http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86565...sanalytics

This is a general news article regarding Big 12 expansion and BYU/USU but there is a paragraph that brought my attention.

" “In this business,” Hartwell said, “you can’t rest on your laurels.”

He went on to say the MWC regularly gets contacted by other mid-major conference schools interested in membership. The league is both geographically and institutionally harmonious."


So far I know of 3 schools that have probably contacted the MW. UTEP, Rice and probably NMSU. Wichita St has made overtures but not officially contact.
In essence, I do wonder what other mid-major schools has expressed interest in joining the MW. Either way, it is pretty telling that the MW will have quite a few schools wanting to join if anything should happen.

This seems reasonable. I can't imagine any AAC teams approaching the MWC. The MWC is geographically isolated as they are the only game out west besides the PAC12. It is silly that most of the MWC institutions are sitting on their hands.

(06-08-2016 11:54 PM)MAD MACGYVER Wrote:  This seems reasonable. I can't imagine any AAC teams approaching the MWC. The MWC is geographically isolated as they are the only game out west besides the PAC12. It is silly that most of the MWC institutions are sitting on their hands.

If you mean by not expanding as sitting on your hands, there is no need to expand past 12 for a conference like ours.
It was mentioned that when UTEP and Rice were discussed last December, the TV wouldn't improve and we would be splitting more of the pie without any additional benefit.

I think the only reason to expand past 12 for a G5 conference like ours is if BYU wanted to rejoin. But then, even with BYU, if you add their $4 million/yr ESPN contract, it still would reduce the TV revs because there wouldn't be a strong #14 to keep it neutral and it would even reduce the TV revenue since each team would need to bring and additional $3.5 million in equity.

Would BYU and say UTEP make the MW stronger? It's debatable, but that would probably happen but probably not until the next TV contract is up for renewal.

However, BYU will never go back to the MW or AAC as long as Utah is in a P5 league. BYU will remain Indy for quite a long time. The MW is really stable without BYU.