https://x.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/2103458475674358027
Possible reason to add sac st for more sports?

"Despite overtures from those schools – including $30-$40 million offer from Miami – sources said league not expanding at this time"

Schools can dream all they want.

Of Miami (Ohio), James Madison & UConn really only UConn brings value media market wise.

Full and Football Members
Army West Point (Football only)
East Carolina University (Pirates)
Florida Atlantic University (FAU Owls)
University of Memphis (Tigers)
U.S. Naval Academy (Navy Midshipmen - Football only)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte 49ers)
University of North Texas (Mean Green)
Rice University (Owls)
University of South Florida (USF Bulls)
Temple University (Owls)
University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA Roadrunners)
Tulane University (Green Wave)
University of Tulsa (Golden Hurricane)

Well cincy is the 37th largest tv market

Wow, that's pretty embarrassing to be rejected after trying to buy your way into a conference for 40 million.

My guess is they'll look at the Sunbelt now. Wouldn't be surprised to see Miami and Ohio in the Sunbelt in the next couple years which will start a domino effect. I could see the American maybe taking Buffalo or Toledo (or even UMASS if they continue to improve).

Well clearly the MAC has a problem. NIU left, Miami wants out. The question is how does Steinbrecher address this. Ii would reach out to Miami today and ask what theu want. I would also be seeking top fcs programs and other schools we discussed in the past, wku, South Dakota, Montanas to help strengthen the MAC and add stability

(09-25-2026 08:10 AM)cmufanatic Wrote:  Well clearly the MAC has a problem.

I don't think we should overreact to this. It's been known for some time that Miami has been interested in the American. But being interested and actually being a realistic candidate are two different things.

I personally don't see much upside in the American, for what it's worth. While the American is a stronger football league, I'm skeptical that the upgrade in competition would be worth what would cost to fly for any of us to fly our teams from Tulsa to Tampa, etc. etc. With the exception of the service academies, I don't think the schools in that league would do much to juice home football attendance, for example.

That said: If Miami wants to invest money in its athletic program to try to get to the point where a conference like the American would be interested, I don't see harm in that at all. A stronger Miami makes for a stronger MAC, right?

It could be that this was a Hail Mary option by Miami to see where it stood before it signs a grant of rights for a new MAC television contract.

(09-25-2026 08:10 AM)cmufanatic Wrote:  The question is how does Steinbrecher address this. Ii would reach out to Miami today and ask what theu want.

This is not going to be a surprise to Steinbrecher. I'm sure he's understands exactly where Miami is coming from and has had numerous conversations with people at Miami.

(09-25-2026 08:34 AM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(09-25-2026 08:10 AM)cmufanatic Wrote:  Well clearly the MAC has a problem.

I don't think we should overreact to this. It's been known for some time that Miami has been interested in the American. But being interested and actually being a realistic candidate are two different things.

I personally don't see much upside in the American, for what it's worth. While the American is a stronger football league, I'm skeptical that the upgrade in competition would be worth what would cost to fly for any of us to fly our teams from Tulsa to Tampa, etc. etc. With the exception of the service academies, I don't think the schools in that league would do much to juice home football attendance, for example.

That said: If Miami wants to invest money in its athletic program to try to get to the point where a conference like the American would be interested, I don't see harm in that at all. A stronger Miami makes for a stronger MAC, right?

It could be that this was a Hail Mary option by Miami to see where it stood before it signs a grant of rights for a new MAC television contract.

(09-25-2026 08:10 AM)cmufanatic Wrote:  The question is how does Steinbrecher address this. Ii would reach out to Miami today and ask what theu want.

This is not going to be a surprise to Steinbrecher. I'm sure he's understands exactly where Miami is coming from and has had numerous conversations with people at Miami.

Perhaps it is not a surprise but I do not have faith in him to strengthen the conference when teams leave

(09-25-2026 08:34 AM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(09-25-2026 08:10 AM)cmufanatic Wrote:  Well clearly the MAC has a problem.

I don't think we should overreact to this. It's been known for some time that Miami has been interested in the American. But being interested and actually being a realistic candidate are two different things.

I personally don't see much upside in the American, for what it's worth. While the American is a stronger football league, I'm skeptical that the upgrade in competition would be worth what would cost to fly for any of us to fly our teams from Tulsa to Tampa, etc. etc. With the exception of the service academies, I don't think the schools in that league would do much to juice home football attendance, for example.

That said: If Miami wants to invest money in its athletic program to try to get to the point where a conference like the American would be interested, I don't see harm in that at all. A stronger Miami makes for a stronger MAC, right?

It could be that this was a Hail Mary option by Miami to see where it stood before it signs a grant of rights for a new MAC television contract.

(09-25-2026 08:10 AM)cmufanatic Wrote:  The question is how does Steinbrecher address this. Ii would reach out to Miami today and ask what theu want.

This is not going to be a surprise to Steinbrecher. I'm sure he's understands exactly where Miami is coming from and has had numerous conversations with people at Miami.

There aren't any guarantees but there is an ever more noticeable financial gap developing in the MAC. Toledo, Miami, OU, WMU, UMass are the names that stick out to me- they aren't investing at P4 levels or anything but they're head and shoulders above much of the rest of the conference (I could be missing a program or two).

I don't know what timeline we're looking at but it certainly seems to threaten the long term stability of the conference.

(09-25-2026 08:02 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  Wow, that's pretty embarrassing to be rejected after trying to buy your way into a conference for 40 million.

My guess is they'll look at the Sunbelt now. Wouldn't be surprised to see Miami and Ohio in the Sunbelt in the next couple years which will start a domino effect. I could see the American maybe taking Buffalo or Toledo (or even UMASS if they continue to improve).

The Sun Belt really is no better than the MAC, and the travel would be worse, and so are the academics. Miami and Ohio are not going anywhere.

