No surprise, whatsoever!

https://x.com/collegead/status/211230989...91V3SgsUtQ

As one does.

In other words, they are at that point in their media contract negotiations.

(10-20-2026 01:22 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  In other words, they are at that point in their media contract negotiations.

More likely they’ve caught wind of veracity to the rumors of schools trying to leave.

The MAC is reportedly considering raising its exit fee to $10 million. Not sure if that's a flat rate or an amount tied to a departure timeline. I'm quite sure what the membership ultimately agrees to will leak out.

Are the votes going to be there to sign off on this?

Which school would vote for it?

(10-21-2026 07:37 AM)indianasniff Wrote:  Which school would vote for it?

Most will, don't you think? I'd be surprised if Bowling Green does not support this. Our university president, Rodney K. Rogers, chairs the MAC Council of Presidents.

I think most schools who have no other options outside of C-USA, MWC, or the SBC would vote for this. I can't see anyone bolting for one of those conferences, and honestly, why would they. This is to prevent schools from going to the AAC, or PAC.

They made it easier so staff and players can change their affiliations, but heavily penalize the Universities that want a better deal. Sounds like this might not hold up in the high Courts.

(10-21-2026 09:10 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  They made it easier so staff and players can change their affiliations, but heavily penalize the Universities that want a better deal. Sounds like this might not hold up in the high Courts.

Why? MAC is an association of universities playing under the umbrella of the NCAA.

The MAC, by vote, can change their by-laws and this would seemingly be a case.

I have no idea what the required majority is (e.g.. 75% vote???).

The MAC should to discourage lateral moves. That's what the other G5 schools are doing. If the AAC or PAC-12 come calling the extra $5-$8 million isn't a deal breaker. It more discourages the lateral moves to the SB or C-USA.

(10-21-2026 10:58 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(10-21-2026 09:10 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  They made it easier so staff and players can change their affiliations, but heavily penalize the Universities that want a better deal. Sounds like this might not hold up in the high Courts.

Why? MAC is an association of universities playing under the umbrella of the NCAA.

The MAC, by vote, can change their by-laws and this would seemingly be a case.

I have no idea what the required majority is (e.g.. 75% vote???).

Yes, I read it would require 75% majority, which would be 9 votes. The only school that would openly oppose would be Miami I would guess. Toledo had their chance to go to the MWC, but decided not to. OU might be tempted to leave if Miami leaves so that might reject it, but that would be 10 yes vs 2 no.

Really should just make 1 G5 conference and have several 10 team divisions. But we have a bunch of schools living in fantasy land with delusions of grandeur. Just set a minimum athletic budget (40-50 million or so) and those who will invest can join. Get rid of the broke schools living on borrowed time.

(10-21-2026 11:09 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  Really should just make 1 G5 conference and have several 10 team divisions. But we have a bunch of schools living in fantasy land with delusions of grandeur. Just set a minimum athletic budget (40-50 million or so) and those who will invest can join. Get rid of the broke schools living on borrowed time.

That idea runs into the rocks of only 1 autobid to the NCAA Tourney.

This is a dangerous game to play. Presumably the whole purpose of this would be to lock down current members. But when the Sunbelt did this, JMU bolted before the vote. All the schools in the MAC with wandering eyes could do the same, causing it to collapse.

(10-21-2026 08:14 PM)Rawdog10 Wrote:  This is a dangerous game to play. Presumably the whole purpose of this would be to lock down current members. But when the Sunbelt did this, JMU bolted before the vote. All the schools in the MAC with wandering eyes could do the same, causing it to collapse.

JMU was always going to bolt. It just sped up the sense of urgency to make it happen a little sooner than it otherwise would. Had the C-USA had a larger exit fee schools like Marshall probably would have never bolted for the SB and the conference would be in a much better place today.

Most MAC schools don't have many options. The higher exit fees discourages moves to conferences like the SB or C-USA as those are lateral or marginal upgrades at best and not worth spending $10 million to do.

