(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 don't think so. JMU is well on their way to their 3rd 10+ win season in the last 4 years. The season they missed they ended up with 9 wins. For comparison Miami has 2 10+ win seasons in the last 20 years. I do think Miami is a real candidate to backfill JMU in the SB. I just don't view them as a legit G6 access bid contender like JMU is so I wouldn't place them in the same category.

(10-12-2026 01:09 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  MAC media Deal Questions...

When will it be released? What's the deadline?

Any talk of a Larger exit fee or adding a Grant of Rights?

We'll know when we hear ... the Conference USA deal was announced in early November for a start the following school year, so an announcement anytime before the Holiday season would be on track with that.

Not a lot of smoke coming out of the negotiations, but ESPN's contract with Conference USA came with a specific GOR attached, where schools that left before expiration of the media contract owed the per school share of the balance of the media revenue on the contract, so 1 year's media revenue if they left 1 year year, 2 years if they left 2 years early, and so on.

(10-12-2026 01:16 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(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 don't think so. JMU is well on their way to their 3rd 10+ win season in the last 4 years. The season they missed they ended up with 9 wins. For comparison Miami has 2 10+ win seasons in the last 20 years. I do think Miami is a real candidate to backfill JMU in the SB. I just don't view them as a legit G6 access bid contender like JMU is so I wouldn't place them in the same category.

I would place Miami more likely at a MWC bid than SBC at this juncture.

(10-12-2026 10:27 AM)indianasniff Wrote:  https://x.com/sunbelt/status/21096528562...o7_7KbOJQA

Sunbelt lurking


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If the SBC will go to 16 as they were thinking about last year.

Toledo
Ohio
Marshall
Old Dominion
Appalachian St
Coastal Carolina
Georgia State
Georgia Southern

That might be as good as a MWC invite for Toledo/Ohio without having to split sports into two confernces.

(10-12-2026 02:14 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 10:27 AM)indianasniff Wrote:  https://x.com/sunbelt/status/21096528562...o7_7KbOJQA

Sunbelt lurking


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If the SBC will go to 16 as they were thinking about last year.

Toledo
Ohio
Marshall
Old Dominion
Appalachian St
Coastal Carolina
Georgia State
Georgia Southern

That might be as good as a MWC invite for Toledo/Ohio without having to split sports into two confernces.

If I had my guess for the SBC's best plan its this:

East Adds: Toledo and Ohio
West Adds: Jacksonville State and potentially grabs Missouri State to replace ULM.

The two sides compete together for a few years in more of a "partnership" than a conference. Coming together only for a few games a year and tournament play. After a few years, they could then split off and become their own conferences.

It makes some sense. Toledo and Ohio are strong football additions. The West, which has more financial limitations gets another competitive program, but adds a very strong baseball program to add to the conference's stated goal of becoming a top 4 baseball conference.

(10-12-2026 02:48 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  ... If I had my guess for the SBC's best plan its this:

East Adds: Toledo and Ohio
West Adds: Jacksonville State and potentially grabs Missouri State to replace ULM.

The two sides compete together for a few years in more of a "partnership" than a conference. Coming together only for a few games a year and tournament play. After a few years, they could then split off and become their own conferences.

It makes some sense. Toledo and Ohio are strong football additions. The West, which has more financial limitations gets another competitive program, but adds a very strong baseball program to add to the conference's stated goal of becoming a top 4 baseball conference.

Which side of the conference gets the current charter and the autobid into the Tourney, and which side has to wait over half a decade for their first autobid to arrive?

JMHO---but I think Miami (realistic or not) has their sights set higher than the SBC.

From what I read it's American if anywhere.

MW/PAC seem unrealistic in their case.

*********************************************************

Another question I have is--Would Ohio leave the MAC for the SBC? I don't think so--maybe IF the MAC lost Miami and/or Toledo. Their travel costs would certainly Soar in the Belt--and besides Marshall and maybe APP--what possible rival do they gain?

(10-12-2026 05:44 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  JMHO---but I think Miami (realistic or not) has their sights set higher than the SBC.

From what I read it's American if anywhere.

MW/PAC seem unrealistic in their case.

*********************************************************

Another question I have is--Would Ohio leave the MAC for the SBC? I don't think so--maybe IF the MAC lost Miami and/or Toledo. Their travel costs would certainly Soar in the Belt--and besides Marshall and maybe APP--what possible rival do they gain?

Sure, but it takes two to tango. If AAC says no there options are either to stay in the MAC or go to the SB.

(09-30-2026 04:31 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(09-30-2026 09:22 AM)astr083 Wrote:  

(09-30-2026 09:12 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Whiffing on WKU and MTSU was shown to be a tough pill to swallow.

That said, I don't think any CUSA team is moving to the MAC, or vice-versa. Both conferences are pretty much even at the bottom of the totem pole.

