Future MAC

[Steve81]

Feel your voices are important. BeatWestern, who I believe as access to the MAC office posted this thread. Create a sign in if you want to vote on the MAC board. It is not a poll but comments.
https://csnbbs.com/thread-1022160.html

As I have said previously and most of you are aware, the current MAC MMR with ESPN is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2027. IF the MAC is going to expand, it will most definitely be tied to a new and improved MMR deal, effective July 1, 2027. Moving to 14 with "additive" schools not only helps improve the MMR, it makes scheduling easier for the conference and could also strengthen the MBB NET.

Below are three groupings (A, B and C) of a 4-3-4-3 football scheduling arrangement. All three would work well, IMHO. Do you have a preference among the three, or perhaps one slightly different among the three? Potential new members are listed in bold.

A
Buffalo
UMass
Akron
Kent State

Ohio
Miami
Toledo
Bowling Green

Ball State
Illinois State
Western Kentucky

Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Western Michigan

B
Buffalo
UMass
Akron
Kent State

Ohio
Miami
Toledo
BGSU

Ball State
MTSU
WKU

CMU
EMU
WMU

C
Buffalo
UMass
Delaware

Akron
Kent State
Toledo
BGSU

Ohio
Miami
Ball State
WKU

CMU
EMU
WMU

[Steve81]

This is my replay from the MAC board along 2 other UMass folks favoring Delaware and grouping C.

I'm fine with any of them. From an UMass perspective we favor Delaware, old Yankee/A10/CAA conference football rival. That said Illinois State or MTSU puts us back in the Central time zone so flexible. Personally, if ISU would not go cheap like we did and has administration full support, I like their potential. MTSU is my least favorite but would visit Nashville and would be a great rival for WKU.

[Steve81]

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-footba ... 07211.html

Negotiations between officials from Sacramento State and the Mid-American Conference have intensified over an expansion agreement that is now nearing a vote from the league’s presidents.

In deep discussion with the California-based FCS school for more than a week now, MAC executives are reaching the point of a final decision on a move that would bring a windfall to current member schools. Sacramento State’s entry fee is expected to be more than $15 million.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the potential agreement spoke to Yahoo Sports under condition of anonymity. Officials at Sacramento State declined to comment. Those in the MAC also declined comment, citing a standard policy of not discussing expansion.

Looked at their wiki page.

California State University, Sacramento (CSUS, Sacramento State, or informally Sac State) is a public university in Sacramento, California, United States. Founded in 1947 as Sacramento State College,[8] it is part of the California State University system.

The university enrolls approximately 30,100 students annually, with 30,833 enrolled in the fall of 2024.[5] It also has an alumni base of more than 290,000[5] and awards 9,000 degrees annually. The university offers 151 different bachelor's degree programs, 69 master's degree programs, 28 types of teaching credentials, and 5 doctoral degree programs.[9][10]

The campus sits on 305 acres (123 ha), covered with over 3,500 trees and over 1,200 resting in the University Arboretum.[11] The university is home to one site of the National Register of Historic Places, the Julia Morgan House.

AI says R2.

Sacramento State University (Sac State) is not classified as an R1 institution, but rather as an R2 (Doctoral University: High Research Activity). As of February 2025, it joined other CSU campuses in this designation based on its research funding, which exceeded $28 million in 2023. R1 represents "Very High" research activity, while R2 represents "High".
Key Details Regarding Sac State's Classification:

Designation: R2 (High Research Activity).

Status: In February 2025, Sacramento State was officially recognized for its increased research and doctorate production.

Data: In fiscal year 2023, the institution received $28 million in research funding and produced 26 research doctorates.

Comparison: While many CSUs are R2, only a very limited number of institutions in California achieve the R1 ("Very High Research Activity") status.

[ZooMass84]

Feel your voices are important. BeatWestern, who I believe as access to the MAC office posted this thread. Create a sign in if you want to vote on the MAC board. It is not a poll but comments.
https://csnbbs.com/thread-1022160.html

As I have said previously and most of you are aware, the current MAC MMR with ESPN is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2027. IF the MAC is going to expand, it will most definitely be tied to a new and improved MMR deal, effective July 1, 2027. Moving to 14 with "additive" schools not only helps improve the MMR, it makes scheduling easier for the conference and could also strengthen the MBB NET.

