Went to Nashville for spring break this year. Nashville was a blast in and of itself, but we also hit the JD distillery, which I would highly recommend, got bad BBQ in Memphis going to and from, and stayed two nights in Hot Springs. Hot Springs was pretty neat.

(10-14-2026 01:24 AM)TexanFan Wrote:  For me, CUSA, MWC and the SBC are our possibilities, and I have no idea where we stand with any of them. It is a possibility we don’t get an invite, but I believe this will be the only way we stay FCS.

If we only receive one invitation, we will take it.

Personally, I think our best current and future place to grow, is the Mountain West. However, I would have no issue if we join CUSA and get the opportunity to compete against our old buddy and best friend Sammy.

I think we will make a great addition to whichever FBS conference invites us, if one does.

All 3 are "possible" but I do not think the SBC is viable, especially if they increase the exit fee to 25M Everyone knows it would only be a temp thing for us until we go to MWC so why would we agree to go there if we will have to pay some BS extortion fee. Its like agreeing to buy a Toyota Corolla for 200k. Not saying it is not a good car, just not worth that kind of money and we are in the market for a Camry. If CUSA does the same, making the exit fee outrageous for what it is, that would be like buying a Mitshubishi Mirage for 500k. No thanks. If we have to stay in FCS a few more years to get into the MWC I am good with that. But there is no use wasting millions of dollars on entry and exit fees when we know the MWC will in all likely hood be our landing spot within the next 5 years. We may very well go to SBC or CUSA first but I think that would be a huge mistake.

(10-16-2026 03:30 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  

(10-14-2026 01:24 AM)TexanFan Wrote:  For me, CUSA, MWC and the SBC are our possibilities, and I have no idea where we stand with any of them. It is a possibility we don’t get an invite, but I believe this will be the only way we stay FCS.

If we only receive one invitation, we will take it.

Personally, I think our best current and future place to grow, is the Mountain West. However, I would have no issue if we join CUSA and get the opportunity to compete against our old buddy and best friend Sammy.

I think we will make a great addition to whichever FBS conference invites us, if one does.

All 3 are "possible" but I do not think the SBC is viable, especially if they increase the exit fee to 25M Everyone knows it would only be a temp thing for us until we go to MWC so why would we agree to go there if we will have to pay some BS extortion fee. Its like agreeing to buy a Toyota Corolla for 200k. Not saying it is not a good car, just not worth that kind of money and we are in the market for a Camry. If CUSA does the same, making the exit fee outrageous for what it is, that would be like buying a Mitshubishi Mirage for 500k. No thanks. If we have to stay in FCS a few more years to get into the MWC I am good with that. But there is no use wasting millions of dollars on entry and exit fees when we know the MWC will in all likely hood be our landing spot within the next 5 years. We may very well go to SBC or CUSA first but I think that would be a huge mistake.

Based on the fact that NDSU had to do it, y'all are going to get extorted no matter where you go. Is it worth it for y'all to pay 28 million+ for the MWC?

(10-16-2026 06:20 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(10-16-2026 03:30 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  

(10-14-2026 01:24 AM)TexanFan Wrote:  For me, CUSA, MWC and the SBC are our possibilities, and I have no idea where we stand with any of them. It is a possibility we don’t get an invite, but I believe this will be the only way we stay FCS.

If we only receive one invitation, we will take it.

Personally, I think our best current and future place to grow, is the Mountain West. However, I would have no issue if we join CUSA and get the opportunity to compete against our old buddy and best friend Sammy.

I think we will make a great addition to whichever FBS conference invites us, if one does.

All 3 are "possible" but I do not think the SBC is viable, especially if they increase the exit fee to 25M Everyone knows it would only be a temp thing for us until we go to MWC so why would we agree to go there if we will have to pay some BS extortion fee. Its like agreeing to buy a Toyota Corolla for 200k. Not saying it is not a good car, just not worth that kind of money and we are in the market for a Camry. If CUSA does the same, making the exit fee outrageous for what it is, that would be like buying a Mitshubishi Mirage for 500k. No thanks. If we have to stay in FCS a few more years to get into the MWC I am good with that. But there is no use wasting millions of dollars on entry and exit fees when we know the MWC will in all likely hood be our landing spot within the next 5 years. We may very well go to SBC or CUSA first but I think that would be a huge mistake.

