(09-30-2026 06:29 PM)EP Bison Fan Wrote: I’m calling Miami, Ohio, and Toledo to the MWC for football only with Olympics moving to the Horizon. That move keeps travel reasonable in the Horizon, but gets them access to a better media deal without weekdays in November.
A 14 team MWC football conference, with UCD at some point, could also cut down football travel for the whole MWC if you used protected matchups like the SEC. You would be playing some combination of NDSU, NIU, Miami, Ohio, and Toledo frequently but that’s familiar enough.
When NDSU and NIU got added I thought it was silly, but adding those three does make some sense assuming Gloria and Presidents are looking for R1s with good enough football. Not sure the MWC has any prorata slots but entry for those three would probably only be non-dilution for the current deal.
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MWC isn't looking for R1's, the MWC needs to add some quality football. Good grief, the MWC added Grand Canyon in basketball and NIU in football. The bigger issue the MWC have is trying to keep UNLV and Air Force and hoping New Mexico stays relevant after Jason Eck leaves this year. As for any MAC schools joining NIU in the MWC. Highly doubt that ever occurs.
(09-30-2026 06:29 PM)EP Bison Fan Wrote: I’m calling Miami, Ohio, and Toledo to the MWC for football only with Olympics moving to the Horizon. That move keeps travel reasonable in the Horizon, but gets them access to a better media deal without weekdays in November.
A 14 team MWC football conference, with UCD at some point, could also cut down football travel for the whole MWC if you used protected matchups like the SEC. You would be playing some combination of NDSU, NIU, Miami, Ohio, and Toledo frequently but that’s familiar enough.
When NDSU and NIU got added I thought it was silly, but adding those three does make some sense assuming Gloria and Presidents are looking for R1s with good enough football. Not sure the MWC has any prorata slots but entry for those three would probably only be non-dilution for the current deal.
Look at NIU football as soon as they decided to join the MWC. They instantly turned looser while still in the MAC, and continued to be looser in the MWC. Just look at their record.
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MWC isn't looking for R1's, the MWC needs to add some quality football. Good grief, the MWC added Grand Canyon in basketball and NIU in football. The bigger issue the MWC have is trying to keep UNLV and Air Force and hoping New Mexico stays relevant after Jason Eck leaves this year. As for any MAC schools joining NIU in the MWC. Highly doubt that ever occurs.
That raises the question of whether there's one leaving the AAC and this episode was the AAC replacing that school, or whether there's another one joining to make 16 FB members.
(10-12-2026 09:35 AM)BruceMcF Wrote: That raises the question of whether there's one leaving the AAC and this episode was the AAC replacing that school, or whether there's another one joining to make 16 FB members.
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, the timing of this move was because the SBC is meeting this week to raise exit fees. No other additions are imminent by the American Conference according to Thamel but the AC could add down the line.
According to Pete Thamel, JMU is paying a $23 million entrance fee to join the AC, as well as a $5 million exit fee to the SBC:
"The entrance fee that JMU is paying to the American is $23 million, per ESPN sources. JMU will get an American TV/postseason/NCAA share that’s in line with the recent additions to the league. The entry fee and the expected $5 million departure fee from Sun Belt is all privately raised money."
(10-12-2026 09:35 AM)BruceMcF Wrote: That raises the question of whether there's one leaving the AAC and this episode was the AAC replacing that school, or whether there's another one joining to make 16 FB members.
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, the timing of this move was because the SBC is meeting this week to raise exit fees. No other additions are imminent by the American Conference according to Thamel but the AC could add down the line.
Ah, that clears up the earlier tweet about the three ... JMU talked to the AAC, they could afford to pay a higher entrance fee if they left before the new SBC exit fee came into force, the AAC talked to two other schools about being a potential pair, and after thinking it over, decided that they'd go with just JMU.
(10-12-2026 09:35 AM)BruceMcF Wrote: That raises the question of whether there's one leaving the AAC and this episode was the AAC replacing that school, or whether there's another one joining to make 16 FB members.
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, the timing of this move was because the SBC is meeting this week to raise exit fees. No other additions are imminent by the American Conference according to Thamel but the AC could add down the line.
Ah, that clears up the earlier tweet about the three ... JMU talked to the AAC, they could afford to pay a higher entrance fee if they left before the new SBC exit fee came into force, the AAC talked to two other schools about being a potential pair, and after thinking it over, decided that they'd go with just JMU.
Miami was putting out feelers to get out now before the next MAC deal.
The AC is now at 15 FB members. Adding UConn/Miami would have pushed that number up to 17. Peronally I think Miami-JMU-UConn were pushing a package deal themselves to provide enough value to get in. JMU went behind Miami/UConn to snag an invite for themselves. From a FB perspective they do bring more value.
(10-12-2026 11:06 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote: Who will the sunbelt add? Liberty, Ohio, Delaware, WKU.... If they add Liberty, maybe the MAC will make a move for Delaware/WKU.
I could see a scenario here where the SBC adds WKU and with CUSA weakened the MAC could step in and add Delaware.
Delaware has to be also now aware they won't be getting into the AC anytime soon and also what was required of JMU to get in (e.g. having a really good FB team).
First--yes I realize they are not quite as "attractive " as JMU.
MIAMI---
--MAC media deal closing soon
--New Deal may raise Exit costs
--New Deal might even include a "Grant of rights" Clause
--Redhawks have already shown they have the Buy-in money for a new home
WILL Miami try to get an early deal with American (or someone else) to reduce departure costs?
(10-12-2026 12:49 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote: Some MAC posters--correct or fill me in here...
Isn't Miami in a Similar situation as JMU??
First--yes I realize they are not quite as "attractive " as JMU.
MIAMI---
--MAC media deal closing soon
--New Deal may raise Exit costs
--New Deal might even include a "Grant of rights" Clause
--Redhawks have already shown they have the Buy-in money for a new home
WILL Miami try to get an early deal with American (or someone else) to reduce departure costs?
I mean, given that they already tried, with a reported bid of $40m (though unclear how much of that was money up front and how much was agreeing to a lower conference share), it'd be hard to rule out them continuing to try.
The question is more whether the AAC meant it when they seemingly turned down the offer. If they don't want MiamiU, MiamiU possibly facing a larger exit fee is not going to do anything to flip that.
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(10-12-2026 10:57 AM)Kittonhead Wrote: ... Peronally I think Miami-JMU-UConn were pushing a package deal themselves to provide enough value to get in. JMU went behind Miami/UConn to snag an invite for themselves. From a FB perspective they do bring more value. ...
I can see the appeal of imagining that kind of soap opera drama to some, but given the fact that JMU clearly bring more value, it's more likely (even if less exciting to imagine) that the negotiations JMU were clearly having with the AAC at the time (given the time period between that reporting and the announced move) was what led the other two in that report to getting involved as the AAC was thinking over whether it wanted to add just JMU or to add another to go to 16.
(This post was last modified: 10-12-2026 01:02 PM by BruceMcF.)
