Realignment

[Cataholic]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Definitely recognize that the past days playing Nevada, Boise and Fresno occurred when they were FCS. Hopefully you can recognize that todays MSU program is in significantly better position to succeed that 20+ years ago.

[cats2506]

I have been against moving up for years, I really like playoff football. Looking at the FCS landscape I think if MSU/um get an invitation I think we have to take it. It looks like the handwriting is on the wall and it will be now or never.

Just ride it out and hope that in a few years the G5 gets its own playoff.

[CalgaryCat]

I have been against moving up for years, I really like playoff football. Looking at the FCS landscape I think if MSU/um get an invitation I think we have to take it. It looks like the handwriting is on the wall and it will be now or never.

Just ride it out and hope that in a few years the G5 gets its own playoff.

G5 is going to go to a playoff system whether they want it or not. Once the P4 splits off, there’s not going to be sponsorship money for a G5 bowl system.

[CalgaryCat]

https://herosports.com/fcs-pac-12-rebui ... fect-bzbz/

Interesting article from egris’s thread on the matter

[orsalak]

I was reading a news article on FB from a paper in WY and the comment section from Cowboy fans was full of let’s join the Big Sky. Just interesting how Cat, Griz, and DSU schools are talking about moving up and current MWC teams are thinking about moving down.

[ilovethecats]

I have been against moving up for years, I really like playoff football. Looking at the FCS landscape I think if MSU/um get an invitation I think we have to take it. It looks like the handwriting is on the wall and it will be now or never.

Just ride it out and hope that in a few years the G5 gets its own playoff.

This is my exact feeling as well. Playoffs are all I care about in this discussion. If they announced today that G5 was moving to a playoff format, I can't think of anyone that would be opposed to a move. I know I wouldn't at all. As long as we still get Cat/Griz every year, I don't care who the other teams in the conference are if it's better competition and playoffs to end the year.

[AFCAT]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Definitely recognize that the past days playing Nevada, Boise and Fresno occurred when they were FCS. Hopefully you can recognize that todays MSU program is in significantly better position to succeed that 20+ years ago.

I’m wrote the actual records against those teams in the past in response to the statement the Cats were competitive against those teams. Hopefully, you can recognize that.

[AFCAT]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Except we currently play multiple lower level FCS opponents on our conference schedule every year. Those games would go away. Instead of play as many as 5 "down" games a year we'd play 1.

As far as MSU's record back in the day, do you think we have a better program now than we did back then or not?

My comment was about pre-conference games not conference. Those games against teams like Utah Tech, Maine, and lower level talent Big Sky teams that everyone hates to play would still occur, they’d just be before conference play. People hate playing lower level talent teams in pre-conference play but that’s exactly what would happen with a move up to FBS, just look at who the MW teams play on their pre-conference schedule today. Nothing would change there. There will be also “down” games against MW teams in conference play too. The MW isn’t some conference where the teams have total parity in talent. There are good MW teams and bad MW teams and always will be.

I know the Cats have had good teams for the past five seasons and the program has grown. I also remember the bad years after the Cats won championships and we thought they would be dominant forever and they were anything but.

[RickRund]

If there were a move up would it have any appreciable effect on players jumping into the portal? Exceptional players would probably leave regardless to go to the "bigger time" programs. And could we possibly be able to pickup/recruit a tad higher quality individual?

[MTmadeCat]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Except we currently play multiple lower level FCS opponents on our conference schedule every year. Those games would go away. Instead of play as many as 5 "down" games a year we'd play 1.

As far as MSU's record back in the day, do you think we have a better program now than we did back then or not?

My comment was about pre-conference games not conference. Those games against teams like Utah Tech, Maine, and lower level talent Big Sky teams that everyone hates to play would still occur, they’d just be before conference play. People hate playing lower level talent teams in pre-conference play but that’s exactly what would happen with a move up to FBS, just look at who the MW teams play on their pre-conference schedule today. Nothing would change there. There will be also “down” games against MW teams in conference play too. The MW isn’t some conference where the teams have total parity in talent. There are good MW teams and bad MW teams and always will be.

