(09-25-2026 03:48 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(09-25-2026 02:23 PM)NWBearcat Wrote:  There is a high probability that this whole report is warped and completely non credible.

McMurphy seems bad at math, and there might be some warping here. Someone has an agenda here, and until we understand what that agenda, it's tough to say what might be warped.

But McMurphy is not wholly wrong here, either. Someone leaked this to him, and Miami isn't even bothering to deny it to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/...935881007/

This report doesn't mean anything is going to happen now or even in five years. Miami offered $40 million, and the American still said "no." So that doesn't seem terribly promising to me.

Also, on that $40 million: I imagine we are not talking about a pile of cash that Miami would hand over, but rather (mostly) foregone revenue from its future share of American revenue.

Do you really think a poor conference like the American is turning down $40M?

I can't believe that Miami is willing to pay $40M for the pleasure of being in a conference that is paying Charlotte.

Very strange all around.

(09-25-2026 03:47 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Imo there’s an opinion within Miami athletics that the MAC is going to collapse or fall back to FCS at some point so we need to get ahead of it. I don’t think they’re wrong. If the conference and college athletics were frozen in 2010s amber then this wouldn’t make sense, but it’s still being get ready to spend well into nine figures on a new arena if you don’t have a vision of being a strong athletic program indefinitely.

I don't see the MAC collapsing, even with Miami, Toledo, and Ohio gone the conference still has 9 full members and one football-only.

But I do think it significantly weakens the MAC and ESPN is probably fine with that because they could offer the remaining conference members a charcuterie board and case of wine for next media deal and they have no choice but to accept minimal financial terms.

(09-25-2026 03:53 PM)NWBearcat Wrote:  

(09-25-2026 03:48 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(09-25-2026 02:23 PM)NWBearcat Wrote:  There is a high probability that this whole report is warped and completely non credible.

McMurphy seems bad at math, and there might be some warping here. Someone has an agenda here, and until we understand what that agenda, it's tough to say what might be warped.

But McMurphy is not wholly wrong here, either. Someone leaked this to him, and Miami isn't even bothering to deny it to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/...935881007/

This report doesn't mean anything is going to happen now or even in five years. Miami offered $40 million, and the American still said "no." So that doesn't seem terribly promising to me.

Also, on that $40 million: I imagine we are not talking about a pile of cash that Miami would hand over, but rather (mostly) foregone revenue from its future share of American revenue.

Do you really think a poor conference like the American is turning down $40M?

I can't believe that Miami is willing to pay $40M for the pleasure of being in a conference that is paying Charlotte.

Very strange all around.

They like the academics in the AC. For them it would be like joining the Magnolia League.

For the most part--McMurphy has been a reliable. He got this from a credible source (who may have wanted it leaked for a reason) and put it out there. He is often "ahead of the curve" and has had many scoops.

Not saying this is actually happening--just that "someone" wanted that information made public.

(09-25-2026 05:32 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  For the most part--McMurphy has been a reliable. He got this from a credible source (who may have wanted it leaked for a reason) and put it out there. He is often "ahead of the curve" and has had many scoops.

Not saying this is actually happening--just that "someone" wanted that information made public.

Yeah, McMurphy is about as credible source as you’ll find on conference realignment scoops. He’s not going to put something out there that has *no* truth to it. My guess is it came from the AAC because otherwise the three schools would have to tip him at the same time, which seems unlikely. Why they would leak that is anyone’s guess, but it could be some sort of weather balloon to see if everyone loves it or hates it. Or to let other G6 leagues know they are shopping. Who knows. But there’s probably some smoke on this.

Quote:Do you really think a poor conference like the American is turning down $40M?

They're arguably the toughest/known mid-major conference of the G6, basically 'tied' with P12 on that front. It's not CUSA, which does suck as a conference and almost fell apart a few years ago. :)

It's not expected at all to be check for $40m, just to go, but I'm sure it's true that they're not positioned for new teams this year or next as they said, and it wasn't anyone doing something super-grand or shocking on the front of conference-joining. But I think it makes them give a good look w/ solid thoughts in off seasons the next couple years about UConn, Miami, and James Madison -- which is what I think it's intention was since American conference wasn't looking around or needing anyone (unlike P12 being small and is in will-talk mode for teams on that side of the Mississippi).

