(10-21-2026 01:20 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(10-20-2026 04:32 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  The MAC is better with Marshall. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be great to have them back.

Marshall has been in the MAC, CUSA and SBC.

Marshall's academics are less of a factor for the MWC as they'd be a negative for the AC or PAC, IMO.

You should take a look at Colo St, Aztechs, and Texas St academics before making this comment.

I'd say the chances of Marshall rejoining the MAC are somewhere around zero. I realize this was 20 years ago, but last time Marshall was in the league, everyone from their university higher-ups down to message board posters were pretty adamant of being in a southern-oriented league where most alumni are (and to be clear, there's nothing wrong with that).

So to move from the Sun Belt, even with losing a couple members, to the MAC would surprise me.

Marshall's best years were in the MAC. Those backwoods mouth breathing meth heads should come back.

(10-21-2026 09:12 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I'd say the chances of Marshall rejoining the MAC are somewhere around zero. I realize this was 20 years ago, but last time Marshall was in the league, everyone from their university higher-ups down to message board posters were pretty adamant of being in a southern-oriented league where most alumni are (and to be clear, there's nothing wrong with that).

So to move from the Sun Belt, even with losing a couple members, to the MAC would surprise me.

Testing the waters for AAC when they lose Memphis, USF, Tulane,etc.

(10-21-2026 09:18 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(10-21-2026 09:12 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I'd say the chances of Marshall rejoining the MAC are somewhere around zero. I realize this was 20 years ago, but last time Marshall was in the league, everyone from their university higher-ups down to message board posters were pretty adamant of being in a southern-oriented league where most alumni are (and to be clear, there's nothing wrong with that).

So to move from the Sun Belt, even with losing a couple members, to the MAC would surprise me.

Testing the waters for AAC when they lose Memphis, USF, Tulane,etc.

And it'd still be a fairly attractive slate even if 1 or 2 of those bigger brands skipped town (unless things really explode and they leave en masse). Quite honestly the military academies never excited me, but I know they do for a lot of people.

(10-20-2026 11:57 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  According to this guy (take it for what it's worth), most schools in the Sun Belt East, including Marshall, are looking to hit the institutional transfer portal.

https://x.com/Its_Coach_Steve/status/211...1392000348

And yet they all voted to raise the exit fee.

Do a little internet searching, and you will see there is a lot of hostility between the east and west divisions of the Sunbelt. The east division wants to eliminate divisions, and the west doesn't. The east thinks they are superior to the west. If they eliminated divisions the teams in west would never have a chance at the championship. Also the east was still pistoff about the addition of the Louisiana school. Also been seeing Marshall and Appy State is shopping around.

the trend of conferences realigned by which schools have ultra wealthy billionaires willing to dump a pot of money into a school's athletics is scary. of course, there were always wealthy boosters that gave fundraising a boost (it is "Savage Arena" no longer Centennial Hall) but it was more about the alumni and fan base, and the community support and connection, winning and tradition-all meaningful things. So, what? your mediocre athletic program can move up to a better league if some super rich dweeb wants that to be their side fling? another shared public resource pawned off to private equity.

Louisiana Board of Regents member Wilbert Pryor suggested that Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette (ULM/Ragin' Cajuns), and Louisiana-Monroe drop down from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) due to multi-million dollar athletic department deficits.
Looks like the Sunbelt may not last much longer, or maybe, just look much different.

(10-22-2026 07:36 AM)AllBronco Wrote:  Louisiana Board of Regents member Wilbert Pryor suggested that Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette (ULM/Ragin' Cajuns), and Louisiana-Monroe drop down from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) due to multi-million dollar athletic department deficits.
Looks like the Sunbelt may not last much longer, or maybe, just look much different.

I doubt this man's opinion needs to be taken much more seriously than those posted on this board. The Louisiana Board of Regents has made it clear they aren't going to force this issue.

(10-22-2026 08:04 AM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(10-22-2026 07:36 AM)AllBronco Wrote:  Louisiana Board of Regents member Wilbert Pryor suggested that Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette (ULM/Ragin' Cajuns), and Louisiana-Monroe drop down from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) due to multi-million dollar athletic department deficits.
Looks like the Sunbelt may not last much longer, or maybe, just look much different.

I doubt this man's opinion needs to be taken much more seriously than those posted on this board. The Louisiana Board of Regents has made it clear they aren't going to force this issue.

The regents member did not seem to care about LSU's $40-to-50 million deficit.

(10-22-2026 07:36 AM)AllBronco Wrote:  Louisiana Board of Regents member Wilbert Pryor suggested that Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette (ULM/Ragin' Cajuns), and Louisiana-Monroe drop down from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) due to multi-million dollar athletic department deficits.
Looks like the Sunbelt may not last much longer, or maybe, just look much different.

No offense--but, have you been on a vacation?

(10-22-2026 11:13 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  

(10-22-2026 07:36 AM)AllBronco Wrote:  Louisiana Board of Regents member Wilbert Pryor suggested that Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette (ULM/Ragin' Cajuns), and Louisiana-Monroe drop down from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) due to multi-million dollar athletic department deficits.
Looks like the Sunbelt may not last much longer, or maybe, just look much different.

No offense--but, have you been on a vacation?

I like your response.

(10-21-2026 07:29 AM)Johns1124 Wrote:  

(10-21-2026 01:20 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(10-20-2026 04:32 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  The MAC is better with Marshall. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be great to have them back.

Marshall has been in the MAC, CUSA and SBC.

Marshall's academics are less of a factor for the MWC as they'd be a negative for the AC or PAC, IMO.

You should take a look at Colo St, Aztechs, and Texas St academics before making this comment.

Boise State in the PAC12 is not a great school academically for sure. It was a JC originally. The PAC12 is not the old PAC12 academically by far. Also, USAFA in the MWC is one of the best schools in the entire group of 6 and would be highly ranked with all FBS. I think those factors have long been thrown out as the B10 took Nebraska.

More rumor "smoke" tonight about Toledo to MW.
(FB-ONLY of course)

I've seen a lot of buzz as well.

Ngl, all this realignment and musical chairs has been cheap entertainment the past half-dozen years. Yet there's a side of me that just ceases to care about what results from all the chaos. And indeed, I realize WMU (and EMU/CMU) will likely be left behind among whatever smoldering ashes are left. But quite frankly, it is what it is, and I'll be long past getting upset about however things turn out. It's been a nice run of fun.

(10-27-2026 12:16 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  More rumor "smoke" tonight about Toledo to MW.
(FB-ONLY of course)

No article.....source?

(10-27-2026 08:06 AM)indianasniff Wrote:  

(10-27-2026 12:16 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  More rumor "smoke" tonight about Toledo to MW.
(FB-ONLY of course)

No article.....source?

I've seen some Twitter accounts stir the pot the past couple days. Granted, nowhere near the Brett McMurphy or Adam Rittenberg level of confidence, but enough to where you can reasonably think it's not out of the question. NIU's gone and Miami has been very vocal about scooting out asap, so it's seems inevitable the Toledos and Ohios of the conference - two others that always seem to pop up in realignment talk - will poke around and start convos.

(10-27-2026 12:16 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  More rumor "smoke" tonight about Toledo to MW.
(FB-ONLY of course)

And that has worked out so well for NIU

In slight defense of NIU, it's way too early to determine if the decision was wise or not. Bad timing for the Huskies to have their worst team since the late 1990s (or perhaps good timing - MWC reached out and struck a deal right before the floor collapsed under them).

But you've got to give it at least a few years or so.