(03-26-2014 04:47 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:59 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:57 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:54 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  Don't forget, UMass is still in the MAC until after 2015. If Umass is the move for the Sun Belt, you're stuck with 11 football teams for another two seasons.

May not, but if they announce to the NCAA prior to July 1st they could be in the Sun Belt July 1st 2015.

Nope. They have to play the 2014 and 2015 seasons in the MAC. That's the contract. Earliest they could be in the Sun Belt is 2016.

They don't HAVE to stay for the 2015 season unless the MAC holds their feet to the fire and with the MAC no longer getting basketball games, the MAC has no reason to want to hold their feet to the fire.

If UMass wanted to forego the 2015 season, really seems unlikely the MAC would make them play the 2015 season.

As it stands today, the more likely situation is that it is UMass insisting they get to play 2015 to buy time to find a home or line-up sufficient FBS home games to remain in FBS as an indy.

Plus they will save a few dollars in travel cost. But in this case the SBC has all the leverage and if the conference is willing to take UMASS and wanted them for the 2015 season UMASS would have little choice but to be ready for the SBC in 2015. Going Indy for a new moveup is like being on death row. Just a matter of time before you die.