exit322

The Sun Belt has bigger names than the MAC; they probably don't have to play on Tuesdays to get a decent enough deal. While attendance itself isn't the perfect metric (and MAC attendance is hurt by the midweek stuff), the MAC had five teams (Buffalo, CMU, Ohio, Toledo, WMU) that averaged at least 15,000 fans (the latter three averaged 20,000) announced. The Sun Belt had six over 20,000 (App State, GA Southern, JMU, Marshall, Southern Miss, Troy) and one (App State) over 30,000. Your second point, however, is 100% spot on. The midweek games reduce that access for the fans locally, and that's really the last thing any of the MAC teams need.

If you're going to play on Thanksgiving weekend when no one's on campus, I agree that Black Friday is the better choice.

I was responding to the two midweek games being both Tuesday, sorry for the confusion. Traditionally the MAC Black Friday games have been noon or mid-day kickoffs, so hopefully that continues.

I'd like to see what the dollars look like if you just go to the Saturday model. Also wondering if some of these FAST channels and such wouldn't be able to bid for content in that regard. It seems the MAC is starting to think a little outside the box, so I wonder if there's something to be done there. The dollars WOULD be less, I'm sure. But how much less? What would attendance do for the MAC football schools if you didn't have these midweek games? That's the key part...can that be made up by greater attendance throughout?

If we want to get middle school attendance, how about a 6-7 one with a bowl loss?

Well yeah, I'm also hoping the team continues to improve now that they can practice fully.

No. They're both Tuesday.

The work the AD's office did to get 8000ish there for the midweek Kent game gives me hope that...despite this awful schedule...those numbrs will imrpove this year.

Fair. The MAC has some work to do on the next TV deal, because the dollars they're getting for this midweek stuff can only barely offset the losses from this kind of schedule.

Great, two MACtion midweek home games again. Gotta love it.

That would be something they'd do, given those games are the only ones we already know about...

Oh goodness, I don't love that idea... Wouldn't put it past them, but I don't love it.

Does it mean they're not done pirating random teams like Sac State? Does Seton Hall have football (I know East Carolina is not a target, hahaha)? That could be interesting. I mean it's the schedule release, I see the football and the schedule. Not sure how the picture fits, though.

I don't expect the team to say that, you're absolutely right.

That works for me. Also Akron's (or any MAC team's) approach going into next year's NCAA tournament is to enjoy the three wins in Cleveland they just got and then get focused on the offseason, because the dance is dead to the little guy.

Yeah, I think the B12 is far enough ahead of the ACC you could call it a P3. But even in football the ACC did get a team to the NCG. So, maybe it's a p4

Admittedly, the tough part of the branding here is determining if it's really a P4, or if it's more of a P2.5, because the ACC is so far behind the SEC/B1G/even B12.

Definitely a premier mid-major job, I agree. UConn should be part of that grouping, too.

It's tough being a non-P4 coach, especially when you used to be in a major basketball league.

The dance is dead. At least we have the memories.

No no, this is fair. I was using "NIL" as something of an overarching statement.

Is Nebraska a top-5 paid team like Indiana football was?

Well sure, if the P4 team completely overlooks the mid-major, they can stay close for awhile. But I'll note that none of those teams mentioned are watching tape for today or tomorrow. NIL killed the dance. It is what it is.

Pretty much. They won't underachieve, but it's clear winning Saturday in Cleveland is the ceiling.

And that's, frankly, why I have no worries this team will reach its ceiling more often than not. Groce gets the most out of these Zips teams.