The Realignment Options from the Pac-6 and Mountain West Perspective.

[Cataholic]

Memphis, et al, were a reach for the PAC. Memphis only kinda made sense. I guess maybe Tulane? I dunno. UTSA could make a case, but they don't have near the history that someone like Memphis and Tulane possess.

Can we have the G5 break away already, and have their own championship already? It would make this all a lot easier...

Terrible decisions by the PAC again. A serious WTF decision. Adding those schools to the conference make them look like a G5 conference. Not what I would call prestigious schools.

But what "prestigious" schools are even left for them to go after that aren't already in a P4 conference? Even Stanford and Cal couldn't be enticed to stick around and were apparently fine traveling to places like Syracuse and Tallahassee to play their conference road games.

I bet Boise State, CSU, Fresno, and San Diego State are a little nervous right now watching the line that was forming behind them to also join the Pac-12 get smaller and smaller and smaller with each passing day.

I am using the term prestigious in a very loose manner and maybe it is not the right description. Not many desirable teams left, but courting teams from Tennessee, Florida and Louisiana feels like desperation. UNLV, Utah State, Nevada, Air Force, NM, NMSU and UTEP all are better fits for a “Pacific” conference. Who is interested in watching USF vs Oregon State?

[BleedingBLue]

If Yahoo is to be believed, Utah State is heading to the Pac 7-12. UNLV didn't sign on to stay in thw MWC by the deadline, so there is a good chance they are gone.

https://sports.yahoo.com/utah-state-joi ... 40064.html

[BelgradeBobcat]

[BelgradeBobcat]

Pac-12 wants to be strong in basketball. Wonder why New Mexico, with the legendary Pit is out? But looks like Gonzaga is in. Wazzu and Gonzaga in the same conference is interesting.

[BelgradeBobcat]

The way this seems to be shaking out, I think the MWC backfills with a couple/few Texas schools such as UTEP and Texas State. Heck Sam Houston might even be on the block. Either that or New Mexico State, but they always seem to be an unpopular choice with the MWC members. In any case, I don't think they're looking north so we're probably staying put, which is fine...if everybody else stays put.

[BleedingBLue]

The way this seems to be shaking out, I think the MWC backfills with a couple/few Texas schools such as UTEP and Texas State. Heck Sam Houston might even be on the block. Either that or New Mexico State, but they always seem to be an unpopular choice with the MWC members. In any case, I don't think they're looking north so we're probably staying put, which is fine...if everybody else stays put.

If NMSU and UTEP leave for the MWC, I wouldn't be surprised if C-USA goes after the DSUs. They'll have MO State and Delaware next year. It'll be a conference with half the teams recently being FCS. The DSUs would fit right in. If C-USA looks north, the MWC might too, and if they don't we're never moving up. Tarleton will be in C-USA oe the MWC by 2028 I'd bet as well.

[BelgradeBobcat]

The way this seems to be shaking out, I think the MWC backfills with a couple/few Texas schools such as UTEP and Texas State. Heck Sam Houston might even be on the block. Either that or New Mexico State, but they always seem to be an unpopular choice with the MWC members. In any case, I don't think they're looking north so we're probably staying put, which is fine...if everybody else stays put.

If NMSU and UTEP leave for the MWC, I wouldn't be surprised if C-USA goes after the DSUs. They'll have MO State and Delaware next year. It'll be a conference with half the teams recently being FCS. The DSUs would fit right in. If C-USA looks north, the MWC might too, and if they don't we're never moving up. Tarleton will be in C-USA oe the MWC by 2028 I'd bet as well.

Yeah I keep seeing Tarleton pop in realignment news all the time. They seem to have big ambitions. Seems the frozen north just doesn't generate any interest. We'll just have to keep our own thing going-hopefully the DSU's stay put. I'd have a really hard time accepting it if they can jump and we can't.

[CalgaryCat]

The way this seems to be shaking out, I think the MWC backfills with a couple/few Texas schools such as UTEP and Texas State. Heck Sam Houston might even be on the block. Either that or New Mexico State, but they always seem to be an unpopular choice with the MWC members. In any case, I don't think they're looking north so we're probably staying put, which is fine...if everybody else stays put.