Based on the fact that NDSU had to do it, y'all are going to get extorted no matter where you go. Is it worth it for y'all to pay 28 million+ for the MWC?

They's too good for C-USA. Er'body is a'wanting Tarleyton

This may be funny to look back on in a few years.

(10-12-2026 12:28 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:00 PM)Blue Raider Dave Wrote:  The ADs and Presidents of MAC, SBC and C-USA schools should now all get in a room and pool all their teams into a new conglomeration based entirely on geographic considerations. We’re all just fighting to stay alive anyway. Pipe dream, I know, but screw it.

That sounds nice but who benefits? The SBC and MAC are already pretty regional so this would help CUSA schools way more. Why would the SBC and MAC want to help CUSA for minimal gain?

Did anyone answer this part yet?

(10-16-2026 11:29 AM)caribbeanhen Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:28 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:00 PM)Blue Raider Dave Wrote:  The ADs and Presidents of MAC, SBC and C-USA schools should now all get in a room and pool all their teams into a new conglomeration based entirely on geographic considerations. We’re all just fighting to stay alive anyway. Pipe dream, I know, but screw it.

That sounds nice but who benefits? The SBC and MAC are already pretty regional so this would help CUSA schools way more. Why would the SBC and MAC want to help CUSA for minimal gain?

Did anyone answer this part yet?

There is no answer to it because its not possible. The only edge CUSA has is that its Media deal is pretty set. MAC's expires in July, and the SBC has a look in beginning in 2027, though ours doesn't expire until 2031.

CUSA is holding meetings on exit fees in the hope that it can play its one advantage to keeping the league together. Because in a world of pretty much equal TV money, schools are going to naturally realign geographically.

Hard to believe FIU is never mentioned for upward movement.

That school is HUGE, with Wall Street Journal ranking them the No. 1 university in Florida and No. 54 nationally.

I know they are on an island, but you cannot ask for a better recruiting area.

If they ever got an athletics-minded president.........

I do think their new AD had done some good things cleaning up the mess that Garcia made.

(10-16-2026 12:33 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Hard to believe FIU is never mentioned for upward movement.

That school is HUGE, with Wall Street Journal ranking them the No. 1 university in Florida and No. 54 nationally.

I know they are on an island, but you cannot ask for a better recruiting area.

If they ever got an athletics-minded president.........

I do think their new AD had done some good things cleaning up the mess that Garcia made.

I think the bolded text above is the answer to your question.

Other than prior athletic success (or lack thereof), FIU's biggest issue is purely geographical. CUSA would prefer them gone only because of their distance from other schools. (Same as NMSU.) It's nothing personal -- it's just an extreme distance.

They are no more attractive to the Sun Belt, for exactly the same reasons.

(It goes without saying the MWC and PAC are off the table.)

That leaves the American, which DOES have travel partners for FIU, while they last.

USF could be on the way out, which potentially could open the door for another team in the lower half of the Peninsula, but the AAC already has a presence in the Miami-Ft Lauderdale market with FAU.

Rather than duplicating markets, if USF were to bolt, most AAC presidents would probably simply choose to eat the travel costs and not have a travel partner for FAU.

Would that attitude change if FIU were to suddenly commit to athletics and become a strong CFP candidate in football and a unit-producing force in March Madness? Almost certainly.

But that turnaround hasn't happened yet. So like NMSU, they'll have a home in CUSA for the foreseeable future.

(10-16-2026 11:29 AM)caribbeanhen Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:28 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:00 PM)Blue Raider Dave Wrote:  The ADs and Presidents of MAC, SBC and C-USA schools should now all get in a room and pool all their teams into a new conglomeration based entirely on geographic considerations. We’re all just fighting to stay alive anyway. Pipe dream, I know, but screw it.

That sounds nice but who benefits? The SBC and MAC are already pretty regional so this would help CUSA schools way more. Why would the SBC and MAC want to help CUSA for minimal gain?

