(10-13-2026 08:45 PM)Flat Tire 2 Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 08:25 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 08:04 PM)Flat Tire 2 Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 07:46 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 11:09 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  JMU has shown the way to schedule. They usually schedule 0 or 1 low tier P5. You can reach the college playoff just as easy or perhaps easier in the MAC. Just need to schedule your way in.

They’d certainly schedule more power programs if they could get them, but their success makes ADs hesitant to schedule them. Last they they had Louisville who was supposed to be a power, they went to North Carolina the year before and hung 70 on them, beat Virginia the year before that, and Louisville in 2022. They had VaTech scheduled for years and they kept re-scheduling until this year when they just canceled and paid the guarantee just to drop them. They had to scramble late and were able to get San Diego State late and they were supposed to be one of the top G5s but have had a tough run this season. They played Liberty earlier and also have UConn later on.

Has JMU ever played or scheduled a game against a real power school P4 school from the SEC or B10?

They’ve only been an FBS program since 2022. They’re located in Virginia not Michigan or Florida, so scheduling ACC teams makes more sense.

I think it is called scheduling down. If you are afraid, get a dog. A lot of 1-AA teams played power teams, remember App beating Michigan at the Big House?

It’s called having 3/4 of your schedule mandated by the conference and choosing a blend of 1 FCS home game, 1 P4 and 2 solid G5s, there’s no need to be a dick about it. That loss at the Big House changed scheduling for many ADs at power programs, they’re hesitant to schedule teams that may pull off the upset. Look no further than the OOC records this year against P4 programs 2-64 (American 1-11, MAC 1-17, CUSA 0-9, Pac-12 0-12, and Sun Belt 0-15) as proof they’re choosing the opponents more carefully while the divide grows larger.

D1AA teams have beaten power programs over the years, JMU was one that beat ACC champ and Orange Bowl-bound VaTech and they’ve been hesitant to play them ever since, finally buying out this years game. BTW, this was brought on by the discussion of a team leaving a conference for better competition and teams trying to better themselves, not one trying to schedule down. They transitioned from FCS to FBS in record fashion and haven’t missed a beat.

I believe Ohio, Liberty, and WKU are the main players here.

A writer at the DNR reported just a few months ago that Ohio had held preliminary discussions with the SBC about a potential move, but then Ohio admin denied it.

I also think Liberty isn't the black sheep like they once were. They've cleaned up most of their admin issues, and their athletics is very much on par with JMU, if not better.

I think WKU is the most logical choice based on geography... but it's really going to depend on who the East SBC schools want. Liberty has the most upside to replace JMU.

The comments make it sound like Miami (OH) to the AC is near completion. Guess we will see if this X account has good sources.

(10-13-2026 11:27 PM)hburg Wrote:  The comments make it sound like Miami (OH) to the AC is near completion. Guess we will see if this X account has good sources.

While it's entirely possible it's true, it's challenging for me to trust someone who only have ~3,500 followers.

(10-13-2026 08:04 PM)Flat Tire 2 Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 07:46 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 11:09 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  JMU has shown the way to schedule. They usually schedule 0 or 1 low tier P5. You can reach the college playoff just as easy or perhaps easier in the MAC. Just need to schedule your way in.

They’d certainly schedule more power programs if they could get them, but their success makes ADs hesitant to schedule them. Last they they had Louisville who was supposed to be a power, they went to North Carolina the year before and hung 70 on them, beat Virginia the year before that, and Louisville in 2022. They had VaTech scheduled for years and they kept re-scheduling until this year when they just canceled and paid the guarantee just to drop them. They had to scramble late and were able to get San Diego State late and they were supposed to be one of the top G5s but have had a tough run this season. They played Liberty earlier and also have UConn later on.

Has JMU ever played or scheduled a game against a real power school P4 school from the SEC or B10?

Not to mention their Achilles' heel; Louisville

Anyone see this

https://x.com/UConnHuskyAD/status/210350...78959?s=20

(10-13-2026 08:45 PM)Flat Tire 2 Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 08:25 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 08:04 PM)Flat Tire 2 Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 07:46 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 11:09 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  JMU has shown the way to schedule. They usually schedule 0 or 1 low tier P5. You can reach the college playoff just as easy or perhaps easier in the MAC. Just need to schedule your way in.

