UMass > MAC for all sports in 2025-2026

[ZooCougar]

People who think the A10 is still viable obviously haven't been paying attention.

 

[Vuce]

People who think the A10 is still viable obviously haven't been paying attention.

I don't disagree. But the people that think the MAC is a viable option haven't been paying attention either. They've thrown in the towel and it's really too bad from a fan perspective. Even less people will care about the MAC than the A10. College football thru realignment has ruined regional rivalries and it's not done with the destruction - UConn included.

 

[ZooCougar]

I don't disagree. But the people that think the MAC is a viable option haven't been paying attention either. They've thrown in the towel and it's really too bad from a fan perspective. Even less people will care about the MAC than the A10. College football thru realignment has ruined regional rivalries and it's not done with the destruction - UConn included.

They have no good options. But it’s one of the least worst.

They would never be successful as an Indy in football. They can’t schedule like we do. The state doesn’t support them. Continuing like they were was the definition of insanity. But keeping going because the of the A-10? Stop.

As for basketball. Honestly there really is no longer even a vestige of what they used to be. They have made a the tournament once this century. Get a grip.

They are lucky that the MAC took them back.

 

[FightOnCT]

They’re in a Catch 22 situation where neither staying in the A10 or MAC are viable long-term options. It’s more so an issue that both football and basketball have been so awful to the point where preserving neither is worth it.

At that point you just make a decision and stick with it. A flagship school should at least have something

 

[Vuce]

They have no good options. But it’s one of the least worst.

They would never be successful as an Indy in football. They can’t schedule like we do. The state doesn’t support them. Continuing like they were was the definition of insanity. But keeping going because the of the A-10? Stop.

As for basketball. Honestly there really is no longer even a vestige of what they used to be. They have made a the tournament once this century. Get a grip.

They are lucky that the MAC took them back.

They truly have no good options is correct. So they took the one where less people will care and the MAC will be more of a disaster than what was there previously. They might as well be CCSU, Sacred Heart or Bryant at this point. UMass hasn’t even sniffed a bowl game this century. Totally gone and it’s too bad. The Mullins Center shouldn’t be used for basketball anymore and their high school football stadium will be 1/4 for MAC football, even less than that on their upcoming weeknight November MACtion games. Waste of time to pour money into football or any sport there now except hockey

 

[cellocgg]

Surely there can't be any state school around the country that underperforms as badly as UMass given the expectations of being the flagship of a highly populated and prominent state, can there?

I mean like the Wyomings, Montanas, and Idahos of the country are more renowned athletically than UMass

 

[Bongo Fury]

They truly have no good options is correct. So they took the one where less people will care and the MAC will be more of a disaster than what was there previously. They might as well be CCSU, Sacred Heart or Bryant at this point. UMass hasn’t even sniffed a bowl game this century. Totally gone and it’s too bad. The Mullins Center shouldn’t be used for basketball anymore and their high school football stadium will be 1/4 for MAC football, even less than that on their upcoming weeknight November MACtion games. Waste of time to pour money into football or any sport there now except hockey

I think this is part of the problem as this is how UMass feels but still remembers the Cal/camby glory days. They want success but aren’t willing to put in the effort or enough support. Hockey got lucky with a coach change and star player that remained committed. They filled the Mullins.

 

[Vuce]

You are right on hockey Bongo. But hockey plays at highest level in the best league against regional rivals. Hockey East is probably the best collegiate conference in any sport due to quality of play and location of schools. As I mentioned earlier, the UMass fans that remember the glory days aren’t going to follow them to the MAC and new/younger prospective fans won’t start following in droves because it’s the MAC and no one cares.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

UMass is taking an enormous gamble on the notion that a D1 school that fields a football program that competes at an FBS level will be further up the hierarchy of intercollegiate sports than schools that field an FCS program or no football.

They may be correct, but it may be merely owning Vermont Avenue instead of owning Baltic Avenue in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Fishy]

UMass is not taking a gamble. UMass looked at the landscape and then the future of that landscape and tried make the least worst decision they could.

The MAC has a greater chance of surviving the apocalypse than an independent UMass would have.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

It isn't a question of MAC for all sports or independence for football as the only options. Remaining in the A-10 and returning football to FCS also could have been part of the equation.

Granted of the three, football independence was entirely unsustainable. Where the decisions needed to be weighed were abandoning FBS football and maintaining their A10 rivalries vs attempting to build rivalries (and fan interest) from nothing by joining the MAC.

As the choices are basically spoiled milk or month old bread, they may as well see where this takes them.

 

[pepband99]

It isn't a question of MAC for all sports or independence for football as the only options. Remaining in the A-10 and returning football to FCS also could have been part of the equation.

Granted of the three, football independence was entirely unsustainable. Where the decisions needed to be weighed were abandoning FBS football and maintaining their A10 rivalries vs attempting to build rivalries (and fan interest) from nothing by joining the MAC.

As the choices are basically spoiled milk or month old bread, they may as well see where this takes them.

Exactly. UMass is basically where we would have been, if we upgraded, but remained at Memorial. It's a losing hand all around. They have invested like FCS, so that's where they belong.

The MAC isn't exactly spectacular either - the basketball product is several steps down from the A10, and their bell cow of B1G buy games for football is about to get a 33% reduction, if not more.

Add in the geography, and it's not the best choice.

 

[Kolumbo]

UMass is taking an enormous gamble on the notion that a D1 school that fields a football program that competes at an FBS level will be further up the hierarchy of intercollegiate sports than schools that field an FCS program or no football.

They may be correct, but it may be merely owning Vermont Avenue instead of owning Baltic Avenue in the grand scheme of things.

I get your point but whether you are P4 or G6, those programs are by definition higher up the hierarchy than FCS programs. They are all on the Monopoly board whether they are on Connecticut Avenue or Park Place, or in Jail.

I think UMass's long play is to build a successful football program and better ride the waves of CR, garnering an invitation to the AAC or perhaps riding an expanded or merged MAC conference. Wherever it goes, UMass has a seat for now.

For those holding on to the glory years when UMass basketball was actually good and winning the conference (1991-1995), here is the A-10 lineup. Brought to you by CR: the 5 large "northeastern" FBS state schools from the A-10 are all in 5 different FBS conferences. They shredded the northeast and I think we all know a unified northeast would be better for all.

UMass
Temple
Rutgers
WVU
GW
Saint Joe's
Saint Bonnie
Duquesne
URI

Then in 1996 added the below and lost Rutgers and WVU
Fordham
Va Tech
Xavier
Dayton
La Salle