Playing 2 more MAC games instead of MEAC/SWAC/American East/NAIA teams would be improving the SOS of MAC contenders so I'm not sure why we're treating it like they're mutually exclusive.

(08-10-2019 02:19 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  One way to answer this is how many non-conference games did everyone play last season?

Kent St 12
Ball St 12
Toledo 12
Buffalo 12
Akron 11
Ohio 11
Miami 11
WMU 11
BGSU 11
NIU 11
CMU 10
EMU 9

I was a little surprised to see the MAC didn't play any DII last year although a lot of buy games against SWAC, MEAC and Southland dotted the schedule.

Also noted that Miami/Ball St and BG/Toledo only played 1 time. What is the point of an 18 game schedule then?

Smallest Conference schedules in DI (with latest conference moves)

Ivy-14
WAC-14
American East-16
Atlantic Sun-16

Everyone else has at least 10 members moving forward and on a double round robin is playing an 18 game schedule.

Maybe the MAC could get away with a 16 game schedule (10 divisional games and 6 cross divisional) and do alright like Cleveland said.

Division titles might benefit programs in recruiting just like minor boxing titles on the line make a televised boxing match more interesting, even if the real value is marginal.

MAC played lots of teams from D2 or lower. EMU alone played 4. Whatever source you used did not include those games.

I used Live RPI.

What the MAC needs and I am a strong advocate for is a Challenge. If I were Dr. Steinbrecher, I would first contact the A-10 to gage interest. If no, then I would focus on the MVC.

A MAC-MVC Challenge could include a home and road game for each school. Perhaps you could have a neutral site doubleheader in Indianapolis featuring top seeded teams that could be featured on ESPN or CBSSN.

FIRE UP CHIPS! :)

(08-15-2019 09:23 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  I used Live RPI.

RPI excludes games against non-Division 1 schools.