If a school is willing to pay $10 million to leave the MAC to join the AAC they were going to leave anyway. The MAC would just get compensated more handsomely for it. They can potentially use the funds to help attract a team like Delaware to backfill whereas before the exit fee was too small to really do anything. It's not even enough to pay an FCS program enough to make the move to FBS.

(10-22-2026 09:59 AM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(10-21-2026 08:14 PM)Rawdog10 Wrote:  This is a dangerous game to play. Presumably the whole purpose of this would be to lock down current members. But when the Sunbelt did this, JMU bolted before the vote. All the schools in the MAC with wandering eyes could do the same, causing it to collapse.

JMU was always going to bolt. It just sped up the sense of urgency to make it happen a little sooner than it otherwise would. Had the C-USA had a larger exit fee schools like Marshall probably would have never bolted for the SB and the conference would be in a much better place today.

Most MAC schools don't have many options. The higher exit fees discourages moves to conferences like the SB or C-USA as those are lateral or marginal upgrades at best and not worth spending $10 million to do.

If a school is willing to pay $10 million to leave the MAC to join the AAC they were going to leave anyway. The MAC would just get compensated more handsomely for it. They can potentially use the funds to help attract a team like Delaware to backfill whereas before the exit fee was too small to really do anything.

Excellent post and absolutely on target!

FCS schools Pay to join FBS leagues--you don't pay them.

Sacramento
NDSU

Both paid Big Bucks.

Quote:JMU was always going to bolt. It just sped up the sense of urgency to make it happen a little sooner than it otherwise would. Had the C-USA had a larger exit fee schools like Marshall probably would have never bolted for the SB and the conference would be in a much better place today.

True. Sunbelt from the outset, assuming JMU would be good in FBS, was a pit-stop -- not a "yes, we're in FBS" place to build any shelter. Unlike everyone in CUSA and elsewhere. If North Dakota State joined MAC/SunBelt/CUSA, I'd say they are in JMU's same boat -- because they wouldn't want to anyway, even if they had a lot of $$. Being next to MW but it going down, it's still the MW and a shade better than the bottom 3 -- although when UNLV leaves it will be always North Dakota State at the top by a bit.

Thing is JMU has a lot of spending $$. More than how even G5 teams that are good in finances, go. So they're at the highest place they can go, even if P12 improves with teams added (like UNLV and another team, a solid/good high G5 on that side of the Mississippi) -- still wouldn't be 'better' enough for the lopsided travel. JMU's going to go from AAC --> lobbying for P4 in a handful of years.

Quote:If a school is willing to pay $10 million to leave the MAC to join the AAC they were going to leave anyway.

Yeah, that doesn't bug me if one team (Miami) leaves if they're charged a very solid amount like $10m. If they really want to leave the MAC and they have an opening in P12 or AAC (obviously it'd potentially be AAC) -- they'll pay extra millions for it to compensate the MAC to ensure good-team-only from FCS or technically FBS, to join.

Quote:FCS schools Pay to join FBS leagues--you don't pay them.

Yeah, not directly but the cost to the teams of said conference and what it covers. "Paying" them in this case would also be purposely making the transfer costs low on this-type-of-contract, wielding more power to do so, along with some level of travel compensation to teams in general, etc.

Sacramento State understandably paid a lot of $$$. Nobody was asking for them, as they weren't an upper tier FCS or anything. Hence whipping out a Lot of $$ to buy themselves in. NDSU, totally different story. Within the MW range + FCS power-house. Even if the MAC a few years ago told them there was no real fee, they wouldn't do it anyway -- kinda like collapsed CUSA wanted some level of teams in theirs several years ago.

I think if in a year or 3, if Ohio & Toledo opt to go elsewhere (like MW; AAC with Miami, JMU, and UCONN added is then too big already) -- the extra payout to us, plus the money-giving Sacramento State, will make it so the MAC will be willing to spend some money covering some [good] teams' transfers over to the MAC.