C’mon guys. It’s so simple. Maybe you need a refresher course. It’s all ball bearings these days.
They just have to wait out the MW conference a little to avoid the poached teams paying exit fees. Poached AAC teams have less strings attached.
For 2025:
8 full member teams only, minimum conf requirement.
Oregon State
Washington State
Rice
Tulane
USF
Temple
UMass
Delaware
Affiliate Football:
Army (Patriot)
Navy (Patriot)
UConn (Big East)
Nova (Big East)
Then, Aug 2, 2027 the MWC invites go out to San Diego State, Fresno State, Boise State, and Colorado State. USF, Temple, UMass, and UD go to the A10 but stay as affiliate FB:
Western Division: 8 full members
Oregon State
Washington State
San Diego State
Fresno State
Boise State
Colorado State
Rice
Tulane
Eastern Division, 8 FB affiliates.
Army - Patriot (FB only)
Navy - Patriot (FB only)
UConn - Big East (FB only)
Nova - Big East (FB only)
Temple - A10 (FB only)
UMass - A10 (FB only)
Delaware - A10 (FB only)
USF - A10 (FB only)
The PAC has a 2024 plan with a MWC contract.
For 2025-2026, the PAC has 8 full members plus 4 affiliate members. It meets NCAA requirements and stays alive without stepping on its MWC commitment.
For 2027 forward, 8 full members + 8 east coast affiliate members. Texas/NOLA stays west. Florida stays east.
The AAC can be poached without any financial hurdles.
The east coast affiliates are the Mass-NY-Phila-DC mega market plus Florida.
With east coast affiliates the PAC can safely stay at 8 full members without unnecessary west coast dilution. Zags and St Mary’s are invited as members, non-football, for a 10 team basketball schedule.
I like this. One potential wrench to throw at this plan..............once the ACC is decimated, they are going to recruit the best remaining programs to join. Depending on how many ACC teams leave, this list will include UConn, Oregon State and Washington State. If FSU gets out soon enough, Oregon State and Washington State may have a landing spot in the ACC before the conclusion of their contract with the MW. Since football schedules are planned out in advance, they will likely be able to fufill their requirements to the MW without breaking the contract, but will know they have a safe landing spot at the conclusion of the contract.