If NMSU and UTEP leave for the MWC, I wouldn't be surprised if C-USA goes after the DSUs. They'll have MO State and Delaware next year. It'll be a conference with half the teams recently being FCS. The DSUs would fit right in. If C-USA looks north, the MWC might too, and if they don't we're never moving up. Tarleton will be in C-USA oe the MWC by 2028 I'd bet as well.

Yeah I keep seeing Tarleton pop in realignment news all the time. They seem to have big ambitions. Seems the frozen north just doesn't generate any interest. We'll just have to keep our own thing going-hopefully the DSU's stay put. I'd have a really hard time accepting it if they can jump and we can't.

If the DSUs leave the FCS, a national championship isn’t going to mean much more than the Big Sky Conference championship

[onceacat]

The way this seems to be shaking out, I think the MWC backfills with a couple/few Texas schools such as UTEP and Texas State. Heck Sam Houston might even be on the block. Either that or New Mexico State, but they always seem to be an unpopular choice with the MWC members. In any case, I don't think they're looking north so we're probably staying put, which is fine...if everybody else stays put.

If NMSU and UTEP leave for the MWC, I wouldn't be surprised if C-USA goes after the DSUs. They'll have MO State and Delaware next year. It'll be a conference with half the teams recently being FCS. The DSUs would fit right in. If C-USA looks north, the MWC might too, and if they don't we're never moving up. Tarleton will be in C-USA oe the MWC by 2028 I'd bet as well.

Ugh. I didn't realize that MO State & Delaware were jumping ship from FBS.

Not elite by any means, but consistent Top 25 programs.

The rats are all jumping off a sinking ship...I hope Leon is reaching out to both the PAC whatever & MWC & starting to have conversations with the BOR.

[onceacat]

The way this seems to be shaking out, I think the MWC backfills with a couple/few Texas schools such as UTEP and Texas State. Heck Sam Houston might even be on the block. Either that or New Mexico State, but they always seem to be an unpopular choice with the MWC members. In any case, I don't think they're looking north so we're probably staying put, which is fine...if everybody else stays put.

If NMSU and UTEP leave for the MWC, I wouldn't be surprised if C-USA goes after the DSUs. They'll have MO State and Delaware next year. It'll be a conference with half the teams recently being FCS. The DSUs would fit right in. If C-USA looks north, the MWC might too, and if they don't we're never moving up. Tarleton will be in C-USA oe the MWC by 2028 I'd bet as well.

Yeah I keep seeing Tarleton pop in realignment news all the time. They seem to have big ambitions. Seems the frozen north just doesn't generate any interest. We'll just have to keep our own thing going-hopefully the DSU's stay put. I'd have a really hard time accepting it if they can jump and we can't.

I'm guessing it's less about interest & more about the fact that the BOR needs to approve any move. (I don't know about the DSUs)

Its not an easy convo when something like the BOR can be so easily swayed by short term politics.

[Cataholic]

The way this seems to be shaking out, I think the MWC backfills with a couple/few Texas schools such as UTEP and Texas State. Heck Sam Houston might even be on the block. Either that or New Mexico State, but they always seem to be an unpopular choice with the MWC members. In any case, I don't think they're looking north so we're probably staying put, which is fine...if everybody else stays put.

If NMSU and UTEP leave for the MWC, I wouldn't be surprised if C-USA goes after the DSUs. They'll have MO State and Delaware next year. It'll be a conference with half the teams recently being FCS. The DSUs would fit right in. If C-USA looks north, the MWC might too, and if they don't we're never moving up. Tarleton will be in C-USA oe the MWC by 2028 I'd bet as well.

Yeah I keep seeing Tarleton pop in realignment news all the time. They seem to have big ambitions. Seems the frozen north just doesn't generate any interest. We'll just have to keep our own thing going-hopefully the DSU's stay put. I'd have a really hard time accepting it if they can jump and we can't.

Tarleton is smaller than MSU and located in a town smaller than Butte. They have an endowment of $42 million compared to $264 million at MSU.

[onceacat]

The way this seems to be shaking out, I think the MWC backfills with a couple/few Texas schools such as UTEP and Texas State. Heck Sam Houston might even be on the block. Either that or New Mexico State, but they always seem to be an unpopular choice with the MWC members. In any case, I don't think they're looking north so we're probably staying put, which is fine...if everybody else stays put.