I know the Cats have had good teams for the past five seasons and the program has grown. I also remember the bad years after the Cats won championships and we thought they would be dominant forever and they were anything but.

If moving to the MW, the nonconference would be scheduled similarly as it is now but on a G5 (not FCS) scale. Meaning instead of playing @UNM, @Utah Tech, Vs Maine, & Vs Mercyhurst…we would instead play a nonconference schedule like: @Oregon (like next season), Vs. FCS Ewu/Psu, @ Boise State (moving to the new PAC), and vs. Tulsa (or any FBS school of similarity). Sure, maybe once a season or every other season we would bring in an FCS squad, but we are not playing 3/4 of our nonconference against Utah Tech, Maine, and Mercyhurst. Look at ESPN schedule week to week for the Mountain west in the nonconference. A mix of big time schools and big sky schools mostly. Especially with the growth of Bozeman/MSU, ease of flying in to Bozeman, and the final stadium expansion we will hopefully be hearing about sooner rather than later, MSU has a great template to move up if they so choose after an offer is extended. I personally am not a fan of moving up unless the G5 playoff becomes a reality, which it appears it will be eventually.

[AFCAT]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Except we currently play multiple lower level FCS opponents on our conference schedule every year. Those games would go away. Instead of play as many as 5 "down" games a year we'd play 1.

As far as MSU's record back in the day, do you think we have a better program now than we did back then or not?

My comment was about pre-conference games not conference. Those games against teams like Utah Tech, Maine, and lower level talent Big Sky teams that everyone hates to play would still occur, they’d just be before conference play. People hate playing lower level talent teams in pre-conference play but that’s exactly what would happen with a move up to FBS, just look at who the MW teams play on their pre-conference schedule today. Nothing would change there. There will be also “down” games against MW teams in conference play too. The MW isn’t some conference where the teams have total parity in talent. There are good MW teams and bad MW teams and always will be.

I know the Cats have had good teams for the past five seasons and the program has grown. I also remember the bad years after the Cats won championships and we thought they would be dominant forever and they were anything but.

If moving to the MW, the nonconference would be scheduled similarly as it is now but on a G5 (not FCS) scale. Meaning instead of playing @UNM, @Utah Tech, Vs Maine, & Vs Mercyhurst…we would instead play a nonconference schedule like: @Oregon (like next season), Vs. FCS Ewu/Psu, @ Boise State (moving to the new PAC), and vs. Tulsa (or any FBS school of similarity). Sure, maybe once a season or every other season we would bring in an FCS squad, but we are not playing 3/4 of our nonconference against Utah Tech, Maine, and Mercyhurst. Look at ESPN schedule week to week for the Mountain west in the nonconference. A mix of big time schools and big sky schools mostly. Especially with the growth of Bozeman/MSU, ease of flying in to Bozeman, and the final stadium expansion we will hopefully be hearing about sooner rather than later, MSU has a great template to move up if they so choose after an offer is extended. I personally am not a fan of moving up unless the G5 playoff becomes a reality, which it appears it will be eventually.

I think that’s pretty much what I wrote in another post on this thread. The non conference schedule would be some FCS teams interspersed with the odd money game against a bigger program along with the occasional home and home against a comparative school. That’s what most MW teams do now. The same basic non conference schedule the Cats play now. However, Mercyhurst is an outlier game because of the cancellation of SFA. Look at next years MSU schedule. Home and home against SDSU, money game against Oregon, and lower level FCS against Drake.

[MTmadeCat]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Except we currently play multiple lower level FCS opponents on our conference schedule every year. Those games would go away. Instead of play as many as 5 "down" games a year we'd play 1.

As far as MSU's record back in the day, do you think we have a better program now than we did back then or not?

My comment was about pre-conference games not conference. Those games against teams like Utah Tech, Maine, and lower level talent Big Sky teams that everyone hates to play would still occur, they’d just be before conference play. People hate playing lower level talent teams in pre-conference play but that’s exactly what would happen with a move up to FBS, just look at who the MW teams play on their pre-conference schedule today. Nothing would change there. There will be also “down” games against MW teams in conference play too. The MW isn’t some conference where the teams have total parity in talent. There are good MW teams and bad MW teams and always will be.