Did anyone answer this part yet?

I'll give an answer. The MAC-other than OHIO (possibly) wouldn't be involved.

The SBC would "help" or cooperate with CUSA because the SBC has become two different conferences in a "somewhat" unhappy marriage. WEST vs EAST.

Geographically SBC WEST and some CUSA schools in several ways have closer similarities/goals.

Same with certain Eastern CUSA schools and the SBC EAST.

A cooperative "swap" of some members would allow schools to join other like-minded institutions And create travel savings and possibly more rivalries.

This is a hypothetical solution^ In the real world--Egoes, bureaucracies, etc. get in the way.

BENEFITS??

Again--both sides gain. Two twelve team conferences save on travel. But> Mainly budgets, enrollment size, and philosophies would have more in common in each league.

(10-16-2026 04:51 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  

(10-16-2026 11:29 AM)caribbeanhen Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:28 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:00 PM)Blue Raider Dave Wrote:  The ADs and Presidents of MAC, SBC and C-USA schools should now all get in a room and pool all their teams into a new conglomeration based entirely on geographic considerations. We’re all just fighting to stay alive anyway. Pipe dream, I know, but screw it.

That sounds nice but who benefits? The SBC and MAC are already pretty regional so this would help CUSA schools way more. Why would the SBC and MAC want to help CUSA for minimal gain?

Did anyone answer this part yet?

I'll give an answer. The MAC-other than OHIO (possibly) wouldn't be involved.

The SBC would "help" or cooperate with CUSA because the SBC has become two different conferences in a "somewhat" unhappy marriage. WEST vs EAST.

Geographically SBC WEST and some CUSA schools in several ways have closer similarities/goals.

Same with certain Eastern CUSA schools and the SBC EAST.

A cooperative "swap" of some members would allow schools to join other like-minded institutions And create travel savings and possibly more rivalries.

This is a hypothetical solution^ In the real world--Egoes, bureaucracies, etc. get in the way.

BENEFITS??

Again--both sides gain. Two twelve team conferences save on travel. But> Mainly budgets, enrollment size, and philosophies would have more in common in each league.

You have to put league names to the side when you start looking at these things. People seem to forget that most of the Western half of CUSA/SBC shared a league together at one point and know each other well.

I know the SBC West crowd was pretty jaded when MTSU/WKU etc left for CUSA (I know I was), and some of us have long memories, but at a school level its not like we hated each other. WE just had different goals at the time. Same mistake is happening with the SBC East and West right now. There are slightly different goals, doesn't mean the schools dislike one another.

If Louisiana Tech, who literally had its actual Athletic Director trashing the SBC and other Louisiana Schools 6 years ago, can join the SBC Now, then any school could move if everything worked right. (Side note: That dude is an expert at falling upward.)

(10-17-2026 09:19 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-16-2026 04:51 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  

(10-16-2026 11:29 AM)caribbeanhen Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:28 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:00 PM)Blue Raider Dave Wrote:  The ADs and Presidents of MAC, SBC and C-USA schools should now all get in a room and pool all their teams into a new conglomeration based entirely on geographic considerations. We’re all just fighting to stay alive anyway. Pipe dream, I know, but screw it.

That sounds nice but who benefits? The SBC and MAC are already pretty regional so this would help CUSA schools way more. Why would the SBC and MAC want to help CUSA for minimal gain?

Did anyone answer this part yet?

I'll give an answer. The MAC-other than OHIO (possibly) wouldn't be involved.

The SBC would "help" or cooperate with CUSA because the SBC has become two different conferences in a "somewhat" unhappy marriage. WEST vs EAST.

Geographically SBC WEST and some CUSA schools in several ways have closer similarities/goals.

Same with certain Eastern CUSA schools and the SBC EAST.

A cooperative "swap" of some members would allow schools to join other like-minded institutions And create travel savings and possibly more rivalries.

This is a hypothetical solution^ In the real world--Egoes, bureaucracies, etc. get in the way.

BENEFITS??

Again--both sides gain. Two twelve team conferences save on travel. But> Mainly budgets, enrollment size, and philosophies would have more in common in each league.

