(11-03-2015 07:26 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  New Mexico blocks New Mexico State from joining.
Eastern Washington might be a great add.

New Mexico was fighting for NMSU instead of SJSU. NM won't block NMSU out from the MW.

(11-03-2015 04:52 PM)Aztec Since 88 Wrote:  Hawaiians love football so I don't ever see them dropping football. As it was stated earlier I could see HI going Indy in football an leaving their Olympic sports in the Big West where they already are. Going independent gives the advantage of not paying travel subsidies to MW schools when they play on the island, which about is about 175K per game, I think. Teams who play on the Island also get a 13th game exemption, where the can schedule an extra game usually at home for more gate/concession revenue. This why I Think HI can sign a fair amount of home v home with P5 schools.

The challenge of those P5 schools all wanting to play those H&H games in the first half of the season remains, though ... getting home games in the second half of the season would still involve extra work, which would seem likely to include travel subsidies ... or a scheduling agreement with a conference, which could well also include an agreed to travel subsidy.

And AFAIU, under the CFP system, Hawaii should be getting $1m via the MWC from the $1m/school tier of the Go5 payout, so $1m-700,000 is $300,000, so they are still a net beneficiary from being in the MWC, even with the travel subsidy.

It is nice trip for alumni and get an extra home game the year they travel to HI. Also, if HI does become bowl eligible more often than not they will play in HI bowl, so the don't need a conference for a bowl tie in. I could see many MW schools still playing HI anyway. SDSU, UNLV, Fresno and Boise all would probably continue some sort of scheduling agreement.
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There's no chance of UH going indy. Due to the final week of the season having been taken over by conference championship games, UH opponents who play a 13th game (other than those in the Big 12 or Sun Belt) have to sacrifice their bye week, and so the 13th game exemption is no longer attractive. As a result UH is finding it much more difficult than in the past to arrange OOC games. The challenge of filling out a full schedule, especially late season home games, would be much more daunting.

Also as BruceMcF points out, UH is receiving CFP money as a result of being in the MWC which significantly exceeds the travel subsidies it pays to conference members. That's income the program can't afford to give up.