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Joining the Mountain West would run an $8MM - $9MM annual deficit - can we overcome that?

MontanaGrizSoccer said:
That’s been the AD jobs the past 10 years. You believe the Griz get a fair shake in exposure and revenue in the BSC or deserve equal money to PSU, NAU or Northern Colorado. Griz had the two or 3 of the most watched FCS games on tv this year, what did they get out it, why not put those games out to bid and see what happens. If other conferences can do why not Griz.
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The AD's job the last 10 years was to threaten the BSC that we're leaving? And going where?
 
mthoopsfan said:
There isn’t any revenue to share.

What good is a few million of revenue if it costs $10 million to get the few million?
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Show us one economic study the athletic dept has done over the last 5 years showing revenue from the BSC vs revevue and expected revenue and expenses from moving up. You think NDSU blindly moved up, their economic model showed long term revenue generation by moving up.
 
MontanaGrizSoccer said:
Show us one economic study the athletic dept has done over the last 5 years showing revenue from the BSC vs revevue and expected revenue and expenses from moving up. You think NDSU blindly moved up, their economic model showed long term revenue generation by moving up.
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Ask any senior person in the AD and they will tell you. They don't release studies generally. You don't have to do a study to know that UM can't afford to move to FBS, and are much better off, currently, in FCS. Some FBS revenues are decent, but they don't come close to covering the costs of moving up. Look at Brint's OP in his MW thread. The basics are there.

Show us any study by you or anyone that says that UM moving to FBS is financially feasible for UM. L ook up how many times Haslam has said that FCS is the right place for UM right now. Show me any links to offer and articles saying UM has been asked to move to FBS.

What don't you understand about Gemini on this question?

"What has kent haslam said about montana being at the right level at FCS for now

University of Montana Athletic Director Kent Haslam has consistently maintained that the FCS (specifically the Big Sky Conference) provides a highly viable, sustainable, and successful model for Grizzly athletics, even amidst the turbulent landscape of conference realignment and the House v. NCAA antitrust settlements.

When discussing where Montana fits and the prospect of moving up to the FBS level, Haslam’s perspective centers on cost control, competitiveness, and maintaining the cultural connection that makes Griz football unique.

Here is what Haslam has emphasized regarding Montana staying at the FCS level for now:

1. Cost Control and Financial Sustainability​

Haslam has pointed out that the structural guardrails of the FCS make financial sense for a self-sustaining athletic department like Montana's.

  • Scholarship Caps: He has noted that with the FCS cap of 63 scholarships (compared to 85 in the FBS), programs can control costs much more effectively.

    Missoula Current

  • The Business Model: In the wake of the House settlement—which is costing mid-major and FCS schools significant revenue distributions—Haslam has emphasized that the FCS model remains "pretty good" and "really good" because it avoids the hyper-inflated, multi-million dollar spending wars seen at the highest tier of the FBS, which are unsustainable for schools without massive media rights deals.

2. Maintaining the Local Culture and Rivalries​

A major component of Haslam's philosophy is protecting what makes Montana football special to the state and the region.

Missoula Current


  • The Passion of the Fan Base: Haslam has expressed concern that chasing an FBS move could erode the deep, generational connection the program has with its fans. He emphasizes that the Grizzlies don't compete with professional sports teams; they matter deeply to the people of Montana and the Pacific Northwest.

    Missoula Current+ 1

  • Preserving Regional Identity: Staying in the Big Sky ensures that historic regional rivalries (most notably the Brawl of the Wild) remain front and center, rather than trading them for a geographically isolated G5 conference alignment just for the sake of moving up.

3. Competing for National Championships vs. "The Shakeout"​

Haslam has made it clear that he prefers to have the Grizzlies compete at a level where the ultimate goal—winning a national championship—is realistically on the table every single year.

  • Uncertainty at the Top: With the continuous shifting toward massive "super-conferences" at the power-conference level, Haslam has been realistic about the future, noting that college football is likely heading toward a multi-tiered Division I structure.
  • The Right Fit: Until the dust settles on how the FBS splits or how the G5/G6 conferences are structured post-realignment, Haslam believes the FCS is the right tier. It allows Montana to maintain elite facilities, break attendance records, and chase national titles, rather than spending millions to buy into a "fixer-upper" situation in a lower-tier FBS conference where a playoff path is highly restricted."
 
mthoopsfan said:
Ask any senior person in the AD and they will tell you. They don't release studies generally. You don't have to do a study to know that UM can't afford to move to FBS, and are much better off, currently, in FCS. Some FBS revenues are decent, but they don't come close to covering the costs of moving up. Look at Brint's OP in his MW thread. The basics are there.