You have to put league names to the side when you start looking at these things. People seem to forget that most of the Western half of CUSA/SBC shared a league together at one point and know each other well.

I know the SBC West crowd was pretty jaded when MTSU/WKU etc left for CUSA (I know I was), and some of us have long memories, but at a school level its not like we hated each other. WE just had different goals at the time. Same mistake is happening with the SBC East and West right now. There are slightly different goals, doesn't mean the schools dislike one another.

If Louisiana Tech, who literally had its actual Athletic Director trashing the SBC and other Louisiana Schools 6 years ago, can join the SBC Now, then any school could move if everything worked right. (Side note: That dude is an expert at falling upward.)

I know the Cajuns were pissed off, at that time, that they were not invited to go to CUSA. They were absolutely livid. So........ if it weren't WKU or MT they would have left. Not sure about Arkansas State, but I assume they would have. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

(10-14-2026 08:59 AM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Sounds like if Tarlyton ever makes it in, they'll immediately be looking to move elsewhere.

Can a conference put a bigger GOR on a single team ?

This might be a major 2nd reason why CUSA is looking to increase their exit fee.

I don't think they want to invite Tarlton only to see them leave for the Mountain West as soon as UC Davis is ready to jump to for football.

(10-15-2026 01:30 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  plenty of things to do in CUSA areas other than Las Cruces, as well (I, too, take side trips)

Corvette Museum
Mammoth Cave
Nashville, the supposed "it" city right now
Civil War National Battlefield & Museum in Murfreesboro (one of bloodiest battles)
Jack Daniels Distillery
Miami/Key West -- cheap airline tickets into Miami
Shenandoah National Park
Atlanta
beautiful North Georgia Appalachians
Houston
Little River Canyon

There are cool places to see and do pretty much everywhere you go, from nature, to large cities, etc. You just have to do your homework.

For instance, I really enjoyed Hot Springs, AR, when we were in the Sun Belt.

To add to the CUSA sightseeing discussion:

Here are just a few side trip ideas if you visit Delaware for a football or basketball game

• Day trip to NYC, Philly, Baltimore or DC. The Newark Amtrak station is diagonally across the street from the football stadium (though limited trains stop at Newark). The Wilmington, DE Amtrak station (all trains stop there) is a short drive away.
• day trip to Pennsylvania ski resorts via car
• day trip to Delaware beaches or Jersey Shore (Delaware beaches are far better), great idea for Sept football games.
• Hershey, PA (home of Hershey's Chocolate, Hersheypark and several other Hershey related attractions) is only 70 miles away
• For the wives and daughters: The King of Prussia Mall (the largest mall in American in regards to dedicated retail square footage) is only 49 miles from Delaware's football stadium.
• Also for the wives, Day trips to cute Chesapeake Bay towns in Maryland like Annapolis, St. Michael's, etc.
• NASCAR at Dover International Speedway (used to be called Dover Downs) - however, the race is currently in May only, the fall race was moved to Nashville. So only a baseball option right now, unless race is ever moved back to fall.

I know that MBB is important too many fans here (especially WKU) so I did an exercise to see something. I know that WKU fans likely favor the East teams but...

since the 2022 Sun Belt expansion the West (without Tech obviously and also Texas St.) has had an average final NET of 202 while the East without JMU (since they are exiting) of 229.9. I get that's not great but if ULM were subtracted it jumps up to 177 for the other 5 in the West. WKU during that time had a NET of 157.75 and Tech had an average NET of 151.75.

It's also clear that teams in the Western division (-ULM) have been trying harder in MBB. As a result the Sun Belt would be the better basketball league in a split and the East-faction would likely only be marginally better in football, especially if there were ever a way for the West to drop our anchor. Just thought some of that info was interesting and some here might see it as interesting too.

(10-16-2026 06:20 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(10-16-2026 03:30 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  

(10-14-2026 01:24 AM)TexanFan Wrote:  For me, CUSA, MWC and the SBC are our possibilities, and I have no idea where we stand with any of them. It is a possibility we don’t get an invite, but I believe this will be the only way we stay FCS.

