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UMass > MAC for all sports in 2025-2026

UCFBfan said:
I'm shocked the MAC is letting NIU keep the rest of it's sports there. Isn't that why it kicked out UMass the first time? UMass wouldn't go all in?
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I haven't read any reports suggesting that NIU can keep any sports in the MAC. Everyone seems to think they're going to a league like the Horizon or Ohio Valley
 
I don't get the NIU football move to the MWC at all. NIU is the 3rd smallest enrollment in the MAC behind Akron and E. Michigan and 2nd smallest endowment behind E. Michigan. It has the smallest AD Revenue. From a very stable G5 to a rebuilding G5. Are they officially using G6 yet? I've already spent too much time thinking about it.
 
UCFBfan said:
Maybe it's not totally correct but the article makes it sound certain.
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Challenging to understand why the MAC would keep NIU for all other sports, but it is indeed stated in the Yahoo article. Runs counter to other media reports suggesting the DeKalb Huskies not so successful other sports will go to one of the Horizon, Summit or Ohio Valley conferences.
 
I think the article is wrong. The MAC has a rule that you have to have all sports in the MAC. This is why UMass football was kicked out several years ago and why UMass is now joining the MAC as an all-sports member.
 
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Da_Aisijimo_Gou said:
Challenging to understand why the MAC would keep NIU for all other sports, but it is indeed stated in the Yahoo article. Runs counter to other media reports suggesting the DeKalb Huskies not so successful other sports will go to one of the Horizon, Summit or Ohio Valley conferences.
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I was also surprised when I read it. I'm wondering if the author just assumed the rest would be in the MAC and the corresponding move hasn't been announced? I dunno.
 
Corresponding move hasn't been announced. NIU fans seem to think it'll be the Horizon
 
Rufus said:
Yeah, it was wrong alright.........

www.si.com

Report: Mountain West to add Northern Illinois as football-only member for 2026 season

DeKalb, Illinois isn’t known for its mountains, but that isn’t stopping Northern Illinois from sending its football program out West. According to Brett McMurp
www.si.com www.si.com


"The school is still considering options for its other sports, McMurphy said."
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And I believe you have to have all sports in the same conference unless that a sport is not sponsored. UMass was in the A-10 and had football in the MAC. But then the MAC said move all sports over or get out, so UMass got out. In NIU's case it would have to move everthing over to the MWC or move olympic sports to a conference which doesn't support FBS Football. I could be wrong.
 
The MAC schools are getting hit hard by the demographic cliff, which has already been a problem in the upper Midwest for decades. There is not a need for all these big open enrollment schools in that part of the country, and I expect several to downsize or simply close in the next decade.
 
nelsonmuntz said:
The MAC schools are getting hit hard by the demographic cliff, which has already been a problem in the upper Midwest for decades. There is not a need for all these big open enrollment schools in that part of the country, and I expect several to downsize or simply close in the next decade.
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From what I have read, the enrollment cliff between 2025-2029 will be 15% less 18 year olds. There may be a few Division 1 schools that close up shop, but I suspect most of the losses will be at the Division 2 and 3 levels.
 
shizzle787 said:
From what I have read, the enrollment cliff between 2025-2029 will be 15% less 18 year olds. There may be a few Division 1 schools that close up shop, but I suspect most of the losses will be at the Division 2 and 3 levels.
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It will basically take college enrollment numbers down to where they were around the year 2000 or so. But expenses today are higher than they were back then and state governments give much less money now than back then. But most D1 universities will be ok as you noted. It’s the small schools who might be in trouble.

Buffalo is R1 and AAU. Not going anywhere.

Miami is a public ivy. Not going anywhere.

In addition to Buffalo, Kent State, Ohio and UMass are R1. Not going anywhere.

They will adapt, but they aren’t going anywhere.
 
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Rufus said:
It will basically take college enrollment numbers down to where they were around the year 2000 or so. But expenses today are higher than they were back then and state governments give much less money now than back then. But most D1 universities will be ok as you noted. It’s the small schools who might be in trouble.

Buffalo is R1 and AAU. Not going anywhere.

Miami is a public ivy. Not going anywhere.

In addition to Buffalo, Kent State, Ohio and UMass are R1. Not going anywhere.

