I doubt further spreading into Massachusetts is going to entice WKU to go to the MAC. It'll have to be a move-up or stay at 13. They've gone with 13 for years before. Adding Buffalo in '99 put them at 13 until UCF joined in '02.

(02-26-2024 03:39 PM)MUther Wrote:  I doubt further spreading into Massachusetts is going to entice WKU to go to the MAC. It'll have to be a move-up or stay at 13. They've gone with 13 for years before. Adding Buffalo in '99 put them at 13 until UCF joined in '02.

UMass itself won't be the selling point to WKU. But WKU seemed to want the MAC over CUSA 4.0 while the MAC wasn't going to just take 1 team after MTSU declined. If interest really is there from the WKU side, sounds like it now works for the MAC with team #13 in hand.

(02-26-2024 03:31 PM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  There's been a LONG desire (going back 20 years) by some for Stony Brook in the MAC. It gives Buffalo its State University of NY flagship partner, puts them on Long Island, and opens the whole northeast/Mid-Atlantic to the MAC. It also bridges the gap between the rest of the MAC. I think if they add UMass and Stony Brook, that puts them in GREAT position to swipe Temple and Delaware when the AAC takes their huge hit once Florida State, Clemson, and UNC find their ACC offramp.

Heck, the MAC even has an option of adding UConn football and then going to grab someone closer to the footprint for the rest of the sports that is a non-football A-10 like Duquesne (hello Pittsburgh) or Dayton (if rumors of further A-10 defections are true). I think the MAC has alot of options here. It kinda nice to seeing them being aggressive here.

At that point why not just add the New England schools to get to 16+? That area will pretty much serve as it’s own pod and they’re relatively competitive with each other and the rest of the MAC.

I'm kind of surprised since their basketball program is in the A 10. Of course it's not your father's A 10 anymore...

(02-26-2024 03:47 PM)space orange Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 03:39 PM)MUther Wrote:  I doubt further spreading into Massachusetts is going to entice WKU to go to the MAC. It'll have to be a move-up or stay at 13. They've gone with 13 for years before. Adding Buffalo in '99 put them at 13 until UCF joined in '02.

UMass itself won't be the selling point to WKU. But WKU seemed to want the MAC over CUSA 4.0 while the MAC wasn't going to just take 1 team after MTSU declined. If interest really is there from the WKU side, sounds like it now works for the MAC with team #13 in hand.

They would have gone with MTSU giving the MAC two more states and perfect travel partners. MTSU declined for money from all of us that left and WKU signed the GOR. They aren't going anywhere now. WKU wanted out when there were only 5 teams left, but they've got their thing going now and the new teams aren't awful. I doubt they even mull it over. Ship has sailed.

(02-26-2024 03:16 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  UMass doesn't bring enough on it's own for the MAC to stop at #13. WKU, or maybe UD tries to get out of CUSA before they've even entered.

Delaware, WKU and MTSU all join the MAC. I doubt it, but that would be hilarious

(02-26-2024 03:14 PM)GreenDaddy Wrote:  I bet WKU is getting ready to pull the trigger on moving to the much more stable MAC. They would have been gone last time if MTSU would have made the move.

Which means CUSA will have to yet again bring an undeserving school up to FBS.

WKU was my first thought. I have to believe the MAC has #14 lined up since they were dead set on not having 13 when WKU was ready to join.

(02-26-2024 02:57 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 02:55 PM)RamblinRedWolf Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 02:50 PM)eaglewraith Wrote:  Delaware has been trying to move up haven't they?

Deleware has announced its intention of joining CUSA (there was scuttle CUSA wanted umass to be their 14th member).

I'm guessing Delaware renegs on CUSA and goes to the MAC with UMASS.

UD or WKU would be great geographic fits for MAC to pair with UMass.

"WKU still held out hope for the MAC, but the conference wasn’t interested in an odd number of schools.

“If they had offered a spot, we would have accepted it,” WKU athletic director Todd Stewart said."

- December 29th, 2023, Chris Vannini for 'The Athletic'

Source: https://theathletic.com/5165372/2023/12/...-survival/

(02-26-2024 05:07 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  "WKU still held out hope for the MAC, but the conference wasn’t interested in an odd number of schools.

“If they had offered a spot, we would have accepted it,” WKU athletic director Todd Stewart said."

- December 29th, 2023, Chris Vannini for 'The Athletic'

Source: https://theathletic.com/5165372/2023/12/...-survival/

Really gonna suck not having WKU in our league

Well, everyone can participate in the SBC-MAC challenge now.

(02-26-2024 02:50 PM)eaglewraith Wrote:  Delaware has been trying to move up haven't they?

Delaware was my initial thought.

Does the MAC double down and go after WKU, Delaware and MTSU for 16??

(02-26-2024 09:11 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  Does the MAC double down and go after WKU, Delaware and MTSU for 16??

I think the real question, is WKU going to convince donors its a great idea to play in the MAC over CUSA? It just feels like a hard sell, dump the MTSU rivalry for regular games in Ohio and Michigan?

(02-26-2024 03:15 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  What's the penalty for reneging on joining CUSA? Did Delaware already sign the CUSA GOR?

Ask the Rice lawyer if you want the wrong answer.

The MAC taking WKU steals our backup plan.

(02-26-2024 03:07 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 03:02 PM)TealNation Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 02:57 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 02:55 PM)RamblinRedWolf Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 02:50 PM)eaglewraith Wrote:  Delaware has been trying to move up haven't they?

Deleware has announced its intention of joining CUSA (there was scuttle CUSA wanted umass to be their 14th member).

I'm guessing Delaware renegs on CUSA and goes to the MAC with UMASS.

I could never envision Delaware joining a conference with Liberty but I guess it was desperate times. Their profile seems to mesh a lot better with the MAC.

...Why did they join CUSA again?

Desire to get the hell out of the CAA.

You'd think Delaware would've went to the MAC if that was an option. There definitely seems to be some more to this. Maybe the MAC already have eyes on a current FBS school.

(02-26-2024 09:29 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 09:11 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  Does the MAC double down and go after WKU, Delaware and MTSU for 16??

I think the real question, is WKU going to convince donors its a great idea to play in the MAC over CUSA? It just feels like a hard sell, dump the MTSU rivalry for regular games in Ohio and Michigan?

My source says that Arkansas St. is going to be #14. Something about playing on a cold November Tuesday night against Ball St. and Eastern Michigan is more appealing than playing in the Sun Belt West.

(02-26-2024 09:57 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 09:29 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 09:11 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  Does the MAC double down and go after WKU, Delaware and MTSU for 16??

I think the real question, is WKU going to convince donors its a great idea to play in the MAC over CUSA? It just feels like a hard sell, dump the MTSU rivalry for regular games in Ohio and Michigan?

My source says that Arkansas St. is going to be #14. Something about playing on a cold November Tuesday night against Ball St. and Eastern Michigan is more appealing than playing in the Sun Belt West.

Yes, we have long sought a regular rivalry with NIU just so our identical color schemes can confuse everyone again...

The Athletic said CUSA is looking to add a member this spring and mentioned Missouri State.