>>Hope posters here don't mind if I "guest post". Thank you.


MOUNTAIN WEST and FCS, etc.

WHY the MW (Ten FB members) will be very Wary of adding FCS Or FB-only members.

NCAA rules require EIGHT full-time members to be an FBS league.

--MW currently is living on the edge with only EIGHT (NDSU, NIU are FB only)
--Strong indications are they might lose two Full-timers to the PAC or even one to the American in the next 2-4 years

IMHO They will need to focus on adding Full-Time members in the near future. Might risk adding one more FB-only--maybe/maybe not.

Adding an FCS school will lower CFP Money and with the exception of NDSU MW has not added fcs.



Already FBS full-time candidates--

1-UC Davis, which seems to be likely

2-NMSU--especially if NM leaves, travel partner for UTEP saves money, BB tradition

3-SACRAMENTO--travel partner for UC Davis, travel savings, media, Cal recruiting; flexible-could be Full or FB-only

Possibles:

Tarleton full time, SDSU-FB only, Toledo-FB only


Conclusion>> Since the FB media minimum inventory is Ten and they are on the edge with only Eight full FBS members... It certainly seems logical that UC Davis, NMSU, and SAC would be first followed by Tarleton.

WHO are some OTHER Current FBS members that might come to the MW if asked?

Who did I leave out in the previous post?

I still don't think Toledo will join the MW but once Miami-OH leaves the MAC I think it is a matter of time before Ohio and Toledo go somewhere else. There are no good geographic fits for midwest G6 schools though.

(10-17-2026 05:45 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  >>Hope posters here don't mind if I "guest post". Thank you.


MOUNTAIN WEST and FCS, etc.

WHY the MW (Ten FB members) will be very Wary of adding FCS Or FB-only members.

NCAA rules require EIGHT full-time members to be an FBS league.

--MW currently is living on the edge with only EIGHT (NDSU, NIU are FB only)
--Strong indications are they might lose two Full-timers to the PAC or even one to the American in the next 2-4 years

IMHO They will need to focus on adding Full-Time members in the near future. Might risk adding one more FB-only--maybe/maybe not.

Adding an FCS school will lower CFP Money and with the exception of NDSU MW has not added fcs.



Already FBS full-time candidates--

1-UC Davis, which seems to be likely

2-NMSU--especially if NM leaves, travel partner for UTEP saves money, BB tradition

3-SACRAMENTO--travel partner for UC Davis, travel savings, media, Cal recruiting; flexible-could be Full or FB-only

Possibles:

Tarleton full time, SDSU-FB only, Toledo-FB only


Conclusion>> Since the FB media minimum inventory is Ten and they are on the edge with only Eight full FBS members... It certainly seems logical that UC Davis, NMSU, and SAC would be first followed by Tarleton.

MWC Flight Risks:
UNLV
UNM
UNR
GCU

FBS Candidates:
NMSU
- especially if UNM leaves for PAC
- travel partner for UTEP, old CUSA mates
- BB tradition
-- NMSU BB (NET 187 | 2025-26)

Sac St.
- travel partner for UC Davis, old BWC/BSC FB mates
- FBS transitioning
- flexible-could be Full or FB-only
-- Sac St. BB (NET 270 | 2025-26)

FCS Call Up Candidates:
Montana
- flexible-could be Full or FB-only
- Montana BB (NET 196 | 2025-26)

Montana St.
- flexible-could be Full or FB-only
- Montana St. BB (NET 132 | 2025-26)

Tarleton
- Tarleton St. BB (NET 230 | 2025-26)

UC Davis (FB Upgrade)
- UCD BB (NET 179 | 2025-26)
- Membership upgrade to MWC full member

SDST (FB Only)
- Reinforces MWC FB

UCI (Non-FB) | (NET 120 | 2025-26)
UCSD (Non-FB) | (NET 124 | 2025-26)
UCSB (Non-FB) | (NET 142 | 2025-26)


> NMSU, UCD, Sac. St. takes care of MWC full member loss...

> SDST, Montana, Montana St., reinforces MWC FB

> UCI, UCSD, UCSB, reinforces MWC BB
- MWC BB takes a hit if PAC takes top remaining BB schools
UNLV (NET 105 | 2025-26)
UNM (NET 46 | 2025-26)
UNR (NET 67 | 2025-26)
GCU (NET 71 | 2025-26)
- Top remaining MWC BB school
Wyo (NET 97 | 2025-26)


NCAA Men's Basketball NET Rankings
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

no FCS call ups. F that

(10-19-2026 08:27 AM)lakesbison Wrote:  no FCS call ups. F that

I agree, I think that is a last resort when your conference is near extinction (like what happened with CUSA not so long ago).

The MW commissioner already said she didn't want to add more schools because the media $ isn't there and it would just split the same pie more ways.

Also, if Miami-OH is willing to pay $40 million to join a new FBS conference that kind of sets the new going rate for joining a G6. Maybe the MW can't demand the same but slightly less at $20-$30 million entrance fee. What current FCS school has that kind of money? That doesn't even include the $5 million NCAA fee or the cost for adding more scholarships.

(10-19-2026 08:27 AM)lakesbison Wrote:  no FCS call ups. F that

Then- Let us in! Let us in! Let us in!

Now- Close the door! Close the door! Close the door!

(shakes head)

I'll take my shot using two assumptions: Gloria is going to be the aggressor, and football is the priority. For point two, the goal is to make the MWC a lock for a top 3 G6 conference every year.

Basically, we leverage the JMU move to the ACC and the exit fee increases that are coming for the MAC.

We offer Toledo and Western MI football-only memberships, with an entrance fee at the level that doesn't dilute existing member media payouts. Those programs will pay their own exit fees and move their Olympic sports to non-football conferences, like the Horizon.

This gives the MWC a central-eastern bloc for more TV windows and, if scheduled appropriately, could reduce travel. NUI, NDSU, WMU, and Toledo, as they could all be locked in annually, then do the same with protected matchups with the western schools.

The added teams could move to a 9-game OOC schedule with regional diversity to not be the exact same 9 games each year. If AFA complains, stay at 8.

Why for Toledo and WMU? This is the lowest-cost way to stop playing weekday games and increase SOS for CFP.

Why for MWC? Improve football competitiveness. Being in the conversation for a G6 CFP spot every year, with a two-loss champion. Hopefully not being automatically overlooked by PAC and AAC champions before the season starts.

This also fits Gloria's goal of a 12-member football league and repeats the playbook used for both NDSU and NIU.

Tarleton State is a no brainer.