If NMSU and UTEP leave for the MWC, I wouldn't be surprised if C-USA goes after the DSUs. They'll have MO State and Delaware next year. It'll be a conference with half the teams recently being FCS. The DSUs would fit right in. If C-USA looks north, the MWC might too, and if they don't we're never moving up. Tarleton will be in C-USA oe the MWC by 2028 I'd bet as well.

Yeah I keep seeing Tarleton pop in realignment news all the time. They seem to have big ambitions. Seems the frozen north just doesn't generate any interest. We'll just have to keep our own thing going-hopefully the DSU's stay put. I'd have a really hard time accepting it if they can jump and we can't.

Tarleton is smaller than MSU and located in a town smaller than Butte. They have an endowment of $42 million compared to $264 million at MSU.

Most people would call the 900 student differential between Tarleton & MSU as "the same size".

It's located in an exurb of the 4th largest metro in the US-Its 60 miles to downtown Ft. Worth.

But more importantly, Tarelton seems hell bent on moving up the ranks, while MSU seems caught between the FCS that existed 10 years ago & the reality of conference realignment that exists today.

It Texas & football. Zero doubt that a Ft Worth commuter college can generate enough endowment to compete at the G5 level if they set their minds to it.

[BleedingBLue]

The way this seems to be shaking out, I think the MWC backfills with a couple/few Texas schools such as UTEP and Texas State. Heck Sam Houston might even be on the block. Either that or New Mexico State, but they always seem to be an unpopular choice with the MWC members. In any case, I don't think they're looking north so we're probably staying put, which is fine...if everybody else stays put.

If NMSU and UTEP leave for the MWC, I wouldn't be surprised if C-USA goes after the DSUs. They'll have MO State and Delaware next year. It'll be a conference with half the teams recently being FCS. The DSUs would fit right in. If C-USA looks north, the MWC might too, and if they don't we're never moving up. Tarleton will be in C-USA oe the MWC by 2028 I'd bet as well.

Yeah I keep seeing Tarleton pop in realignment news all the time. They seem to have big ambitions. Seems the frozen north just doesn't generate any interest. We'll just have to keep our own thing going-hopefully the DSU's stay put. I'd have a really hard time accepting it if they can jump and we can't.

Tarleton is smaller than MSU and located in a town smaller than Butte. They have an endowment of $42 million compared to $264 million at MSU.

Most people would call the 900 student differential between Tarleton & MSU as "the same size".

It's located in an exurb of the 4th largest metro in the US-Its 60 miles to downtown Ft. Worth.

But more importantly, Tarelton seems hell bent on moving up the ranks, while MSU seems caught between the FCS that existed 10 years ago & the reality of conference realignment that exists today.

It Texas & football. Zero doubt that a Ft Worth commuter college can generate enough endowment to compete at the G5 level if they set their minds to it.

Their goal when they moved up was to be FBS within 10 years, and they're investing heavily in the football program.

[Utcatsfan]

We need to make the move! The MWC will have plenty of $$ to backfill and it would be great to play Wyoming, Air Force, Nevada etc. potentially every year

[Catprint]

Mountain West Conference on life support! They could be toast. With Utah State jumping and UNLV maybe jumping (very fluid), it leaves only 5 full members: Air Force (which still could go to AAC); Nevada, New Mexico; San Jose State and Wyoming. Hawaii makes six football members but MWC needs at least 3 more members to be an NCAA recognized conference. Gloria played her hand; thought she had it "straight" but she was "flushed" out by the cagey Pac-12.

What is a card player to do? Gloria needs at at 3 more face cards and maybe 4 or 6 to have a "Full House"

AAC - All the good teams are off the table as they turned down Pac-12 invites. Invite some of the dregs - North Texas; Tulsa; UAB?

MAC - No go.

Sun Belt - Would any team leave? For less money and longer travel. Not a chance in my opinion. Maybe Texas State and Arkansas State? But huge long shot

What is Left? Four Options

1. Conference USA draw- UTEP, New Mexico State, Sam Houston. Texas teams with some followings but all very poor football AND basketball programs. If they do this, the MWC might compete with the MAC as the most irrelevant FBS conference in the future (The Rockets Zip by like a Golden Flash to soar like a Redhawk.... bet you can't name those teams without a dance card!)

2. FCS Pickup - MSU, UM, SDSU, NDSU. As proposed before, take the best from the FCS. Keep Regional. Have high-quality teams. Could also make a play for Sac State or UC Davis instead.

