(02-07-2020 02:00 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(02-07-2020 10:27 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-07-2020 08:46 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(02-07-2020 07:52 AM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  

(02-07-2020 02:04 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  Seems like the prediction is JMU and Missouri State joining an FBS conference as full members, NDSU joining an FBS conference as a FB-only member.

If the Big Ten AD's had stood firm on their "no FCS games" agreement, I might see Northern Iowa and NDSU into the MAC FB-only, putting Toledo in the Eastern division. Not likely, but possible.

IOW, so Northern Iowa can continue to play Iowa and Iowa State in alternation.

But with the rule set at one FCS school in the year your division has four Big Ten home games, that hypothetical incentive for Northern Iowa to move has disappeared.

I don't think adding one East and one West school works for getting enough votes in the MAC for expansion ... it leaves Toledo and Bowling Green divided so the MAC would still have to have the locked cross division schedules, except the impact gets worse with only two cross division games per year. Between hosting Toledo more often, and adding JMU, I figure the majority of the MAC East votes to host Toledo more often, which is a "No" vote on adding JMU.

I went to the JMU board to get fans' opinions (yes, I know fans are not the decision makers), and they think JMU is holding out for a reshuffle between C-USA and the Sun Belt. They said they would like to be in a league with, namely, ODU, Marshall, and App State, along with other regional opponents. The MAC doesn't seem to be on their radar.

Take it FWIW.

Likely true. In fact I don't see any more move ups happening unless there is a shake up at the G5 level. CUSA's Inn is certainly full and the SB and MAC seem content with their membership. I don't think anyone has the resources or desire to go the Liberty route nd move up to independent status. If the AAC replaces a UCONN and a spot opens up it would be interesting to see if JMU would accept a spot in one of the conferences as they stand now if approached. Of course with UMASS, Liberty and NMSU hanging out there replacing a single member from an AAC raid would not necessarily mean a move up. If there's some major shake ups who knows.

If the Atlantic 10 continues to fade in basketball, it seems more likely the MAC would add UMass and then offer UConn for football only.

That would be huge for both the MAC and UConn. Those two could become legit football rivals.

We're already scheduling to play every season.

Also "A-10 continues to fade" is a bit much. Is it the heyday? No, but still clearly in the mix for top non-Power conferences and can have top seeds in the tournament (Dayton projects to be a 2 seed, and at this point there are likely going to be 3 A10 teams, and maybe a 4th if a bid is stolen in the conference tournament).