Quote:Who knows. But there’s probably some smoke on this.

No smoke now, no or real near future, No. But they let it be known that leaving their conference (or for UConn, joining A conference) is something considered on their mind.

(09-25-2026 01:32 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(09-25-2026 09:07 AM)astr083 Wrote:  ... 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 is quite silly take.

EG, Sagarin rankings:

...
5. 75.90 ACC
6. 64.66 Pac12
7. 63.64 AAC
8. 60.94 SBC-East
9. 58.83 SBC-West
10. 58.73 Mountain West
11. 57.42 CUSA
12. 57.36 MVC
13. 54.04 MAC
14. 50.21 Big Sky
15. 48.52 Ivy League
...

(09-25-2026 01:24 PM)AllBronco Wrote:  Miami, you're just being too darn cheap with your puny offer. Memphis previously tried to buy its way into the Big 12 with a massive $200M–$250M financial package, which was rebuffed. And you should be ashamed to make that low ball offer.

To be fair, the difference between the best football conference of the Middle Two and the second best football conference of the Group of Six would warrant a substantially smaller offer.

Not only is the MAC substantially below the AAC but also an FCS conference. The AAC and SBC have put teams in the CFP last year and will be front runners for the G6 slot again this year.

My son is a Miami grad and no one there gives two $hits about football anyway. Miami should just stay put in the MAC. Their hockey is well-attended though, but that team is in a big time hockey conference.

TV contract money is insignificant, like 5% of your athletic budget. Your team probably makes more in one P4 football buy game than a whole year of ESPN checks. The ESPN/Disney payments are cheap budgetary crumbs to that mega corporation.

AAC is a stronger mens hoops and football league overall. Academically/school type is a mixed bag. There are some strong academic schools there but they have very small enrollments and the alumni base is not large-perhaps loyal (Navy) and wealthier (Tulane). Some private, some public. Most with mid sized markets. Actually, Toledo is the team that best fits the American profile of a mid sized city where your school is the most prominent college team in town but also overshadowed by big name state schools. Travel is nuts. Really only makes sense if your school has its own planes or can afford charters for most everywhere and has easy access to a decent airport.

Miami should review UConn’s experience or talk with Temple about life in the AC. UConn experienced considerable debt due to travel cost of non revenue sports and declining ticket sales due to lack of fan interest during its time in the AAC. Temple athletics has also accumulated significant debt.
I know UConn was mentioned as well in the reporting but my guess would be for football only, their fan base would mutiny if they moved all sports, especially basketball, to the AC.
Last year was rough for UMass in football, hopefully we can begin to turn around our MAC experience beginning tonight. I have enjoyed watching MAC football and basketball for years even when UMass wasn’t a member.
Hopefully the league and universities can work on building a stronger more viable G6 league.
In today’s College atmosphere universities need to access what athletics means for their individual situations and decide what the right level is for their institutions.There are far too many examples of universities chasing fools gold and jeopardizing their financial health.
Go UMass! Go MAC!
And Go Miami! Beat the sled dogs today, rooting for you from rainy Massachusetts!!

(09-25-2026 11:25 AM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(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.

And Oxford is 40 miles from Cinti…it’s not a suburb of Cinti.

As an SBC insider has alluded to on the SBC board, there are more schools than just the three mentioned (JMU, Miami and UConn) that have reached out to the American and/or Pac-12. The list would likely include but not be limited to Air Force, UNLV, App State, ODU, Liberty, Delaware, MTSU, Ohio and Toledo. Remember, various schools and conferences are having conversations all the time.

As it stands now, the AC and Pac-12 are a tier above the other four conferences (MAC, SBC, MWC and CUSA) within the G6 in terms of access and MMR deals. The MAC's current negotiations with ESPN should be telling as to what the future holds, at least near-term (next 5-6 years).