Additionally, I just don't see the appeal to get into the AAC other than any type of academic alliance they may have...... It's also not much better than the MAC.

This may be a sign with what's going on regarding the upcoming TV contract.... We will likely see the conference get raped, yet again, by ESPN for midweek games, with very little to offer in terms of more basketball coverage.

First, I wouldn't blame Miami at all. AAC would be a nice step, and we may be loathe to admit it, but every MAC school would accept an invite, if it made financial sense of course. Even though the AAC isn't nearly as 'sexy' as they were 5-10 years ago, you've got to consider all pros and cons in this environment.

That said I don't really see the AAC swelling to 17 members by adding three more unless they reverted back to divisions of some sort. If they did lose a Memphis or USF to a P4 (for example), they could back-fill, but I think they'd lean more toward the coastal UConn or James Madison options.

"At this time" is the key part there. The American will likely only add schools the next time the conference loses members. At that point it would be a question on whether or not it's still worth it.

If they still have Army and Navy, they'll have desirability and marketability for sure.


UMass would definitely still be interested in joining at that point. If Temple is still around (almost certainly would be), and it involves JMU (and honestly possibly Delaware) then it would be like joining in with old conference foes from either the A10 (also with Charlotte) or CAA.

Linked below is the X account of Shane Mettlen. He is the JMU beat writer for the Harrisonburg (Va.) Daily News-Record and has excellent sources.

https://x.com/Shane_DNRSports

I watched Loyola Chicago go from the Horizon League to the Missouri Valley Conference to the Atlantic 10 and I'm not sure they are any better off than they were before, but they certainly have added a lot to their travel costs.

It's like, as soon as you move up, the teams you moved up for also move up and you're kind of back at the same level you were.

My attitude is to make the MAC as strong as possible, now, including a good media contract. Don't follow the blow by blow College Sports Act amendments, but thought part of it has a 3 year moratorium on the P2 raiding the the other two P2 conferences. Thus, nobody is getting a call up from the American soon.

Three years does give teams time to develop their resumes. Like the MAC and appreciate it. It was no secret UMass tried really hard to get into the American after we went Independent. We did get a call after beating BYU that they are watching us. But we never followed up the wins and crapped all over our selves with limited investments and an inexperienced Walt Bell hired all his friends. He's a heck of a OC for Western Michigan.

All that said, the MAC is in a much better position than CUSA with the number of teams and hopefully an improved media deal.

Like I said, when MAC gets another terrible offer from espn for continued Tues & Weds games the best schools left--Ohio, Toledo, and Miami are going to try even harder to get out of the MAC.

At least NIU was paid to leave, Miami is offering $40 million and still getting turned down. I guess they don't want to be in SBC but they really have no other choice but SBC.

The new media deal being a significant $$ raise might be the only way the MAC gets (mostly) held together for a while. I don't know if this Miami news is an indicator of an underwhelming announcement coming on that front.

(09-25-2026 08:10 AM)cmufanatic Wrote:  Well clearly the MAC has a problem. NIU left, Miami wants out. The question is how does Steinbrecher address this. Ii would reach out to Miami today and ask what theu want. I would also be seeking top fcs programs and other schools we discussed in the past, wku, South Dakota, Montanas to help strengthen the MAC and add stability

I don't know how you fix or stop it. The MAC is extremely limited as the FBS conference with the lowest total revenues.

Play less weekday games?

Get a huge media increase that surpasses AAC?

Offer Toledo, Miami, and Ohio more of the conference revenue than the rest of the MAC schools to keep them from leaving?

Money, weekday games, MAC perception, etc., play some roles, but I think there's an intangible element of geographic FOMO going on, too.

What I mean is: There's always been some knock on the MAC for having ~50% of its membership concentrated in one state (OH), and another three in an adjacent state, aka bus league. And I think it's morphed from being a side goof to something more substantial, where schools want more national geographic coverage with it being more the rage these days. The adds of UMass and Sac State notwithstanding.

I should also note that there's always been a contingent who favor the compact nature of college sports, with its local rivalries, mainly among the older-timers. But the winds have shifted. I think some of the wilder set-ups like USC (B1G) and Stanford (ACC) are awful, but the desire for exploring a wider geographic net along with stretching its 'brand' is clearly winning hearts out there.

(09-25-2026 11:11 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Money, weekday games, MAC perception, etc., play some roles, but I think there's an intangible element of geographic FOMO going on, too.

What I mean is: There's always been some knock on the MAC for having ~50% of its membership concentrated in one state (OH), and another three in an adjacent state, aka bus league. And I think it's morphed from being a side goof to something more substantial, where schools want more national geographic coverage with it being more the rage these days. The adds of UMass and Sac State notwithstanding.

I think that knock is related to limiting the MAC's media and national potential. Most Ohioans are Ohio St fans. So to have six of your members concentrated in one state where their allegiance is to a big10 school limits the market potential and is overkill.

You need your members spread out across the geographical area to maximize your media potential and national reach. I think WKU and MTSU would have helped but that opportunity passed (twice).

The flipside is MAC travel is really easy for schools in Ohio and Michigan (and even Ball St since they are in eastern Indiana) but it is bad for schools like Buffalo, UMass, and Sac St. The all-sports travel would be bad for any potential additions (ILSt, Delaware, Stony Brook, etc) discussed on here too.

(09-25-2026 08:01 AM)cmufanatic Wrote:  Well cincy is the 37th largest tv market

The thing is they're at best (likely even lower) the 3rd biggest FBS brand in Cincy (behind Cincinnati and OSU) and at best the 5th biggest basketball brand (behind Cincy, Xavier, Dayton, and OSU).

Cincinnati is already on the smaller end of major TV markets and Miami only captures a small sliver of it.