Now that the Big XII will soon make a decision on expansion, I can't help but wonder what the Domino Effect will be when it comes to MSU. Let me first lead with that I'm all for MSU joining the FBS. I think that the major difference between FBS and FCS, in terms of the general public and casual sports fans, is RESPECT. You have no idea how many times I ran into people who still call FCS "I-AA", despite not having that moniker for over a decade. People also assume that FCS is Division II or that they play a lesser form of football. NDSU won five national champions and yet no one talks about them, wether it's on ESPN or just in public, people would rather talk about Alabama and the SEC
. Basically they tell me that FCS National Championships "don't count". I bring up the fact that MSU has won three national titles, more than some FBS schools, and they don't seem to care. Heck, Princeton has the most national championships at 28, but when people talk about the greatest programs or teams of all time, Princeton (or any other FCS program for that matter) is never mentioned. I could go on, but the fact is that I feel that moving to FBS would be good for MSU in terms of respect and national visibility because the truth is that you can't change people's perception of FCS because those at ESPN and other sports networks choose not to give them respect, thus the general public has no respect for them. What I'm getting at is that I think that the Big XII expansion could lead to MSU going to the FBS. We keep hearing names like UCF, Ciny, and Memphis, but those names are there just to appease West Virginia. However, it is very likely that they could go west with schools like BYU, Colorado State, or Boise State. If one or more teams from the Mountain West are taken by the Big XII, it then could lead to the MW expanding and picking up new teams. True, deregulation (which effectively killed Idaho and may have mortally wounded New Mexico State) is in effect and if the MW was down to 10 teams, they could still have a championship game, but I don't see them doing that. I feel that the MW will do what they can to stay at 12 teams. Names like UTEP and Rice have come up in the past to expand their television footprint, but with the possible new contract with ESPN that C-USA is working on, it now seems less likely that UTEP or Rice would bolt for the MW, who's TV deal is not on par with what C-USA might work out. Teams like Idaho and NMSU could be a possibility given many other factors, but I think most agree that the MW is not interested in either. So where else would the MW get teams? Certainly not from the Pac-12, if anything the PAC-12 may want to expand to 14 or 16 and look to schools like Hawaii. The only avenue that the MW has for expansion is the Big Sky. Sure they could pick up NDSU, but frankly, they are a better fit, geographically, for the MAC than the MW. Either way, the Big Sky would be the first target for the MW.
I know a lot of you will say that MSU would never go to the FBS, that we don't have the money, facilities, Title XI, blah, blah, blah. Don't you think that if the MW sent us an invite that we would really turn it down? Really? I think that if the MW was looking for teams for expansion, MSU would be on the short list of candidates. I also know you will say that Montana would get picked over MSU for expansion. However, after living in Montana for for years, attending (and graduating) from MSU, and working for Bobcat athletics, it has been my understanding that Montana can't move up without MSU going with it. That if you want Montana, you have to take MSU with you. From my understanding, when Montana was offered the chance to join the WAC, had they joined state legislators would have tried to block the move unless MSU went to the WAC with them. Basically that Montana and MSU are a package deal and you can't have one without the other. Much in the same way as Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The relationship between the two schools, in my mind, has been more analogous to schools like that, rather say Iowa and Iowa State. Point being that the two schools would move up together because the state would not allow one to do it without the other. So even if MSU isn't directly selected, if Montana is, then we will go. And sure, other schools like Eastern Washington may get a good look, but I think that both Montana schools bring more to the table than EWU.
All I'm saying is that whatever the higher ups in Texas, Oklahoma, and West Virginia do, could have a monumental effect on athletics in the state of Montana. I think that if the MW is decreased to ten or fewer schools, that the MW will expand into the Big Sky, and that the Montana schools are at the top of the list. If MSU is invited to the MW, we should go. I would love to see this all play out. I really want to see MSU in the FBS, and this may be our best chance in the near future.
