Future Collegiate Conference Realignment

[Danny Serafini]

The MWC is giving those two schools 25 million or so reasons to stay.

[Boston Red]

The MWC is giving those two schools 25 million or so reasons to stay.

It's one thing for UNLV, but it's crazy that the United States Air Force Academy would agree to stay in a clearly inferior conference for such a pittance.

[KronoRed]

I really don't get why those two couldn't get it together., is it really about which big wig gets to be in charge?

[Danny Serafini]

Dumb rumor of the night, the Mountain West is interested in Toledo and Northern Illinois as football only members. I would hope both schools would be smart enough to turn that down.

[Kingspoint]

The problem with the remaining non P4 teams is there really isn't one out there that is a "must get" or has a big draw. They are all trying to build the best conference they can but they can't go to a network and demand a big TV contract.

One interesting thing I heard is the ACC (Clemson and FSU) are redoing their agreement, shortening the TV contract. The grant of rights is now going to expire in 2027, which may spell the end to the ACC as we know it, and may just put Stanford and Cal back in the Pac 12. Its looking like it may be a Big 2, with the Big 12 and maybe the Pac 12 holding on for dear life.

Would love to get Stanford and Cal back into the Pac-12.

[Kingspoint]

The Pacific Conference is suing the MWC over the $55M they want for "poaching".

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2024/09/24/pac-12-conference-lawsuit-mountain-west-conference-mwc-over-poaching-penalty-oregon-washington-state/75365449007/

In its lawsuit, the Pac-12 described the penalties as "unlawful, unenforceable and a violation of antitrust law." After the Pac-12 lost several teams to the Big Ten Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference in the latest round of conference realignment hailing over college athletics, the Pac-12 announced the additions of Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Fresno State and Utah State from the Mountain West Conference in the last couple of weeks. The conference also has an offer out to UNLV to join. The lawsuit is the first acknowledgment from the Pac-12 of adding Utah State.

[RedTeamGo!]

Dumb rumor of the night, the Mountain West is interested in Toledo and Northern Illinois as football only members. I would hope both schools would be smart enough to turn that down.

All about the $$$

I find it hilarious Toledo might be associated with something that has the words "mountain" and "west" in the name

[Chip R]

I really don't get why those two couldn't get it together., is it really about which big wig gets to be in charge?

People have said a big reason may be because staying separate gives each conference a better shot at being a G5 representative for the CFP.

[Boston Red]

All about the $$$

I find it hilarious Toledo might be associated with something that has the words "mountain" and "west" in the name

Sure, but only half as silly as California being associated with something that has "Atlantic Coast" in the name.

- - - Updated - - -


People have said a big reason may be because staying separate gives each conference a better shot at being a G5 representative for the CFP.

??? That makes no sense. If there are 70 G5 schools, only 1 is going to make the playoff, whether there's one G5 conference or 10 G5 conferences.

[bucksfan2]

All about the $$$

I find it hilarious Toledo might be associated with something that has the words "mountain" and "west" in the name

Just like Cal and Stanford being in a conference with Atlantic?

Toledo may be one of the most "desired" teams out there. They have a loyal fan following, are in somewhat of a big city, and have a decent recruiting area to pull from. Toledo is one of those MAC schools that always has seemed more committed to football than the rest.

[RedTeamGo!]

Just like Cal and Stanford being in a conference with Atlantic?

Toledo may be one of the most "desired" teams out there. They have a loyal fan following, are in somewhat of a big city, and have a decent recruiting area to pull from. Toledo is one of those MAC schools that always has seemed more committed to football than the rest.

For sure, I am a Toledo alum. I would be a-ok with moving to the MW. My father-in-law alum, on the other hand, will be furious.

[Danny Serafini]

I'm surprised you would be cool with going MWC. I couldn't care less about playing Wyoming or San Jose St. The other issue is they would have to find a new home for all the other sports, I can't imagine the MAC would allow them to pull their money program and leave the rest of the sports behind, and that's going to be a negative. Id' much rather have them stay.

[Reds Freak]

I've lost track of all this. Is this where we're at?

I don't see a ton of daylight between these two leagues. No combination or additions is going to get either one into the P4 discussion. All the jockeying around to me is just shuffling deck chairs.

Pac-12:
Washington State
Oregon State
Boise State
Fresno State
San Diego State
Colorado State
Utah State

MWC:
UNLV
Air Force
New Mexico
Nevada
San Jose State
Wyoming
Hawaii

[Boston Red]

I'd say that Pac-12 group is generally substantially better in football and basketball, but the 12 of them would have been much better off combining and shedding San Jose State and Hawaii.

[RedTeamGo!]

I'm surprised you would be cool with going MWC. I couldn't care less about playing Wyoming or San Jose St. The other issue is they would have to find a new home for all the other sports, I can't imagine the MAC would allow them to pull their money program and leave the rest of the sports behind, and that's going to be a negative. Id' much rather have them stay.

I see it as more of a long term thing. The pac 12 and MW merging is likely inevitable

[Boston Red]

Not really a surprise, but ESPN is now reporting that Gonzaga will join the Pac-Whatever.

[Assembly Hall]

Not really a surprise, but ESPN is now reporting that Gonzaga will join the Pac-Whatever.

Pepperdine next?

[bucksfan2]

Pepperdine next?

St Mary's would be my guess.

[Assembly Hall]

St Mary's would be my guess.

Pepperdine has a better campus....

[Boston Red]

Pepperdine has a better campus....

Indeed. Granted, I haven't been to Moraga, but I find it hard to believe it compares to what Pepperdine has in Malibu. Came very close to being my alma mater....

[Kingspoint]

Indeed. Granted, I haven't been to Moraga, but I find it hard to believe it compares to what Pepperdine has in Malibu. Came very close to being my alma mater....

Maraga is fantastic...if you're of college age.

[Assembly Hall]

Gonzaga should start up a football program. Hell, with the transfer portal they should be able to have a competitive team as soon as next fall...

[Kingspoint]

Gonzaga should start up a football program. Hell, with the transfer portal they should be able to have a competitive team as soon as next fall...

Basketball brings in money, too, and women's college basketball has really raised it's level of viewership. Basketball has to be the most viewed women's college program. Oregon State always has excellent women's college basketball teams, while Gonzaga has good ones, too.

But, you're right about the transfer portal making it possible for Gonzaga to consider adding football as a program.

They really need to add one Southern California school to blend with San Diego State. While St. Mary's doesn't have football, including their outstanding basketball program would be a good complement to both San Diego State and the addition of Gonzaga. Was hoping from the beginning that both Gonzaga and St. Mary's would be added even if they didn't end up with football programs, and that the conference would end up with 10 to 12 schools.

[Kingspoint]

The basketball powerhouse submitted its formal application for the conference on Monday, according to the announcement. The conference's board of directors and presidents of the five new additions voted unanimously on Gonzaga's addition.

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/sports/ncaab/2024/10/01/gonzaga-joining-pac-12-conference-announcement-teams/75466771007/

Even though the schools don't join the conference until 2026, I didn't realize that they had equal voting power until then.

- - - Updated - - -

Gonzaga, which last played football in 1941, will complete in all its current sports in the Pac-12. The Bulldogs are one of the nation's most successful basketball programs in recent seasons, developing loads of NBA talent and also reaching the Sweet 16 in nine consecutive seasons.

[Kingspoint]

Options for one more include, UNLV, New Mexico, Hawaii, Wyoming, Nevada.

I don't know what direction they're going, but I love the addition of Gonzaga.