They will adapt, but they aren’t going anywhere.
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One of Kent or Akron will not exist in 10 years.
 
huskymedic said:
Thread on rationale for NIU move to MWC:

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The MAC only gets 800k a year? My god. To think we voluntarily left a conference making 10x that and we’re probably clearing that still with our new media deals as is
 
Gotta hand it to the MWC commish. I thought that conference was dead in the water, but they managed to hold UNLV and add 4 schools + 1 FB-only school, to give them 9 teams for FB and 10 for BB.

Yes, they'll be battling C-USA for the weakest G6, but the fact that they're still alive is impressive.
 
Vowelguy said:
Gotta hand it to the MWC commish. I thought that conference was dead in the water, but they managed to hold UNLV and add 4 schools + 1 FB-only school, to give them 9 teams for FB and 10 for BB.

Yes, they'll be battling C-USA for the weakest G6, but the fact that they're still alive is impressive.
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And it cuts the money paid out to G6 conferences. One conference needs to die to increase payouts to the others five.
 
Rufus said:
And it cuts the money paid out to G6 conferences. One conference needs to die to increase payouts to the others five.
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1) Why does it matter? Isnt # of schools the factor? Why would payout/school be higher if there are 5 conferences instead of 6 (with same total # of schools)?

2) Not gonna happen. Thru the 40 years ending 2026, have averaged one new FBS school a year. And more will come, to further shore up the G6. We may even get a G7 if the WAC/ASUN schools move up.
 
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Vowelguy said:
1) Why does it matter? Isnt # of schools the factor? Why would payout/school be higher if there are 5 conferences instead of 6 (with same total # of schools)?

2) Not gonna happen. Thru the 40 years ending 2026, have averaged one new FBS school a year. And more will come, to further shore up the G6. We may even get a G7 if the WAC/ASUN schools move up.
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Because conference offices take a cut. And additional FBS schools also cause harm.
 
There will be at least 68 Gx schools, in conferences of 14-11-12-9-7-14
With the 7 expected to increase.
 
Vowelguy said:
There will be at least 68 Gx schools, in conferences of 14-11-12-9-7-14
With the 7 expected to increase.
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The P4 or P2 will keep paying. These are extortion payments to keep the G5 from filing an anti-trust lawsuit that the P4 is guaranteed to lose.
 
hypothetical:
football-only invite for UConn?
i'd tell the MAC to kick rocks.
I want no part of MAC-tion on a tuesday.
 
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cellocgg said:
I'm pretty sure UConn makes more money as an independent
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MAC schools make $800k a year for all sports from their TV deal. UConn will be making 10x that from TV deals once the new BE contract starts ($7.3M from BE + $500k from CBSSN)
 
Rufus said:
Won’t happen unless the MAC changes their stance on football only members.
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It won't happen period. The likelihood of the MAC changing its stance on football only members is greater than UConn accepting a football only invite to the MAC. The MAC finally got UMass to go all in only to lose Nothern Illinois. I don't think UConn would even consider an AAC or PAC 12 football only invite at this point. Big 12 or ACC until those options are concrete no's.
 
Kolumbo said:
I don't think UConn would even consider an AAC or PAC 12 football only invite at this point. Big 12 or ACC until those options are concrete no's.
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This has already been addressed:

sports.yahoo.com

Sources: UConn won’t join Pac-12, doesn’t consider conference the right fit

The wheels of collegiate conference realignment are spinning again, with basketball powerhouse Gonzaga set to join the newly configured Pac 12. Though the possibility of UConn joining the Pac 12 as a football-only complement was explored last week, this will not happen. UConn sources, requesting...
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
 
Rufus said:
Won’t happen unless the MAC changes their stance on football only members.
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Kolumbo said:
It won't happen period. The likelihood of the MAC changing its stance on football only members is greater than UConn accepting a football only invite to the MAC. The MAC finally got UMass to go all in only to lose Nothern Illinois. I don't think UConn would even consider an AAC or PAC 12 football only invite at this point. Big 12 or ACC until those options are concrete no's.
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realignment is making everyone change their stance. As fat joe says "yesterday's price is not today's price!"

i.e. - the picky/choosy MAC of yesterday that forced UMass to sacrifice its whole Athletic Department for the sake of football stability, is not the same MAC now that NIU is gone.

FWIW, I think UMass made a YUGE mistake letting go of a good thing in the A10 - but i digress.

Agree with Kolumbo, but re-worded as --- I think today, the MAC is absolutely capable of lowering their demands to get a brand name like UConn in their portfolio, even if only football. Again - NIU changes the negotiation.
If the situation gets dire, they will call us - But as others have said, we won't pick up the phone.

We're all in on the real deal - P4 or bust.
 
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