Below are three groupings (A, B and C) of a 4-3-4-3 football scheduling arrangement. All three would work well, IMHO. Do you have a preference among the three, or perhaps one slightly different among the three? Potential new members are listed in bold.

A
Buffalo
UMass
Akron
Kent State

Ohio
Miami
Toledo
Bowling Green

Ball State
Illinois State
Western Kentucky

Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Western Michigan

B
Buffalo
UMass
Akron
Kent State

Ohio
Miami
Toledo
BGSU

Ball State
MTSU
WKU

CMU
EMU
WMU

C
Buffalo
UMass
Delaware

Akron
Kent State
Toledo
BGSU

Ohio
Miami
Ball State
WKU

CMU
EMU
WMU

Where's Sac State?

[Steve81]

I don't think the MAC is done and Sacramento State offer was to good to pass on. It will give the MAC a war chest and if it chose to, could buyout both WKU and Delawares CUSA GOR. It is that big with some left over.

Then again the 17M being thrown out there is an interesting number. The MAC could pay Illinois State 5M FBS fee to get them to move and back in the Central Time Zone and still have 12M leftover. Hmm, 12 members each could get 1M each and would offset the trips to the west coast every 3 or 4 years.

[Sheck]

It's official!

https://x.com/petethamel/status/2022859718960594983

[Steve81]

It's official!

https://x.com/petethamel/status/2022859718960594983

Wow 18 Million.

Pete Thamel
@PeteThamel
Sources: The MAC has voted to formally add FCS Sacramento State into the league as a football-only member starting in 2026. The cost of entrance is expected to be $18 million and a deal is expected to be announced in the upcoming days

And the ESPN article: https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... nly-member

[ZooMass84]

There can't be anyone (with the exception of #DumbUserName) who is hating on this move to the MAC. Honestly, $18,000,000 entry fee is UNREAL. The A10 would not in a million years be able to come up with that. Have to give big respect to Chancellor Reyes for his vision. Who knows, maybe, just maybe, UMass wins a game or two this season.

[Old Cage]

To balance this conversation, go read the X post - and so far 24 comments - from @TheHerdBros. It talks about the desperation of the MAC and about the top teams that are expected to leave. Maybe all the folks posting there are bozos. I have no idea.

[Steve81]

We all have ideas and think the MAC is serious about being in that second tier of G6 conferences. Would expect another team added in the next month. Followed by a new media deal for 2026 in the same neighborhood of the Sun Belt and MWC, which is 2.5M and the later giving conference money to existing members to bump them up to 3 5M. Remember, we got 420k from the A10 media payout of 6.3M split 15 ways.

[ZooMass84]

To balance this conversation, go read the X post - and so far 24 comments - from @TheHerdBros. It talks about the desperation of the MAC and about the top teams that are expected to leave. Maybe all the folks posting there are bozos. I have no idea.

just went on my Twitter or X and of 19 comments, only one mentioned UMass dropping to FCS. Totally moronic: we are not dropping to FCS. We are full time MAC; full member all sports. We could lose the next 30 football games and they would be hard pressed to kick us out. I used to compare us to Temple and the Big East but Temple was "football only". It is VERY HARD to kick out a full member for non performance.

[Old Cage]

Zoo - No part of what I wrote mentioned us being dropped. Why did you focus on that ONE comment on X? Strange response from you.

[ZooMass84]

Zoo - No part of what I wrote mentioned us being dropped. Why did you focus on that ONE comment on X? Strange response from you.

We're a Top Team!!!! if you invert the standings

[wmmmfan]

Interesting development, brings in a top 20 media market for the current tv negotiations. Gives the conference $18M to aide future members with their buyouts. Brings conference exposure to the West Coast. I don’t see any downside here for the conference.

[ZooMass84]

Interesting development, brings in a top 20 media market for the current tv negotiations. Gives the conference $18M to aide future members with their buyouts. Brings conference exposure to the West Coast. I don’t see any downside here for the conference.

There is no downside. We can use our share of 18M for NIL etc. Chancellor Reyes!!!!