The World of College Football

[MangoZip]

Wouldn’t it be great if there was any type of media coverage of this team? So maybe a reporter, or even a student reporter, could ask the AD or head coach what they thought of this deal? Crazy to think that a D1 team would have  even a hint of media coverage. 

[exit322]

1 hour ago, GP1 said:

There are a lot of dummies between here and there. I'm still not sure anyone has presented a good reason beyond "just because". 

 

The MAC has been maligned forever for refusing to think outside the box.  For refusing to take any sort of risk.  Now an opportunity landed in their lap that doesn't actually have much risk tied to it, and we're going to crap on them for taking a shot?  OK, that seems consistent.

 

An opportunity presented itself with a school that is being, admittedly, hyper aggressive and taking a shot in the dark.  An opportunity that isn't going to cost the MAC much of anything.  "There's no risk and this isn't going to lower the MAC's profile one bit" is a plenty good enough "just because" reason.  It's 2026 in the world of college sports mercenaries.  There are no rules.

The best case scenario is that the MAC uses these funds and this methodology to find more schools in the footprint (see: past rumors of WKU/MTSU, etc).  The worst case is that they added 6-8 games of TV inventory (Sac State home games) for however many years it lasts at no cost to the league.

Do I think Sacramento State is nuts for doing this?  100% absolutely, ab-so-freaking-lutely I think they're nuts.  Do I think the MAC is being stupid for taking them up on this offer in the days of "do what you can to survive" while having schools both leave and be courted?  Not a bit.  I'm not gonna crap on the MAC for taking a shot at something, even if it seems insane for Sac State to be doing this.

[Blue & Gold]

At first I thought the MAC was stupid for doing this but after seeing the terms they'd be negligent not to.

 

I'd hate to lose good rivalries w/ Ohio & Miami.

 

I'd love to add Illinois St. & Indiana St.

[ZippyRulz]

3 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

At first I thought the MAC was stupid for doing this but after seeing the terms they'd be negligent not to.

 

I'd hate to lose good rivalries w/ Ohio & Miami.

 

I'd love to add Illinois St. & Indiana St.

 

Agree, especially if they pony up comparable buy-in money. It has become expensive to join an elite conference like the MAC lol.

 

[GP1]

3 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

I'd hate to lose good rivalries w/ Ohio & Miami.

Other than one report that was later denied by both Ohio and Miami, what evidence is there that they a looking at leaving the MAC?

[kreed5120]

I'd be surprised if the SunBelt expands beyond 14 teams. So much league revenue, like NCAA tournament credits, is fixed so unless adding them leads to at-large bids (not happening), you're just splitting the same size pie more ways. The SunBelt could have interest in Miami/OU, but I'm inclined to think that it would be a contingency to back fill in the event they get raided by PAC-12, MWC, or AAC.

[GP1]

2 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

I'd be surprised if the SunBelt expands beyond 14 teams. So much league revenue, like NCAA tournament credits, is fixed so unless adding them leads to at-large bids (not happening), you're just splitting the same size pie more ways. The SunBelt could have interest in Miami/OU, but I'm inclined to think that it would be a contingency to back fill in the event they get raided by PAC-12, MWC, or AAC.

Good points. I don't think OU and Miami see themselves as "backfill", but that's what they would be. Running to a dying conference is a bad idea.