Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[ScottVib]

There are a lot of people who assume that UConn wouldn’t leave the Big East for basketball for any conference.

 

[Rufus]

I don't think UConn will go to the MAC for football. The MAC gave UMass an ultimatum a few years back when they were football-only............either join the MAC for all sports, or leave all together. UMass left and went independent in football. Just recently, UMass decided to join for all sports.

The MAC would have to change its stance for this to even be a remote possibility.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Predictions from Athlon. It sounds like Memphis and USF are just about a sure thing next round.

https://athlonsports.com/college-fo...ege-football-conference-realignment-expansion

The MAC Becomes a 14-Team League

UMass will join the MAC next year (2025) to bring the MAC membership to 13 teams. Even if the conference prefers all-sports members, the MAC eventually grows by one with a football-only deal with UConn.

And if UConn isn't the right fit, perhaps a FCS team (maybe Illinois State?) fits as the No. 14 member.


Translation ... if UConn football isn't worthy / good enough for the MAC they would look for more viable FCS options.

Is this really a key tweet?

 

[dayooper]

I don't think UConn will go to the MAC for football. The MAC gave UMass an ultimatum a few years back when they were football-only............either join the MAC for all sports, or leave all together. UMass left and went independent in football. Just recently, UMass decided to join for all sports.

The MAC would have to change its stance for this to even be a remote possibility.

UConn is different than UMass, though. UConn is one of, if not the top basketball brands in the game. While UConn football isn’t quite at the level of its basketball programs, they are still a nationally recognized school. UMass isn’t as widely known. The Big10 wouldn’t take affiliate teams until John’s Hopkins lacrosse and Notre Dame Hockey. Why couldn’t the MAC, who could stand to use some brand recognition and allow UConn a spot. Gives Buffalo and UMass a partner school. Maybe if UConn were to throw in a couple of out of conference games the MAC’s way, it would really help the brand.

The big question is will UConn want to play a MAC schedule to get where they want to go?

 

[WestCoastHusky]

UConn is different than UMass, though. UConn is one of, if not the top basketball brands in the game. While UConn football isn’t quite at the level of its basketball programs, they are still a nationally recognized school. UMass isn’t as widely known. The Big10 wouldn’t take affiliate teams until John’s Hopkins lacrosse and Notre Dame Hockey. Why couldn’t the MAC, who could stand to use some brand recognition and allow UConn a spot. Gives Buffalo and UMass a partner school. Maybe if UConn were to throw in a couple of out of conference games the MAC’s way, it would really help the brand.

The big question is will UConn want to play a MAC schedule to get where they want to go?

The quick answer is no we will not want to play on the MAC. If we are to join another conference, it will either be the B12 or a version of the ACC.

 

[metsfan2323]

The quick answer is no we will not want to play on the MAC. If we are to join another conference, it will either be the B12 or a version of the ACC.

Speak for yourself. The MAC would be a big improvement for our football team. It would give us a chance to win the G5 auto-bid.

 

[Ha Who]

Speak for yourself. The MAC would be a big improvement for our football team. It would give us a chance to win the G5 auto-bid.

I think he meant joining basketball

 

[dayooper]

I think he meant joining basketball

Yeah, if you joined the MAC in full, I would question everything. Not that that you need me to say it, but the only way you should be leaving the Big East is for the P4, preferably the Big10 or a non nuked ACC.

MAC for football would be fun. I would make sure I hit a WMU, CMU or EMU game. I actually got my masters from EMU. They have a very good and inexpensive education masters program. That being said, Western and Central have way better atmospheres.

 

[Hoophound]

Predictions from Athlon. It sounds like Memphis and USF are just about a sure thing next round.

https://athlonsports.com/college-fo...ege-football-conference-realignment-expansion

The MAC Becomes a 14-Team League

UMass will join the MAC next year (2025) to bring the MAC membership to 13 teams. Even if the conference prefers all-sports members, the MAC eventually grows by one with a football-only deal with UConn.

And if UConn isn't the right fit, perhaps a FCS team (maybe Illinois State?) fits as the No. 14 member.


Translation ... if UConn football isn't worthy / good enough for the MAC they would look for more viable FCS options.

Another example of a guy that thinks we wouldn’t leave the Big East for basketball. Think about it. This guy said we might join the ACC for football only. That’s ridiculous. No major conference is taking us for football only. Our basketball is our main asset.

 

[Kowalski]

Speak for yourself. The MAC would be a big improvement for our football team. It would give us a chance to win the G5 auto-bid.

If we don’t get into the ACC or B12, a football only move to G5 makes sense. But I think the MAC may be the worst of the G5 options. If we want to just park our football in a G5, my hope is we can convince the SunBelt or MWC to add us for football after a good season this year.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

If we don’t get into the ACC or B12, a football only move to G5 makes sense. But I think the MAC may be the worst of the G5 options. If we want to just park our football in a G5, my hope is we can convince the SunBelt or MWC to add us for football after a good season this year.

Agree. If it’s football only we should align ourselves with the strongest G5. Used to be the AAC, not anymore.

