It's official, UMass has accepted an invitation to join the MAC.

Mid-American Conference official release:

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/2/2...ember.aspx

UMass official release:

https://umassathletics.com/news/2024/2/2...ull-member

This was the best move they could make for sure. I applaud the UMass PTB for finally making a move like every other transitional school has ever made in the history of transition football programs

I think WKU makes sense as they have solid basketball tradition and are footprint adjacent. Stony Brook would make sense as well as Long Island doesn't have a team and SBU is the sister school to UB. Plus, they plant a flag in a giant media market which I'm assuming features a lot of UMass and MAC alumni.

Just when they set up a decent football schedule rotation they abandon it. UGH

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2023/11/30/23...ng-in-2024

(02-29-2024 03:48 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  Just when they set up a decent football schedule rotation they abandon it. UGH

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2023/11/30/23...ng-in-2024

No news has been forthcoming that they will abandon the scheduling groups. One presumes that UMass joins the Buffalo, Kent State, Akron group. If WKU joins, they likely join the Ohio, Miami, Ball State group.

Massachusetts Athletics

MAC

Men's: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Swimming & Diving, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field

Women's: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field

Non-MAC

Current
Men's Ice Hockey: Hockey East
> Other MAC Schools: Bowling Green St (CCHA), Miami OH (NCHC), Western Michigan (NCHC)
Men's Lacrosse: A-10
> Other MAC Schools: none
Men's Soccer: A-10
> Other MAC Schools: Akron (Big East), Bowling Green St (MVC), Northern Illinois (MVC), Western Michigan (MVC)
Women's Rowing: A-10
> Other MAC Schools: Eastern Michigan (CAA)

The only sport the MAC might consider adding is men's soccer. I have doubts because Akron is the "jewel" and is in the Big East. I doubt they'll want to be in a MAC-centered conference. Below are other men's soccer programs as affiliates in 2024 if the MAC were serious about adding the sport:

Possible Interest
Delaware (CUSA > CAA)
Howard (MEAC > NEC)
Liberty (CUSA > OVC)

No Interest
Air Force (MWC > WAC)
Central Florida (XII > Sun Belt)
Florida International (CUSA > AAC)
Houston Christian (Southland > OVC)
Incarnate Word (Southland > OVC)
Kentucky (SEC > Sun Belt)
Oregon St (PAC > WCC)
Sacramento St (Big Sky > Big West)
San Diego St (MWC > WAC)
San Jose St (MWC > WAC)
South Carolina (SEC > Sun Belt)
UNLV (MWC > WAC)
West Virginia (XII > Sun Belt)

I think that you'll see UMass men's soccer in America East and UMass men's lacrosse in the CAA.

(02-29-2024 04:39 PM)mainejeff Wrote:  I think that you'll see UMass men's soccer in America East and UMass men's lacrosse in the CAA.

The A10 may keep us for lacrosse simply because they'd have to stop sponsoring the sport otherwise.

(02-29-2024 03:33 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  It's official, UMass has accepted an invitation to join the MAC.

Mid-American Conference official release:

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/2/2...ember.aspx

UMass official release:

https://umassathletics.com/hidden/news/2...ull-member

You second lin to umassathletics.com does not redirect; i.e., not working. fyi.

(02-29-2024 04:56 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 03:33 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  It's official, UMass has accepted an invitation to join the MAC.

Mid-American Conference official release:

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/2/2...ember.aspx

UMass official release:

https://umassathletics.com/hidden/news/2...ull-member

You second lin to umassathletics.com does not redirect; i.e., not working. fyi.

It seems to randomly have the word "hidden" in the url.

https://umassathletics.com/news/2024/2/2...ull-member

(02-29-2024 03:57 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 03:48 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  Just when they set up a decent football schedule rotation they abandon it. UGH

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2023/11/30/23...ng-in-2024

No news has been forthcoming that they will abandon the scheduling groups. One presumes that UMass joins the Buffalo, Kent State, Akron group. If WKU joins, they likely join the Ohio, Miami, Ball State group.

I'm hopeful if WKU joins, they slide into the Miami/Ohio pod and Ball St. slides over to the NIU/Toledo/BG pod

(02-29-2024 04:56 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 03:33 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  It's official, UMass has accepted an invitation to join the MAC.

Mid-American Conference official release:

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/2/2...ember.aspx

UMass official release:

https://umassathletics.com/hidden/news/2...ull-member

You second lin to umassathletics.com does not redirect; i.e., not working. fyi.

I went to the UMass athletics site, the press release link there also hit the fail to redirect.

(02-29-2024 05:14 PM)e-parade Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 04:56 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 03:33 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  It's official, UMass has accepted an invitation to join the MAC.

Mid-American Conference official release:

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/2/2...ember.aspx

UMass official release:

https://umassathletics.com/hidden/news/2...ull-member

You second lin to umassathletics.com does not redirect; i.e., not working. fyi.

It seems to randomly have the word "hidden" in the url.

https://umassathletics.com/news/2024/2/2...ull-member

Tnx,

(02-29-2024 04:41 PM)e-parade Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 04:39 PM)mainejeff Wrote:  I think that you'll see UMass men's soccer in America East and UMass men's lacrosse in the CAA.

The A10 may keep us for lacrosse simply because they'd have to stop sponsoring the sport otherwise.

Or maybe UMass can switch places with Delaware...

I fixed the link in the OP and linked it below as well:

https://umassathletics.com/news/2024/2/2...ull-member

(02-29-2024 04:39 PM)mainejeff Wrote:  I think that you'll see UMass men's soccer in America East and UMass men's lacrosse in the CAA.

At 8, America East soccer is not as lean as some, but it's leaner than the MAAC or CAA, both at 11.

At least it seems like it would be easy on the travel budget.

(02-29-2024 03:33 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  It's official, UMass has accepted an invitation to join the MAC.

Mid-American Conference official release:

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/2/2...ember.aspx

UMass official release:

https://umassathletics.com/news/2024/2/2...ull-member

Western Kentucky and the C-USA are now on the clock.

(02-29-2024 05:19 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 03:57 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 03:48 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  Just when they set up a decent football schedule rotation they abandon it. UGH

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2023/11/30/23...ng-in-2024

No news has been forthcoming that they will abandon the scheduling groups. One presumes that UMass joins the Buffalo, Kent State, Akron group. If WKU joins, they likely join the Ohio, Miami, Ball State group.

I'm hopeful if WKU joins, they slide into the Miami/Ohio pod and Ball St. slides over to the NIU/Toledo/BG pod

What do you have against having Ball State in an Ohio / Miami / WKU / Ball State group?

I'm thinking bg, wmu, & niu soccer will be quite content in the mvc and not that keen on returning to a patchwork mac soccer league which had a lot of turnover of affiliates.

(02-29-2024 08:38 PM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  I'm thinking bg, wmu, & niu soccer will be quite content in the mvc and not that keen on returning to a patchwork mac soccer league which had a lot of turnover of affiliates.

You'd think that all three would like the Chicagoland and St. Louis soccer recruiting grounds. And as a non-FB conference, soccer is one of the required 3 men's team sports for the MVC, so there is no risk of being cast adrift again because your conference drops soccer.

(02-29-2024 07:11 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 03:33 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  It's official, UMass has accepted an invitation to join the MAC.

Mid-American Conference official release:

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/2/2...ember.aspx

UMass official release:

https://umassathletics.com/news/2024/2/2...ull-member

Western Kentucky and the C-USA are now on the clock.

Why?

Minimum number of schools is like 8. We have 11. All good.