They’d certainly schedule more power programs if they could get them, but their success makes ADs hesitant to schedule them. Last they they had Louisville who was supposed to be a power, they went to North Carolina the year before and hung 70 on them, beat Virginia the year before that, and Louisville in 2022. They had VaTech scheduled for years and they kept re-scheduling until this year when they just canceled and paid the guarantee just to drop them. They had to scramble late and were able to get San Diego State late and they were supposed to be one of the top G5s but have had a tough run this season. They played Liberty earlier and also have UConn later on.

Has JMU ever played or scheduled a game against a real power school P4 school from the SEC or B10?

They’ve only been an FBS program since 2022. They’re located in Virginia not Michigan or Florida, so scheduling ACC teams makes more sense.

I think it is called scheduling down. If you are afraid, get a dog. A lot of 1-AA teams played power teams, remember App beating Michigan at the Big House?

(10-14-2026 08:34 AM)AllBronco Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 08:45 PM)Flat Tire 2 Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 08:25 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 08:04 PM)Flat Tire 2 Wrote:  

(10-13-2026 07:46 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  They’d certainly schedule more power programs if they could get them, but their success makes ADs hesitant to schedule them. Last they they had Louisville who was supposed to be a power, they went to North Carolina the year before and hung 70 on them, beat Virginia the year before that, and Louisville in 2022. They had VaTech scheduled for years and they kept re-scheduling until this year when they just canceled and paid the guarantee just to drop them. They had to scramble late and were able to get San Diego State late and they were supposed to be one of the top G5s but have had a tough run this season. They played Liberty earlier and also have UConn later on.

Has JMU ever played or scheduled a game against a real power school P4 school from the SEC or B10?

They’ve only been an FBS program since 2022. They’re located in Virginia not Michigan or Florida, so scheduling ACC teams makes more sense.

I think it is called scheduling down. If you are afraid, get a dog. A lot of 1-AA teams played power teams, remember App beating Michigan at the Big House?

Western Michigan played Michigan twice this year. Western won the 60 minute game, and Michigan won the 1 second game.

(10-13-2026 08:56 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I don’t begrudge any school for testing out the waters in this environment. But I’m not convinced attendance would see much difference for any of us.

Not to pile on NIU. But they hosted arguably the biggest MWC “name” on a beautiful evening (Air Force) and posted 15K and change. Of course a tough W-L record is doing them no favors.

We probably shouldn't have even gotten that many. We have a 3-14 record since start of 2025 season. Just goes to show what type of attendance we could get if we got back to our winning ways.

(10-13-2026 08:26 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  Yet schools like Marshall, App State and Toledo and other's have beaten P4 schools ranked in the top 10 and have no issue scheduling them.

Correct, the excuse fans give that they can't schedule them is just a fake reason they give themselves.

NIU is third among all G6 schools in p4 wins since 2000 season and we are able to get 2-3 p4s on our schedule every season. My guess is JMU doesn't want to play less home games is the real reason?

I am still convinced a lot of this is just musical chairs to move conferences just to move conferences. The AD’s are trying to put a stamp on their resumes.

Is An American with UTSA, Miami of Ohio, Florida Atlantic, & North Texas that great? What will the fans do when they find out the school isn’t putting any more money into the program? This isn’t the American with teams that got demoted from the Big East with Louisville, Rutgers, & Cincinnati.

Heck, the Mount West that NIU left to is a rebooted WAC. & the current PAC is the old MW. I call a duck a duck if it looks & quacks like a duck

I agree James Madison’s schedule this year is weak. North Dakota St too. My prediction is JMU & NDSU fall once we get further from their move from FCS. This happens to teams that move up like Georgia Southern. Even in the MAC’s history with CMU.

(10-14-2026 10:50 AM)Bronco14 Wrote:  I am still convinced a lot of this is just musical chairs to move conferences just to move conferences. The AD’s are trying to put a stamp on their resumes.