 

[metsfan2323]

If we don’t get into the ACC or B12, a football only move to G5 makes sense. But I think the MAC may be the worst of the G5 options. If we want to just park our football in a G5, my hope is we can convince the SunBelt or MWC to add us for football after a good season this year.

Liberty just proved you don't need to be in the strongest G5 to win the auto-bid. CUSA is the worst G5. Geographically the MAC mases sense for UConn. If we join a G5 conference I just want to see wins, the opponent is almost irrelevant, being in a weaker conference will have its advantages.

 

[Rufus]

Keep in mind that the MW is about to be raided by the PAC-2. Possibly including other top G5 brands. Will Washington State and Oregon State want eastern teams?

Or, will the inevitable breakup of the top ACC brands cause the leftover ACC teams to want UConn (or Washington State and Oregon State)?

Too many variables right now to know where UConn football end up. Independence is not an option. Loosing out on too much money.

 

[CJasmer]

Liberty just proved you don't need to be in the strongest G5 to win the auto-bid. CUSA is the worst G5. Geographically the MAC mases sense for UConn. If we join a G5 conference I just want to see wins, the opponent is almost irrelevant, being in a weaker conference will have its advantages.

I agree Liberty has significantly improved in football. The school is willing to pay for top coaches and appears to have pretty good NIL fund. Football requires significant funds to become s consistent top 25 team.

 

[ZooCougar]

Predictions from Athlon. It sounds like Memphis and USF are just about a sure thing next round.

https://athlonsports.com/college-fo...ege-football-conference-realignment-expansion

The MAC Becomes a 14-Team League

UMass will join the MAC next year (2025) to bring the MAC membership to 13 teams. Even if the conference prefers all-sports members, the MAC eventually grows by one with a football-only deal with UConn.

And if UConn isn't the right fit, perhaps a FCS team (maybe Illinois State?) fits as the No. 14 member.


Translation ... if UConn football isn't worthy / good enough for the MAC they would look for more viable FCS options.

Non Key.

This is all rampant speculation

 

[ZooCougar]

I don't think UConn will go to the MAC for football. The MAC gave UMass an ultimatum a few years back when they were football-only............either join the MAC for all sports, or leave all together. UMass left and went independent in football. Just recently, UMass decided to join for all sports.

The MAC would have to change its stance for this to even be a remote possibility.

We’re going to be in the Big 12, the ACC or some shell of what used to be the ACC with a bunch of other eastern schools.

 

[CJasmer]

UConn is different than UMass, though. UConn is one of, if not the top basketball brands in the game. While UConn football isn’t quite at the level of its basketball programs, they are still a nationally recognized school. UMass isn’t as widely known. The Big10 wouldn’t take affiliate teams until John’s Hopkins lacrosse and Notre Dame Hockey. Why couldn’t the MAC, who could stand to use some brand recognition and allow UConn a spot. Gives Buffalo and UMass a partner school. Maybe if UConn were to throw in a couple of out of conference games the MAC’s way, it would really help the brand.

The big question is will UConn want to play a MAC schedule to get where they want to go?

“UConn football not quite on the level of its basketball programs”. That is an understatement. Comparing UConn football to the basketball programs is comparing UConn basketball to somebody like University of New Hampshire basketball programs.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

Liberty just proved you don't need to be in the strongest G5 to win the auto-bid. CUSA is the worst G5. Geographically the MAC mases sense for UConn. If we join a G5 conference I just want to see wins, the opponent is almost irrelevant, being in a weaker conference will have its advantages.

As long as being in a weak G5 won't impact recruiting. We just need good players to compete.

I still think we should work out some kind of scheduling alliance with PAC-2 plus another G5 league.

 

[Stinger92860]

If we don’t get into the ACC or B12, a football only move to G5 makes sense. But I think the MAC may be the worst of the G5 options. If we want to just park our football in a G5, my hope is we can convince the SunBelt or MWC to add us for football after a good season this year.

We would probably need to provide a few (2?) basketball games to get anyone to take football only.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

We would probably need to provide a few (2?) basketball games to get anyone to take football only.

Seems like an easy thing to accommodate

 

[ZooCougar]

We would probably need to provide a few (2?) basketball games to get anyone to take football only.

Or we could just get good at football and stop the misery.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Are you allowed to put your football team in one conference and all of your other sports in a different one?

 

[huskymedic]

Are you allowed to put your football team in one conference and all of your other sports in a different one?

As long the conference all your other sports are in doesn’t sponsor football. Similar to hockey being in Hockey East because the Big East doesn’t sponsor hockey.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see a lawsuit challenging that along the way - it’ll be more billable hours for someone.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

As long the conference all your other sports are in doesn’t sponsor football. Similar to hockey being in Hockey East because the Big East doesn’t sponsor hockey.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see a lawsuit challenging that along the way - it’ll be more billable hours for someone.

when you think about it it would be better for the schools to be able to “shop around” conferences for various sports…it’s always been stupid to use football to dictate basketball and olympic sport travel.

 

[CL82]

when you think about it it would be better for the schools to be able to “shop around” conferences for various sports…it’s always been stupid to use football to dictate basketball and olympic sport travel.

Well, stupid from the outside looking in, but from the inside looking out, it's been pretty darn lucrative.