The MAC is better, not even really that close.

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

Better than the Big Sky or Ivy, but the MAC is actually below an FCS conference. The AAC and SBC put teams in the CFP last year and will be front runners for the G6 slot again this year.

That’s interesting. I was going to opine that the MAC could backfill the losses of Ohio, Miami, and Toledo from the MVC and not miss a beat.

(10-12-2026 05:52 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 05:44 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  JMHO---but I think Miami (realistic or not) has their sights set higher than the SBC.

From what I read it's American if anywhere.

MW/PAC seem unrealistic in their case.

*********************************************************

Another question I have is--Would Ohio leave the MAC for the SBC? I don't think so--maybe IF the MAC lost Miami and/or Toledo. Their travel costs would certainly Soar in the Belt--and besides Marshall and maybe APP--what possible rival do they gain?

Sure, but it takes two to tango. If AAC says no there options are either to stay in the MAC or go to the SB.

Or go Football only to the MWC with Olympics to the Horizon or MVC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What does Miami bring to the table?

TV - No they are non really Cincy or Dayton
Attendance - No

Not sure Toledo or Ohio could even afford to fly all sports in the sunbelt, I’d bet not.

I wouldn't follow the Sangarin conference 'ratings' they have. That's going to be off.

That said, the AAC and new better-MW-copy-into-P12 -- they're about the same and the clear top 2 of G6 conferences, but really you'd solidly want to go to the conference of those two based on your location to the other teams, hands down. Maybe the P12 in the not too distant future if they bring in UNLV and a two of the consistently best AAC teams in combo, or something.

But I think (or rather hope) in the not too distant future, things will move to either (or all over time):

(1) A solidly larger playoff where the outright conference champion/conference champ game winner will get an auto-bid to said grown playoff, if they have 9+ wins if conference championships had (otherwise 8), not counting any additional D1AA/FCS games. So if you're like WMU looking similar to this year, wanting to roughly repeat last year, you won't be worried about Making it into a playoff if achieved. Said playoff would have an intro-starter-first week with the Elites having said week a bye; so a solid MAC or Champ at 9-4 or 10-3 won't likely be playing a team Quite as powerful as Ohio State in said intro-1st week of playoff games (but still big point-spread of course).

(2) Not having the above very large playoff; but keeping it at 16, max. Instead of expanding it or keeping it expanded greatly, they put in an NIT-like playoff tournament, for on G6 conference teams, of a group of 8; one team from each conference auto-bidded in, unless said conference champ made the Nat Champ playoffs OR their technical champ is at or under .500. Sure, if regular playoff expand a chunk more to 16, it's likely there'll be 2 of the best G6s in said national-championship playoff, but also likely the way they role, just 1 on a given year. Arguably better to win this NIT/G6 playoff championship than to get whipped in the 1st round of the national-championship playoff and out the door, if said NIT/G6 playoff was well handled & put out there well.

(3) Similar to the above, but the G6 in a different 'official' line of D1, not FBS anymore. It'd be above FCS, and maybe the Missouri Valley Conference in FCS would want to shift to it. But basically a larger playoff and it for it's own National Championship + G6 teams in the FBS playoffs due to this imbalance that's gone on for too long. But OOC play in the season won't be different than today's seasons, with this now new G6 official division of D1. WMU is still going to play Michigan or Michigan State sometimes, as Toledo will sometimes play Ohio State, etc. Like a 16 team playoff with all conference champions going.

---

I'd like the last one the best, the way things have been going. The seasons wouldn't be changed; still have a few bowls possibly of FBS teams being just P4 now VS new division of G6 teams, as said post-season bowls still aren't a playoff for anything anyway. It'd be just different Official labels/divisions when laying out the current FBS into two separate divisions, instead of unofficial but clearly identified markers between them.

(10-12-2026 05:52 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 05:44 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  JMHO---but I think Miami (realistic or not) has their sights set higher than the SBC.

From what I read it's American if anywhere.

MW/PAC seem unrealistic in their case.

*********************************************************

Another question I have is--Would Ohio leave the MAC for the SBC? I don't think so--maybe IF the MAC lost Miami and/or Toledo. Their travel costs would certainly Soar in the Belt--and besides Marshall and maybe APP--what possible rival do they gain?

Sure, but it takes two to tango. If AAC says no there options are either to stay in the MAC or go to the SB.

Ohio has plenty of G6 options. Some of those options are all-sport while others are FB only type options. Its more about what is the best option available. The American sounds like an expensive conference to compete in. Some of their coaches are making 3.5 million compared to the MAC where the high end is maybe 1.5 million. Do I think Ohio could spend AC money on coaches sure but who would want to?

SBC solves a few problems without the cost pressures of the AC.

