The pros and cons of joining the Pac-12 for football only

[Fishy]

LOL, literally all of our success this year was against the G5 teams and you still beat this stupid drum. Until we become a P4 team we better off playing a G5 schedule. You seem to enjoy watching us lose and having P4 referees work against us,

You're stupid.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Just based on lack of attractive opponents alone this is a non-starter. None of the new Pac teams would inspire fans to show out at the Rent.

 

[metsfan2323]

You're stupid.

Care to explain? Did I say something that isn't true? BTW I clarified I was referring to the regular season in response to his comment about regular season scheduling.

Half the board was ready to give up on Mora after the Maryland beatdown, now we are looking forward to building off the success of this season when it was built largely off an easy regular season schedule. An easy regular season schedule was something that was long overdue IMO, and yes, the P4 refs work against us making those games incredibly difficult to win, no UConn fan felt good after the Wake Forest game even though it was a close game.

As long as we are G5 the ideal schedule should be two P4 and ten G5 games with the goal of getting into the tournament and body bag games against elite programs should be a non-starter. Next year's schedule is close to perfect, the 2026 schedule is a recipe for failure.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I’d join in football. The home games for football aren’t great. Why not?

 

[metsfan2323]

I’d join in football. The home games for football aren’t great. Why not?

I agree, If we get a football only offer take it. The B12 and ACC are just stringing us along, don't believe anything they say until they have an offer in hand.

 

[Waquoit]

Pac 10 for football only is much better than the status quo.

 

[noeynox]

Care to explain? Did I say something that isn't true? BTW I clarified I was referring to the regular season in response to his comment about regular season scheduling.

Half the board was ready to give up on Mora after the Maryland beatdown, now we are looking forward to building off the success of this season when it was built largely off an easy regular season schedule. An easy regular season schedule was something that was long overdue IMO, and yes, the P4 refs work against us making those games incredibly difficult to win, no UConn fan felt good after the Wake Forest game even though it was a close game.

As long as we are G5 the ideal schedule should be two P4 and ten G5 games with the goal of getting into the tournament and body bag games against elite programs should be a non-starter. Next year's schedule is close to perfect, the 2026 schedule is a recipe for failure.

UConn can not make the playoff as an independent. Only ND has that deal.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Football only butthead

I know I know. I wasn't 100% serious. Maybe like 40/60

 

[freescooter]

UConn can not make the playoff as an independent. Only ND has that deal.

I don’t think that’s exactly true. In theory UConn could be ranked in the top 12 and make it. Maybe if the 2026 team goes 12-0 it would be possible depending on what happened throughout college football. But it is not a simple thing.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

Pros:

• Set schedule with perhaps the best non-P4 conference.
• Ability to play for a league championship.
• Access to higher media payout (could be $6M to $8M per year for FB only).
• Some interesting opponents such as Boise State, Oregon State, Fresno State, SDSU, etc.
• Access to CFP money if we do well.

Cons:

• Less flexibility to schedule other P4 teams.
• Travel out to the West at least 4 times a year.
• Might play at late hours missing Eastern audience.
• Might have to schedule some basketball games to make this work.

 

[Jbirdp5]

To me the only negative is if we joined the conference and were at the bottom of the league in performance. Going 8-4 vs inferior opponents gives us more positive press than going 5-7 would in the PAC. If we were going to stay in the PAC for a longer period of time then this is less important but I know people are hoping for a P4 invite sooner.

 

[noeynox]

I don’t think that’s exactly true. In theory UConn could be ranked in the top 12 and make it. Maybe if the 2026 team goes 12-0 it would be possible depending on what happened throughout college football. But it is not a simple thing.

You may be right, thought ND had a special accommodation made for them.

 

[coachcap]

You may be right, thought ND had a special accommodation made for them.

Notre Dame is considered a conference unto itself...

 

[FfldCntyFan]

You may be right, thought ND had a special accommodation made for them.

Theoretically we could recieve an at large bid.

In reality, we'd need a ridiculously great season and a few things to fall into place to get that bid.

