(08-12-2020 08:00 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote: I know that Sun Belt and Cusa are forging ahead at this point but I just don’t see how it’s feasible financially.
By all accounts Sec and Acc and Big 12 will have limited if any OOC game opportunities. Very unlikely there will be fans in the stands. Tv revenue deals are set. Bowls were already a losing proposition financially for these mid majors now and they already had financial challenges with the travel within their conference. Now they will have added costs in terms of regular testing. I just don’t see the upside- is it all based on the football playoff and their slice
Of that pie? Would think the pie will be smaller this season. I just don’t see how it’s feasible. I think these conferences are delaying the inevitable in hopes that if they wait long enough maybe there will be a chair for them when the music stops
In terms of playoff tv etc but I don’t even think the remaining P5 or NCAA football hierarchy is even considering them for a bigger seat at the table
Even in a year where 2 P5 conferences have already opted out.
If they stay in it literally could spell the end of their conference and some
Of the schools FBS football programs and set them back financially for years.
This^^^^the bold is true. I haven't been able to understand, for the life of me, how these rag-tag, heavily subsidized, shoe-string budget CUSA/Sun Belt programs are gonna go on with a season. Especially with the extra expense of covid-19 testing. Maybe they are holding out hope to get a nice TV payday from the networks, who need to fill dates. And working their way into a CFP berth. But I see that as just more delusion. Maybe the AAC can work this angle to their benefit. But I just don't see it happening for the Sun Belt and CUSA.
Ironically, G5 and FCS schools that don't play this year, may make out financially. They would've probably spent more in covid-19 testing, than the revenue they would've brought in, even in a year with normal revenue streams. Not to mention all the costs they save in travel, which is probably paid with revenue streams like the gate---which was not gonna be there this year.
The bottom of the barrel G5 programs that try to play will probably end up trying to make up for the added expenses of playing in this environment, without the necessary revenue to pay those expenses by dropping sports which may lead to dropping to the FCS
Ironically, JMU's reliance on student fees to fund their athletic programs, may benefit them in this current environment. Any lost revenue, won't matter as much because it's really the student fees that they use to fund athletics. It's a model that works, so I won't complain. At this point, JMU needs to maintain enrollment to keep those student fees coming, to keep their athletic programs at their current state of maintenance.