It's absolutely laughable to me that some posters on the CUSA board think they're going to raid the MAC. No, that's not happening.

(09-26-2026 09:04 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  As an SBC insider has alluded to on the SBC board, there are more schools than just the three mentioned (JMU, Miami and UConn) that are interested in joining the American or Pac-12. The list would likely include but not be limited to Air Force, UNLV, App State, ODU, Liberty, Delaware, MTSU, Ohio and Toledo.

As it stands now, the AC and Pac-12 are a tier above the other four conferences (MAC, SBC, MWC and CUSA) within the G6 in terms of access and MMR deals. The MAC's current negotiations with ESPN should be telling as to what the future holds, at least near-term (next 5-6 years).

It's absolutely laughable to me that some posters on the CUSA board think they're going to raid the MAC. No, that's not happening.

It seems weird to hear Air Force and UNLV are looking for an exit when once you consider both had an opportunity to join the PAC-12, but declined.

(09-26-2026 09:13 AM)kreed5120 Wrote:  It seems weird to hear Air Force and UNLV are looking for an exit when once you consider both had an opportunity to join the PAC-12, but declined.

In the case of Air Force, it would bring the service academies together.

(In men's hockey, the Falcons weirdly persist in Atlantic Hockey America with their nearest conference rival Robert Morris. But the conference also has Army, and I assume this is part of why it works for them.)

I hope we don't end up in continual musical chairs as the conferences go thru realignment 1.0, 1.1, 1.1.a, 1.1.b, 2.0, 2.01, 2.02., 2.02a, 3.0

As the schools shuffle based on the previous shuffling. That, of course, is now MWC got N. IL. in a move which made zero sense other than MWC was seeking any willing FBS school in the central time zone or further west.

(09-25-2026 03:53 PM)NWBearcat Wrote:  

(09-25-2026 03:48 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  ... Also, on that $40 million: I imagine we are not talking about a pile of cash that Miami would hand over, but rather (mostly) foregone revenue from its future share of American revenue.

Do you really think a poor conference like the American is turning down $40M?

I can't believe that Miami is willing to pay $40M for the pleasure of being in a conference that is paying Charlotte. ...

Reading is fundamental ... it's not like Sac State who paying cash money, it's more like the various ACC deals where schools offered to take below equal shares.

So the AAC only gets all of that $40m that is all or mostly what Miami is offering to go without if ESPN agrees to give them a pro-rata increase ... and since they had to take 6 CUSA teams to replace the earning power of the 3 that went to the Big12, it doesn't seem like ESPN has been handing them pro-rata increases.

_____________

(09-25-2026 09:02 PM)Lux Interior Wrote:  My son is a Miami grad and no one there gives two $hits about football anyway. Miami should just stay put in the MAC. Their hockey is well-attended though, but that team is in a big time hockey conference.

As a 1980's Miami grad, it's good to hear that nothing's changed as far as FB goes.

I am with the one writer.

AAC leaked it to McMurphy for themselves.

(09-28-2026 10:55 AM)indianasniff Wrote:  I am with the one writer.

AAC leaked it to McMurphy for themselves.

Part of me wonders if Miami did.

$40 million to get into the AAC is ludicrous.... At least go to the ACC or Big 12 with an offer for that kind of money. Didn't Memphis offer the Big 12 significantly less and got turned down? I'm not sure we are getting the full truth here. Additionally, the AAC is not much better than the MAC. Throwing away $40 million to play in a conference with Charlotte, FAU, Rice, UTSA, Tulsa, and Temple is just plain dumb, lol.

(09-28-2026 11:53 AM)astr083 Wrote:  ... Didn't Memphis offer the Big 12 significantly less and got turned down? ...

Maybe $200m is less than $40m in your neck of the woods, but down here in South Carolina, we'd reckon the $200m is more.

And a lot of the money offered by Memphis was sponsorship commitments, rather than just accepting a smaller payout, so it wouldn't depend on a pro-rata contract bump to convert into cash money.