Is An American with UTSA, Miami of Ohio, Florida Atlantic, & North Texas that great? What will the fans do when they find out the school isn’t putting any more money into the program? This isn’t the American with teams that got demoted from the Big East with Louisville, Rutgers, & Cincinnati.

Heck, the Mount West that NIU left to is a rebooted WAC. & the current PAC is the old MW. I call a duck a duck if it looks & quacks like a duck

I agree James Madison’s schedule this year is weak. North Dakota St too. My prediction is JMU & NDSU fall once we get further from their move from FCS. This happens to teams that move up like Georgia Southern. Even in the MAC’s history with CMU.

I feel it depends for who. The SEC has clearly gotten better from realignement. The Big 10 it's debatable if the teams they added really made them better, but they certainly helped make them wealthier. From there you just got the Big 12 and ACC fighting to keep their seat at the big boys table. After that the American is probably the best conference, but I'm not sure it's really any better than what the C-USA was 15-20 years ago. You just have a bunch of teams paying massive buyouts to play similar type teams under a different conference name. Obviously there are a few exceptions with programs like Houston.

Quote:Anyone see this

https://x.com/UConnHuskyAD/status/210350...78959?s=20

The Twitter/X post pointing out what was stated a little while ago, of UCONN/Miami-OH/JMU all talking to AAC conference to possibly join -- then later just recently, JMU did join? Yeah. Thing is, is UCONN & Miami-OH quite possibly able/wanting to join, also given whatever deal they give out? I would say better chance for UCONN ending up joining / wanted fairly by AAC Conference. Thing is, as a small side-note, adding in both UCONN & Miami-OH after bringing in JMU, gives them an odd # of teams. I would say they'll likely take 1 or the other.

Part of me is thinking when ya got 16+ teams in your conference, having two separate divisions is better, not worse. But said divisions every 5 years or so, shifted around based on teams' estimated performance/strength years, based on recent performance years -- to strongly avoid not-great team playing in said conference championship game.

The expectation is that Miami is leaving the MAC for the American with an announcement likely within the next two months.

Among the most likely candidates to replace JMU in the SBC are Delaware, MTSU and WKU. Delaware and WKU are among schools to keep an eye on for MAC expansion as well.

Sad, but good for them.

Regarding Delaware and the Sun Belt. If the Sun Belt goes through with a vote for a 25M exit fee and it passes, can see Delaware sitting tight or be in play for the MAC. Believe they eyes on the American with Temple right there and Navy as well for now.

(10-14-2026 06:56 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  The expectation is that Miami is leaving the MAC for the American with an announcement likely within the next two months.

Among the most likely candidates to replace JMU in the SBC are Delaware, MTSU and WKU. Delaware and WKU are among schools to keep an eye on for MAC expansion as well.

I don't think any CUSA teams can afford to leave CUSA, except for Liberty. The GOR they all signed, on top of the exit fees, will likely prevent it IMO.

I believe the realistic options are Ohio and Liberty... with Ohio being the most likely. Liberty is only and option because they can afford it.

I have to believe the talks with espn are not going well and hence teams are looking to get out of the MAC as soon as possible. This just makes no sense otherwise

(10-15-2026 08:07 AM)cmufanatic Wrote:  I have to believe the talks with espn are not going well and hence teams are looking to get out of the MAC as soon as possible. This just makes no sense otherwise

Just my opinion based on no evidence, but I think TV deals only have a modest impact on what's going on right now in the MAC. IOW, Miami wasn't going to stop offering $30M to join the AAC even if those talks were going 'better.'

(10-14-2026 06:56 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  The expectation is that Miami is leaving the MAC for the American with an announcement likely within the next two months.

Among the most likely candidates to replace JMU in the SBC are Delaware, MTSU and WKU. Delaware and WKU are among schools to keep an eye on for MAC expansion as well.

Lose Miami & pick up Delaware & Western Kentucky. Who cares losing Miami. Miami can't even win the MAC. & it' expands the MAC footprint. MAC wins