 

[CL82]

Theoretically we could recieve an at large bid.

In reality, we'd need a ridiculously great season and a few things to fall into place to get that bid.

The biggest of which of scheduling. We could have a perfect record but if it wasn't against top P4 teams it would be meaningless.

 

[Kolumbo]

To me the only negative is if we joined the conference and were at the bottom of the league in performance. Going 8-4 vs inferior opponents gives us more positive press than going 5-7 would in the PAC. If we were going to stay in the PAC for a longer period of time then this is less important but I know people are hoping for a P4 invite sooner.

If UConn is 5-7 in the PAC then it would most likely be 5-7 or worse as an independent. We believe we would have a more difficult schedule as an independent. I don't think that is worth worrying about. We could end up being 2-10 in a P4 conference should an invitation present itself, so be it.

For those worried about traveling west, meh. Going to San Diego and Fresno has its perks.

A bird in hand...I'd go to the PAC football only and be willing to pay a significant exit fee if offered.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

The biggest of which of scheduling. We could have a perfect strain but of it wasn't against top P4 teams it would be meaningless.

Logically we'd need to go undefeated with a schedule that had six P conference schools, four who ended the season ranked, and three or four of our other opponents clearly in the top 50.

We'd also need something similar to this past season where the last couple of at-large candidates would be questionable and the top couple teams would have losses.

Even with that the committee would search for a way to exclude us.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I am firmly in the camp of I am fine if we join the PAC whatever for football only and fine if we don’t. It will not make a difference to UConn long term either way but they are the best G5 league and i think the stadiums are in really cool locations.

 

[hank970]

Would UConn be content if a football membership in the Pac-12 deterred an ACC or Big 12 invitation?

 

[huskymedic]

Pros:

• Set schedule with perhaps the best non-P4 conference.
• Ability to play for a league championship.
• Access to higher media payout (could be $6M to $8M per year for FB only).
• Some interesting opponents such as Boise State, Oregon State, Fresno State, SDSU, etc.
• Access to CFP money if we do well.

Cons:

• Less flexibility to schedule other P4 teams.
• Travel out to the West at least 4 times a year.
• Might play at late hours missing Eastern audience.
• Might have to schedule some basketball games to make this work.

If we’re wishing… I’d welcome some early season baseball games - Penders already heads west pretty much every year anyways.

 

[Fishy]

Care to explain?

Sure.

I wasn’t sure if you were stupid or ignorant.

I thought ignorant was more offensive - being ignorant is a choice whereas stupid just happens.

So I decided that you were stupid, basically, because I was trying to be kind.

 

[pick6s]

Would UConn be content if a football membership in the Pac-12 deterred an ACC or Big 12 invitation?

Why would it deter an ACC or Big 12 invitation? I see no reason to believe that would be the case, except if there was a high exit fee. The hope is that we get invited into those conferences for all sports, including football.

 

[Kowalski]

Just based on lack of attractive opponents alone this is a non-starter. None of the new Pac teams would inspire fans to show out at the Rent.

Right, home games against teams like Ball State, FIU, FAU, UAB, Buffalo, Temple, Ga State, UMass & one annual home game against a mid P4 & FCS team are what really inspires fans to come about.

 

[Patman]

I don’t think that’s exactly true. In theory UConn could be ranked in the top 12 and make it. Maybe if the 2026 team goes 12-0 it would be possible depending on what happened throughout college football. But it is not a simple thing.

Yes pretty sure that's not true otherwise uconn would get no money instead of the 50 cent share we do get

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Right, home games against teams like Ball State, FIU, FAU, UAB, Buffalo, Temple, Ga State, UMass & one annual home game against a mid P4 & FCS team are what really inspires fans to come about.

I'm not saying the 2025 home schedule is great; 2026 is though and 2027 is almost too good. And to justify playing almost all of your road games 3,000 miles away (it's really difficult to travel that far and win), you'd better have really appealing home games. The Pac is not our future; if it was we'd already have said yes.