UMass has been forced to leave the MAC after the 2015 season, per many reports. They will find a new football conference.

Will JMU or another school replace them? Or will the MAC stay at 12?

I'm betting they stay at 12...there is more FBS money coming the MAC's way and getting rid of UMass, just increased the slice for everyone else. The MAC is already at 12 and can hold a champ game...and there is no one that would add TV money to their deal.

So why increase membership?

If I were running the MAC, I'd stand pat.

Gotta figure the MAC will stay at 12. There's not exactly 2 other candidates out there (need 2 to get to 14) ready to make the move.

The MAC wants to expand. Exercising their right within the UMass contract to invite them for all sports is evidence of that.

(03-26-2014 02:27 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Gotta figure the MAC will stay at 12. There's not exactly 2 other candidates out there (need 2 to get to 14) ready to make the move.

Unless they want and think they can get a school or schools now in CUSA or SBC.

The question is going to become where does UMass go. Does the AAC bite the bullet?

(03-26-2014 02:36 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:27 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Gotta figure the MAC will stay at 12. There's not exactly 2 other candidates out there (need 2 to get to 14) ready to make the move.

Unless they want and think they can get a school or schools now in CUSA or SBC.

True.

But do they really think they can do that? Does anyone else think they can do that? I'd be surprised.

The MAC is in good shape. They have some good candidates to the south and west, especially if any of the top tier of the MVFC wanted to make the move up.

(03-26-2014 02:37 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:36 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:27 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Gotta figure the MAC will stay at 12. There's not exactly 2 other candidates out there (need 2 to get to 14) ready to make the move.

Unless they want and think they can get a school or schools now in CUSA or SBC.

True.

But do they really think they can do that? Does anyone else think they can do that? I'd be surprised.

as a long time MACster, I hope we stay put. Build from within, more money for our schools with a new tv contract. No more of this fb only membership krap, ala UCF, Temple, Umass etc

FB-only isn't all that bad depending on the program. Army's still out there, and who knows how committed Navy is to the AAC for the long haul.

MAC stays at 12. Once Temple left...there is no need for any expansion in the MAC.

(03-26-2014 02:37 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:36 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:27 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Gotta figure the MAC will stay at 12. There's not exactly 2 other candidates out there (need 2 to get to 14) ready to make the move.

Unless they want and think they can get a school or schools now in CUSA or SBC.

True.

But do they really think they can do that? Does anyone else think they can do that? I'd be surprised.

Everyone knows that Arkansas State is not satisfied with the Sun Belt. They might be receptive to the MAC, if the MAC also took in Missouri State for a geographical partner and instant rivalry.

At this point, I would lean towards seeing JMU to the MAC announcement soon. but who knows.

(03-26-2014 03:12 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:37 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:36 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:27 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Gotta figure the MAC will stay at 12. There's not exactly 2 other candidates out there (need 2 to get to 14) ready to make the move.

Unless they want and think they can get a school or schools now in CUSA or SBC.

True.

But do they really think they can do that? Does anyone else think they can do that? I'd be surprised.

Everyone knows that Arkansas State is not satisfied with the Sun Belt. They might be receptive to the MAC, if the MAC also took in Missouri State for a geographical partner and instant rivalry.

I have my doubts. I think it would take more than Mo State to get AState to move. If ULL and USA were part of the picture, yeah probably but AState won't cut itself off from Alabama just because we are frustrated with the league's direction.

(03-26-2014 03:12 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:37 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:36 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:27 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Gotta figure the MAC will stay at 12. There's not exactly 2 other candidates out there (need 2 to get to 14) ready to make the move.

Unless they want and think they can get a school or schools now in CUSA or SBC.

True.

But do they really think they can do that? Does anyone else think they can do that? I'd be surprised.

Everyone knows that Arkansas State is not satisfied with the Sun Belt. They might be receptive to the MAC, if the MAC also took in Missouri State for a geographical partner and instant rivalry.

Or, Western Kentucky.

I'll take Duke and Syracuse, they've got MAC level football and would give bball a slight boost. Other than that, the MAC should stand pat.

(03-26-2014 03:30 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 03:12 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:37 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:36 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:27 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Gotta figure the MAC will stay at 12. There's not exactly 2 other candidates out there (need 2 to get to 14) ready to make the move.

Unless they want and think they can get a school or schools now in CUSA or SBC.

True.

But do they really think they can do that? Does anyone else think they can do that? I'd be surprised.

Everyone knows that Arkansas State is not satisfied with the Sun Belt. They might be receptive to the MAC, if the MAC also took in Missouri State for a geographical partner and instant rivalry.

Or, Western Kentucky.

I think WKU is tickled pink to be in CUSA along with MTSU and Marshall. Those are two natural rivals that don't potentially irritate WKU's standing in Kentucky (see: Murray State and EKU). Bowling Green considers Nashville to be its connected major city (Bowling Green has a TV news station, but everything else comes out of Nashville). They are more connected with the Mid-South than the Midwest. Louisville and Nashville are probably the best cities to use as gateways into and out of the Midwest and South, and WKU happens to be stuck between them. If that CUSA never came and they had to choose the Sunbelt or MAC, they would absolutely choose the MAC, but I think that bridge has been crossed.

Now, if the MAC wanted to add both WKU and Marshall after some of the top tier CUSA schools got a call up to AAC, that could spell a different story.

In the immediate future, it seems likely to be either add a pair including JMU or stand pat. Advise from television partners would be critical to the first, and while adding the kind of school that would accept an invite into the MAC doesn't "add" a state, it can sometimes provide access to regional sports network coverage in that state and its neighbors, which would be of some relevance to the kind of broadcast deal the MAC would be negotiating.

MAC not looking to expand.


Jeremy Fowler ‏@JFowlerCBS · 3h
I'm told #MAC feels good about 12 full-time members and doesn't anticipate back-filling.