Does MAC simply bow out of expansion now or seek to find 2 more teams? To me it is all about the money, if ESPN was going to increase payout then yes we should grab 2 more teams.

I don't see two teams that were better candidates. If WKU were still on the table then yea, them and someone else but by accounts this morning even they are not moving over.

No other schools make sense, at all, for the MAC right now.

The MAC will do nothing. Wouldn't surprise me at all if there are 1 or 2 MAC schools that killed this deal by voting no.

(11-09-2021 07:23 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  The MAC will do nothing. Wouldn't surprise me at all if there are 1 or 2 MAC schools that killed this deal by voting no.

my thinking as well

MAC is trying to see if it can protect its payouts by staying at 12.

A 12 team conference also needs less bowl games. The MAC pays out to its members to cover the cost of bowls attended. It didn't use to always do that but it has since the TV money started rolling in.

There might even be an interest on part of some in the MAC to take the TV deal to the open market in a few years rather than resigning for the same old MACtion.

At least the MAC gave WKU/MT a decent look.

(11-09-2021 07:23 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  The MAC will do nothing. Wouldn't surprise me at all if there are 1 or 2 MAC schools that killed this deal by voting no.

During the last realignment, Stienbrecher thought that 12 to 14 is about as large as these conference are going to get because some members start to get concerned they'll face too much competition for a championship (pushed down too far).

Total membership of FBS conferences post realignment:

SEC 16
SBC 16 (2 non-FB)
ACC 15 (1 non-FB)
AAC 14/14 (FB/BB)
B1G 14
XII 14 (to 2025)
PAC 12
MWC 12
MAC 12
CUSA 9 (add more?)

To think the MAC has one of the smaller memberships in FBS after having the largest from 1995 to 2013 is quite a change. CUSA is also now looking at the advantage the SBC had by splitting CFP money less ways if it stays at 9 or 10 members.

(11-09-2021 07:27 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  MAC is trying to see if it can protect its payouts by staying at 12.

A 12 team conference also needs less bowl games. The MAC pays out to its members to cover the cost of bowls attended. It didn't use to always do that but it has since the TV money started rolling in.

There might even be an interest on part of some in the MAC to take the TV deal to the open market in a few years rather than resigning for the same old MACtion.

At least the MAC gave WKU/MT a decent look.

After seeing what ESPN did to CUSA I would be very hesitant about leaving ESPN. MACtion might not be great for the fans in the stands, but the exposure has been great for the conference.

(11-09-2021 12:07 PM)UpStreamRedTeam Wrote:  After seeing what ESPN did to CUSA I would be very hesitant about leaving ESPN. MACtion might not be great for the fans in the stands, but the exposure has been great for the conference.

"Nice conference you've got here. It would be a shame if something happened to it."

The MAC can wait until it comes time to negotiate an extension or whatever to the ESPN deal (2026-27) and see what the landscape looks like then. May be some FCS ready to move up, and by then whatever happens to C-USA may sort itself out. Maybe the Big12 makes another move that rolls downhill, maybe not. In the meantime, the MAC continues on the strength of stability and whatever its members can accomplish. No worries.

At this point, I favor letting WKU and MTSU go whatever way they go. The condition of C-USA is not the MAC's concern.

UMass comes on it's knees begging and offering the world!

Back to the meatloaf song.
Time will tell, it won't be tomorrow morning.

(11-09-2021 12:34 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  UMass comes on it's knees begging and offering the world!

Back to the meatloaf song.

Will you love me for the rest of your life?
Let me sleep on it.
Baby let me sleep on it.

Time will tell, it won't be tomorrow morning.

Meatloaf??