3. Know when to fold them - Disband and let the free spirits try to find a landing place. Not likely but what does the MWC have to offer? Playing in the cold? No Media contract after 2025? Only the worst teams from prior glory

4. Get Lucky - Hold em - Maybe UNLV and Airforce stay. Leaving both Pac-12 and MWC at 7 (6 full members at MWC). So they each need at least one. If this plays out, looks like the Pac-12 is being stilted at the altar. Poetic justice if they can't get to 8 or only get there with Conference USA castaways and then get a crappy TV deal - like $5 million a year. Now wouldn't that be something. MWC teams jump for LESS money than they are getting now.

[Catprint]

We need to make the move! The MWC will have plenty of $$ to backfill and it would be great to play Wyoming, Air Force, Nevada etc. potentially every year

We don't get to choose. Only if invited. At this point, this is one of the options (see my prior post) but pretty much a last resort from everything I read. The rest of the MW does not want to play MSU, UM, NDSU, SDSU. The current members would lose most of the games against the top tier FCS. Nobody wants to invite a bully to their playground and get pushed around.

[BleedingBLue]

Mountain West Conference on life support! They could be toast. With Utah State jumping and UNLV maybe jumping (very fluid), it leaves only 5 full members: Air Force (which still could go to AAC); Nevada, New Mexico; San Jose State and Wyoming. Hawaii makes six football members but MWC needs at least 3 more members to be an NCAA recognized conference. Gloria played her hand; thought she had it "straight" but she was "flushed" out by the cagey Pac-12.

What is a card player to do? Gloria needs at at 3 more face cards and maybe 4 or 6 to have a "Full House"

AAC - All the good teams are off the table as they turned down Pac-12 invites. Invite some of the dregs - North Texas; Tulsa; UAB?

MAC - No go.

Sun Belt - Would any team leave? For less money and longer travel. Not a chance in my opinion. Maybe Texas State and Arkansas State? But huge long shot

What is Left? Four Options

1. Conference USA draw- UTEP, New Mexico State, Sam Houston. Texas teams with some followings but all very poor football AND basketball programs. If they do this, the MWC might compete with the MAC as the most irrelevant FBS conference in the future (The Rockets Zip by like a Golden Flash to soar like a Redhawk.... bet you can't name those teams without a dance card!)

2. FCS Pickup - MSU, UM, SDSU, NDSU. As proposed before, take the best from the FCS. Keep Regional. Have high-quality teams. Could also make a play for Sac State or UC Davis instead.

3. Know when to fold them - Disband and let the free spirits try to find a landing place. Not likely but what does the MWC have to offer? Playing in the cold? No Media contract after 2025? Only the worst teams from prior glory

4. Get Lucky - Hold em - Maybe UNLV and Airforce stay. Leaving both Pac-12 and MWC at 7 (6 full members at MWC). So they each need at least one. If this plays out, looks like the Pac-12 is being stilted at the altar. Poetic justice if they can't get to 8 or only get there with Conference USA castaways and then get a crappy TV deal - like $5 million a year. Now wouldn't that be something. MWC teams jump for LESS money than they are getting now.

Too easy. Toldeo, Akron, Kent State, Miami (OH).

[catsrback76]

Just saw on ESPN that Utah State did accept the Pac 7-12 invitation and are going there!

[Montanabob]

We need to make the move! The MWC will have plenty of $$ to backfill and it would be great to play Wyoming, Air Force, Nevada etc. potentially every year

We don't get to choose. Only if invited. At this point, this is one of the options (see my prior post) but pretty much a last resort from everything I read. The rest of the MW does not want to play MSU, UM, NDSU, SDSU. The current members would lose most of the games against the top tier FCS. Nobody wants to invite a bully to their playground and get pushed around.

better option, the remnants of the MWC drop football to the FCS level and join the BSC. Now with 16 teams, after portland and unco drop to D2, we have a snow and a sun division. Better for FCS and the MWC.

[MSU01]

The next big domino to fall today will be UNLV deciding to stay in the Mountain West or become team 8 in the Pac 12. No word on whether they'd be required to change their name to Las Vegas State in order to fit in with the 7 teams who are already there.

The more I read about this the more I think that as much as the Montana schools and DSUs might or might not want to move up, that there simply isn't going to be an offer for them to do so at this time. The FBS conferences will just shuffle members around and things will get even more geographically ridiculous than they are now.