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

[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.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[CJasmer]

If FSU only option is Big 12 then their program is blown up.

 

[Drew]

Hello

 

[Chin Diesel]

Hello

The whole point for UConn is to be in a P4 conference all-in to get the football revenue. If it means basketball to Big12 and football not invited, no thanks.

 

[Ldandy]

The whole point for UConn is to be in a P4 conference all-in to get the football revenue. If it means basketball to Big12 and football not invited, no thanks.

I agree with this. If they want the milk they need to buy the cow.

 

[Kolumbo]

I agree with this. If they want the milk they need to buy the cow.

As the Boys say, "I like my sugar with coffee and cream"

 

[huskymedic]

 

[LetsGoUC]

it's very unlikely they would expand again until the new media deal runs out (2030), right?

 

[Kolumbo]

it's very unlikely they would expand again until the new media deal runs out (2030), right?

well, it all depends

 

[UConnTrumbull]

The whole point for UConn is to be in a P4 conference all-in to get the football revenue. If it means basketball to Big12 and football not invited, no thanks.

Unless life in the Big East becomes untenable (e.g. power conference breakaway)

 

[JMick]

Unless life in the Big East becomes untenable (e.g. power conference breakaway)

Assuming the Big XII is part of that.

If splitting works well for the Big XII and the B1G or SEC decide to do it, we would probably be a lucrative option for both conferences

 

[Chuck]

Hello

We would never think of taking basketball to the Big 12 without full football membership!*

*But what if:

• B12 basketball alone paid triple what we get with the Big East?
• The B12 gave us an "associate" football membership where we played a bunch of their teams home/away and had a defined path to get full membership based on success?
• The B12 invited us as a full member, but at a reduced payout on the football side (maybe with that same defined pat to get a full share)?
• Villanova, St. John's and maybe more said they're in for the B12 basketball league leaving the Big East wounded? And if the B12 already took some decent (eastern) ACC schools?

I agree that an apples-to-apples switch (same money, different conference) would be a bad decision, but there would definitely be more to consider. 2030 isn't that far off, but a lot can change. UConn should be open to everything and be building relationships every day.