If we only receive one invitation, we will take it.

Personally, I think our best current and future place to grow, is the Mountain West. However, I would have no issue if we join CUSA and get the opportunity to compete against our old buddy and best friend Sammy.

I think we will make a great addition to whichever FBS conference invites us, if one does.

All 3 are "possible" but I do not think the SBC is viable, especially if they increase the exit fee to 25M Everyone knows it would only be a temp thing for us until we go to MWC so why would we agree to go there if we will have to pay some BS extortion fee. Its like agreeing to buy a Toyota Corolla for 200k. Not saying it is not a good car, just not worth that kind of money and we are in the market for a Camry. If CUSA does the same, making the exit fee outrageous for what it is, that would be like buying a Mitshubishi Mirage for 500k. No thanks. If we have to stay in FCS a few more years to get into the MWC I am good with that. But there is no use wasting millions of dollars on entry and exit fees when we know the MWC will in all likely hood be our landing spot within the next 5 years. We may very well go to SBC or CUSA first but I think that would be a huge mistake.

Based on the fact that NDSU had to do it, y'all are going to get extorted no matter where you go. Is it worth it for y'all to pay 28 million+ for the MWC?

Probably not. It is going to be interesting to watch Sac St. over next few years to see if they can be competitive in the MAC. With all the $ they are paying, do they have enough leftover to field rosters?

Our president hasn’t bragged and put FCS schools down to warrant our willingness to spend whatever it takes and then not field competitive teams.

Ohio wants out of the MAC, somehow get them and Illinois State to join CUSA and the conference and that would be my ideal invites. Would really round out the conference geography.

ILL St is the only FCS school I'm interested in.

(10-19-2026 02:18 PM)msu_bears Wrote:  Ohio wants out of the MAC, somehow get them and Illinois State to join CUSA and the conference and that would be my ideal invites. Would really round out the conference geography.

ILL St is the only FCS school I'm interested in.

Unfortunately the RedBIRDS just don't have the money. AD--"Not on my watch."

(10-12-2026 01:03 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Let me take a crack at this just going by geography as you suggested…..

MAC…………..……..SunBelt………………CUSA
UMass……………….Ohio……………………Jax St.
Buffalo………………Marshall……………..Troy
Delaware…………..Liberty……………….S. Alabama
Kent…………………..ODU…………………..S. Miss
Akron…………………App St………………..Louisiana
Bowling Green…..CCU……………………La Tech
Toledo…………………Kennesaw St…….La Monroe
E. Michigan………..Georgia St…………Arkansas St.
C. Michigan………..Georgia So……….Missouri St.
W. Michigan………..FIU…………………..Sam Houston St.
Miami (OH)…………WKU…………………NM State
Ball St…………………MTSU……………….Sac St.

I don’t think you could get teams to agree to that.

Southwest 10 Conference

UNT
UTSA
Tx St
Rice
Sam Houston St
UTEP
Tarleton St
UTRGV
Tulsa
La Tech

Service Academies
Army
Navy
Air Force

(10-19-2026 05:25 PM)adub4ever Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 01:03 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Let me take a crack at this just going by geography as you suggested…..

MAC…………..……..SunBelt………………CUSA
UMass……………….Ohio……………………Jax St.
Buffalo………………Marshall……………..Troy
Delaware…………..Liberty……………….S. Alabama
Kent…………………..ODU…………………..S. Miss
Akron…………………App St………………..Louisiana
Bowling Green…..CCU……………………La Tech
Toledo…………………Kennesaw St…….La Monroe
E. Michigan………..Georgia St…………Arkansas St.
C. Michigan………..Georgia So……….Missouri St.
W. Michigan………..FIU…………………..Sam Houston St.
Miami (OH)…………WKU…………………NM State
Ball St…………………MTSU……………….Sac St.

I don’t think you could get teams to agree to that.

Southwest 10 Conference

UNT
UTSA
Tx St
Rice
Sam Houston St
UTEP
Tarleton St
UTRGV
Tulsa
La Tech

Service Academies
Army
Navy
Air Force

That would be very Texasycentric!