Mountain West average of roughly $15 million.
If the Bison go undefeated in 2026 and can't compete for a playoff spot, the NCAA faces a PR disaster. If the waiver gets granted, every future transitioning program will expect identical treatment.

They'll need to spend a whole lot more than $7.5M now. FCS schools have been limited to 63 scholarships. They're going to need funding for a heck of a lot more depth for an FBS schedule.

[bearcatbret]

From social media: PFSN CFB ·

Follow
17h ·
North Dakota State won 10 FCS national championships since 2011, produced three first-round NFL draft picks, and compiled a 9-5 record against FBS opponents. No program has ever dominated the FCS the way the Bison did for over a decade. N
ow NDSU is making the jump to the Mountain West starting this July, and athletic director Matt Larsen is petitioning the NCAA to waive the two-year postseason ban that currently blocks the Bison from bowls, the conference title game, and the College Football Playoff until 2028. The Mountain West is backing the appeal.
Larsen called the rule "antiquated," arguing that the transfer portal and other industry changes have fundamentally changed how fast programs can build competitive rosters. Delaware and Missouri State both reached bowls in their first FBS season last year.
James Madison went 11-1 during its own transition in 2023, got denied the same waiver twice, then reached the College Football Playoff two years later once the ban expired. Critics point to that exact timeline as proof the system works.
NDSU also enters FBS spending roughly $7.5 million on football, well below the Mountain West average of roughly $15 million.
If the Bison go undefeated in 2026 and can't compete for a playoff spot, the NCAA faces a PR disaster. If the waiver gets granted, every future transitioning program will expect identical treatment.

[Illuminerdski]

Geographically, this makes no sense.

Agreed. I remember when UMass joined and there was chatter of it extending travel for existing members. This blows that out of the water.

[bearcatbret]

Geographically, this makes no sense.

[True Bearcat]

Sacramento State is Macaction!

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47933760/mac-add-sacramento-state-football-only-member

[swilsonsp4]

Sacramento State and the MAC are in discussions.

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-foo...183507211.html

Sac State is rolling in booster bucks. Some big-name backers out there, and they want out of FCS/Big Sky. They pushed to join the reconstituted P12 & MWC but were turned aside. They appealed to the NCAA to allow them to move up to FBS as an independent and, once again, were shot down. [The NCAA requires all new FBS teams to be in a conference.] Who knows who else might have said, "no thanks". The American and C-USA at least have members West of the Mississippi. With NIU moving their football program to the MWC, the nearest school to Sac State would be in Muncie.

[True Bearcat]

Sacramento State and the MAC are in discussions.

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/sources-mac-nearing-vote-on-adding-sacramento-state-to-league-as-football-only-member-183507211.html