I know the Cats have had good teams for the past five seasons and the program has grown. I also remember the bad years after the Cats won championships and we thought they would be dominant forever and they were anything but.

If moving to the MW, the nonconference would be scheduled similarly as it is now but on a G5 (not FCS) scale. Meaning instead of playing @UNM, @Utah Tech, Vs Maine, & Vs Mercyhurst…we would instead play a nonconference schedule like: @Oregon (like next season), Vs. FCS Ewu/Psu, @ Boise State (moving to the new PAC), and vs. Tulsa (or any FBS school of similarity). Sure, maybe once a season or every other season we would bring in an FCS squad, but we are not playing 3/4 of our nonconference against Utah Tech, Maine, and Mercyhurst. Look at ESPN schedule week to week for the Mountain west in the nonconference. A mix of big time schools and big sky schools mostly. Especially with the growth of Bozeman/MSU, ease of flying in to Bozeman, and the final stadium expansion we will hopefully be hearing about sooner rather than later, MSU has a great template to move up if they so choose after an offer is extended. I personally am not a fan of moving up unless the G5 playoff becomes a reality, which it appears it will be eventually.

I think that pretty much what I wrote. The non conference schedule would be some FCS teams interspersed with the odd money game against a bigger program along with the occasional home and home against a comparative school. That’s what most MW teams do now. The same basic non conference schedule the Cats play now. However, Mercyhurst is an outlier game because of the cancellation of SFA.

Ahh my fault. I had interpreted your first statement as we would play up in a big money game and then bring in a bunch of lower level/cupcakes that would create a similar feel as this Mercyhurst game (yes, thanks SFA). I think a bunch of home and home series with other G5 schools is enticing (assuming it’s working towards a playoff, of course).

[Bocephus]

Pretty much have to move up before G5 playoff is in place and suffer through a few years of bowls. Can’t move after playoff is in place.

[seataccat]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Definitely recognize that the past days playing Nevada, Boise and Fresno occurred when they were FCS. Hopefully you can recognize that todays MSU program is in significantly better position to succeed that 20+ years ago.

I don't think Fresno State was ever FCS.

[Cataholic]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Definitely recognize that the past days playing Nevada, Boise and Fresno occurred when they were FCS. Hopefully you can recognize that todays MSU program is in significantly better position to succeed that 20+ years ago.

I’m wrote the actual records against those teams in the past in response to the statement the Cats were competitive against those teams. Hopefully, you can recognize that.

Hmmm…. Based on your position against moving up, it appeared as if you were saying MSU was not competitive by posting those records of 3-7 and 6-12.

[Cataholic]

Some good stuff in here:

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... st-schools

[Cataholic]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Definitely recognize that the past days playing Nevada, Boise and Fresno occurred when they were FCS. Hopefully you can recognize that todays MSU program is in significantly better position to succeed that 20+ years ago.

I don't think Fresno State was ever FCS.

You might be right. I could have sworn that the Big West was 1-AA in the late 80’s and early 90’s with members like Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State.

[MSUBobcat04]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

To be clear, I have zero desire to see the Cats play in those meaningless bowl games. But I'm a bit torn, because at the FCS level we are getting playoff games with the likes of NC Central, Drake, Austin Peay, Lafayette, Garner Webb, and Mercer. 24 teams in the playoffs, but only 5 or 6 with a legit chance to even reach the Semis...

Is that REALLY a lot better than the Spud Bowl?

In my opinion yes. Those games actually mean something. We're competing to win a National Championship at our level, not win a give me money bowl that doesn't mean diddly squat. I outlined the home playoff wins in my post above since 2019. I'd take any of them over a bowl game every day of the week.

