(12-16-2021 08:46 AM)BlueRaiderBoy Wrote: All or nothing, to anybody. UMASS AND UCONN are in a similar boat. But there is no incentive for CUSA, Sun Belt or MAC to admit any FB only members.
I may be wrong, but I see a number of possible incentives:
1) Having a FB team from the heavily populated northeastern region could attract viewers from that and the middle atlantic region, and that could generate more viewership revenue.
2) UMass, as an FBS team, would give the CUSA 8 FBS teams before JSU and SHSU make the transition to FBS.
3) UMass is an R1 research university and a State Flagship university. It would be the only State Flagship school in the CUSA.
4) Adding UMass and UConn (FB only) would give the conference 2 State Flagship universities and a considerable presence in the heavily populated northeastern U.S.
Current CUSA R1 universities: FIU & UTEP (could double to four w/UMass,UConn)
Current CUSA R2 universities, LTU, NMSU, & MTSU
State Flagship universities: 0 (could rise to two with UMass and UConn)
.
Adding UMass and UConn might help the CUSA to get a deal with ESPN at the "going rate" (minimum of $2 million/school per year).
Since having "football only" members has worked out well for the American (Navy) and Mountain West (Hawaii) conferences, it could work out just as well for the CUSA.