1) Its a FBS confernce that other schools actually want to upgrade and join to compete in. MAC hasn't been able to get anyone to move up except the very most desperate. SBC offers up more stability.

2) SBC would be all-sport and has Marshall as a travel partern. That negates the increased travel to exent and travel would definitely be a lot lower within the SBC East (all sports are by division) than anything else outside of the MAC.

3) There are bigger G6 FB progams in the SBC than what you'll find in the MAC. Marshall, App State, Southern Miss, Troy, Louisiana have bigger followings than Kent, Ball State, Eastern Michigan and UMass places with much less of a FB culture.

4) Stronger schedule in the SBC. Strength wise the SBC is more in line with the MWC than what it is the MAC. That could help Ohio continue to build its FB program.

Marshall AD Gerald Harrison statement this evening in the aftermath of JMU's announced departure from the SBC to the American:

Herd Nation,
I know there has been much speculation since the announcement of a realignment shake up in our conference. The goal for Marshall Athletics remains the same and we will continue to monitor the ever changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics.
One Goal. One Herd

https://x.com/GJHJ/status/2109799766997467403

Checking in, rumblings of Ohio or Delaware to replace JMU.

(10-12-2026 01:16 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(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 don't think so. JMU is well on their way to their 3rd 10+ win season in the last 4 years. The season they missed they ended up with 9 wins. For comparison Miami has 2 10+ win seasons in the last 20 years. I do think Miami is a real candidate to backfill JMU in the SB. I just don't view them as a legit G6 access bid contender like JMU is so I wouldn't place them in the same category.

And that was a total rebuild after Cignetti took a ton of players, recruits and staff to Indiana. The rebuild was done quickly with Chesney going 9-4 and then 12-2 with a CFP before bolting to UCLA with a bunch of players and staff.

(10-12-2026 05:44 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  JMHO---but I think Miami (realistic or not) has their sights set higher than the SBC.

From what I read it's American if anywhere.

MW/PAC seem unrealistic in their case.

*********************************************************

Another question I have is--Would Ohio leave the MAC for the SBC? I don't think so--maybe IF the MAC lost Miami and/or Toledo. Their travel costs would certainly Soar in the Belt--and besides Marshall and maybe APP--what possible rival do they gain?

It depends on sport priorities. Ohio wants to be a JMU type G6 program that can contend for a CFP slot and would up the spending for the SBC. SBC would open some new FB recruiting markets and you have 7 schools with over a 30,000 seat stadium in the SBC (Marshall, App, So Miss, Ark St, Troy, ULM, Louisiana).

Louisiana 41,400
App State 40,200
Marshall 38,200
So. Miss 36,000
Ark St 31,000
Troy 30,500
ULM 30,400
LaTech 28,600
USA 25,500
GaSo 25,000
GaSt 25,300
ODU 22,500
Coastal 21,000

Compare this also to the stadium sizes in CUSA:

NMSU 28,853
MT 27,303
Liberty 25,000
Jax St 22,500
WKU 22,111
FIU 20,000
Delaware 18,500
Missouri St 17,500
Sam Houston 14,000
Kennesaw 10,300

The smaller stadiums in the SBC, those under 25k are also nicer and newer than what you'll find in the MAC. Ohio is 28,000 SRO with future expansion planned for the stadium. Had 27,000 in there last year. We aren't UMass with a cap of 17,000 with the ability to put in 17,500 max.

I go back and forth on it but I think the SBC can be pitched as a FB upgrade to the fans over playing in the MAC and its about the same value in FB as the new MWC but with all sports. I do like the MWC if that would come to pass though as NDSU, NIU are already in there and its a good set of academic schools overall. CUSA is the fallback option IMO if we are stranded by Miami in the MAC.

(10-12-2026 09:45 PM)polkhigh Wrote:  Checking in, rumblings of Ohio or Delaware to replace JMU.

The more I've thought about it the more I think its best the SBC just adds one in the east. If it goes to 16 that is going to push the conference toward a split.

Ohio IMO adds more value than Delaware. Travel partner for Marshall. Strong recruiting sate. Demonstrated success in FB & BB. Delaware has no history in BB and no history of note in FBS. Plus Delaware is a flight risk to the American.

(10-12-2026 10:45 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 09:45 PM)polkhigh Wrote:  Checking in, rumblings of Ohio or Delaware to replace JMU.

The more I've thought about it the more I think its best the SBC just adds one in the east. If it goes to 16 that is going to push the conference toward a split.

Ohio IMO adds more value than Delaware. Travel partner for Marshall. Strong recruiting sate. Demonstrated success in FB & BB. Delaware has no history in BB and no history of note in FBS. Plus Delaware is a flight risk to the American.

What makes ohio attractive again? 1 MAC C in football since the 60s?