What about Boise State beating Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, a mere 11 years after making the jump? Do you think the program or fans expected to be playing in such a meaningful post season game that quickly? I'm not saying MSU would be playing in a game of that magnitude in such a short time, or that it's even remotely likely, but... it IS a possibility. Especially with the current 12 team playoff system. A G6 (the PAC will not be rising to the stature of the other power conferences) that wins some nice OOC games and runs through their conference undefeated WILL be getting a CFP bid in the near future. I'd put money on it. Are they going to make a run to the natty... probably not. But they will be playing in a very meaningful game (maybe even 2!).

And this doesn't even get into the scenario where the Big Boys of college football split off into their own semi-pro league and the rest of the FBS creates their own playoff, one in which a school from the MWC would absolutely have a decent chance to win a national championship.

The FCS is getting watered down. Perhaps we need a few 4-7 years to knock the ego down a bit and make us appreciate the FCS, but with the growth of the school, the improvement of the facilities, it's hard to imagine very many FCS schools out-recruiting MSU anymore. I don't envision much rebuilding as much as reloading. I'm enjoying the success and playoff runs/championship aspirations.... but it is getting hard to get excited about half of the scheduled games each year.

[AFCAT]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Definitely recognize that the past days playing Nevada, Boise and Fresno occurred when they were FCS. Hopefully you can recognize that todays MSU program is in significantly better position to succeed that 20+ years ago.

I’m wrote the actual records against those teams in the past in response to the statement the Cats were competitive against those teams. Hopefully, you can recognize that.

Hmmm…. Based on your position against moving up, it appeared as if you were saying MSU was not competitive by posting those records of 3-7 and 6-12.

Were they?

[onceacat]

I’ve always been for moving up if the invitation is presented. Heck I can remember back in the day playing Fresno State, Boise, Reno, and being competitive with all of those teams. The move up would bring new realities and opportunities as well as funding and costs. I think the competition level would be an upgrade, but didn’t we just beat a UNM team that is FBS and our support and program easily wins the day. I also believe that the fan base is more interested in playing harder competition than they are playing Mercyhurst and Simon Fraser or Utah Tech or even Maine. I get that it’s fun to watching winning football, but I would contend the win over UNM was far more exciting and entertaining for more fans than the wonderful time had at Gold Rush against Maine…the game day notwithstanding!

Move up, adjust, compete, win…and have some fun again with Boise, Wyoming, the DSU’s, the Renos and Fresno States of whatever conference we’d be offered in!

Let’s also remember that when MSU was playing Boise and Reno, those teams were 1-AA/FCS programs. The last ten meetings against Boise the Cats were 3-7 and all time against Reno 6-12.
Everyone mentions teams like Maine or Utah Tech as teams they don’t want to play. I totally get that and understand the point, but there are two types of teams the Cats would play in pre-conference games at the FBS level. Those pre-conference games would be money games against power five teams or playing lower level games against FCS schools. Heck, even Maine is playing Oklahoma this season. Utah Tech played UNLV. New Mexico played MSU. Wyoming played Idaho. Colorado State played Northern Colorado. Fresno State and San Jose State played Sac State. Those pre-conference games would be either against lower level FCS opponents at home or big FBS money games away with the odd same level opponent thrown in, just like the Cats do now. There isn’t going to be much change in that part of the schedule. Conference will be different though.

Except we currently play multiple lower level FCS opponents on our conference schedule every year. Those games would go away. Instead of play as many as 5 "down" games a year we'd play 1.

As far as MSU's record back in the day, do you think we have a better program now than we did back then or not?

My comment was about pre-conference games not conference. Those games against teams like Utah Tech, Maine, and lower level talent Big Sky teams that everyone hates to play would still occur, they’d just be before conference play. People hate playing lower level talent teams in pre-conference play but that’s exactly what would happen with a move up to FBS, just look at who the MW teams play on their pre-conference schedule today. Nothing would change there. There will be also “down” games against MW teams in conference play too. The MW isn’t some conference where the teams have total parity in talent. There are good MW teams and bad MW teams and always will be.

I know the Cats have had good teams for the past five seasons and the program has grown. I also remember the bad years after the Cats won championships and we thought they would be dominant forever and they were anything but.

UM, MSU, the DSUs are not playing down for the MW conference. They are pretty evenly matched.