Show us any study by you or anyone that says that UM moving to FBS is financially feasible for UM. L ook up how many times Haslam has said that FCS is the right place for UM right now. Show me any links to offer and articles saying UM has been asked to move to FBS.

What don't you understand about Gemini on this question?

"What has kent haslam said about montana being at the right level at FCS for now

University of Montana Athletic Director Kent Haslam has consistently maintained that the FCS (specifically the Big Sky Conference) provides a highly viable, sustainable, and successful model for Grizzly athletics, even amidst the turbulent landscape of conference realignment and the House v. NCAA antitrust settlements.

When discussing where Montana fits and the prospect of moving up to the FBS level, Haslam’s perspective centers on cost control, competitiveness, and maintaining the cultural connection that makes Griz football unique.

Here is what Haslam has emphasized regarding Montana staying at the FCS level for now:

1. Cost Control and Financial Sustainability​

Haslam has pointed out that the structural guardrails of the FCS make financial sense for a self-sustaining athletic department like Montana's.

  • Scholarship Caps: He has noted that with the FCS cap of 63 scholarships (compared to 85 in the FBS), programs can control costs much more effectively.

    Missoula Current

  • The Business Model: In the wake of the House settlement—which is costing mid-major and FCS schools significant revenue distributions—Haslam has emphasized that the FCS model remains "pretty good" and "really good" because it avoids the hyper-inflated, multi-million dollar spending wars seen at the highest tier of the FBS, which are unsustainable for schools without massive media rights deals.

2. Maintaining the Local Culture and Rivalries​

A major component of Haslam's philosophy is protecting what makes Montana football special to the state and the region.

Missoula Current


  • The Passion of the Fan Base: Haslam has expressed concern that chasing an FBS move could erode the deep, generational connection the program has with its fans. He emphasizes that the Grizzlies don't compete with professional sports teams; they matter deeply to the people of Montana and the Pacific Northwest.

    Missoula Current+ 1

  • Preserving Regional Identity: Staying in the Big Sky ensures that historic regional rivalries (most notably the Brawl of the Wild) remain front and center, rather than trading them for a geographically isolated G5 conference alignment just for the sake of moving up.

3. Competing for National Championships vs. "The Shakeout"​

Haslam has made it clear that he prefers to have the Grizzlies compete at a level where the ultimate goal—winning a national championship—is realistically on the table every single year.

  • Uncertainty at the Top: With the continuous shifting toward massive "super-conferences" at the power-conference level, Haslam has been realistic about the future, noting that college football is likely heading toward a multi-tiered Division I structure.
  • The Right Fit: Until the dust settles on how the FBS splits or how the G5/G6 conferences are structured post-realignment, Haslam believes the FCS is the right tier. It allows Montana to maintain elite facilities, break attendance records, and chase national titles, rather than spending millions to buy into a "fixer-upper" situation in a lower-tier FBS conference where a playoff path is highly restricted."
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North Dakota State just might have the oil industry’s check book backing them up.🤨
 
“North Dakota State University (NDSU) Athletics operates on a budget that typically hovers between $30 million and $35 million annually. Because NDSU competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) primarily within the Summit League (and the Missouri Valley Football Conference), its revenue structure looks quite different from a massive Power Four FBS program.

Instead of relying almost entirely on massive television contracts, NDSU’s athletic budget is financed through a diversified mix of self-generated revenue, university support, and highly successful local fundraising.

According to financial data reported via the NCAA and the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database, NDSU’s athletic financing breaks down into several primary pillars:

1. Institutional and Government Support (approx. 25% – 27%)​

Unlike giant athletic departments that are entirely self-sufficient, NDSU relies on the university for its largest single block of financial backing. This includes Direct Institutional Support—unrestricted university funds allocated to athletics, tuition waivers for student-athletes, and state appropriations earmarked for higher education infrastructure that directly benefit the athletic department.

2. Donor Contributions and Booster Clubs (approx. 16% – 20%)​

Private philanthropy is an incredibly strong pillar for NDSU, largely driven by Team Makers, the nonprofit fundraising arm of NDSU Athletics.

  • Team Makers consistently contributes between $5.5 million and $8.4 million annually in cash donations, trading of goods/services, and fundraising events.
  • This money specifically funds student-athlete scholarships, program endowments, capital facility projects, and the Bison Athletic Excellence Fund.

3. Ticket Sales (approx. 13% – 15%)​

Driven heavily by the perennial success of the Bison football program, gate receipts are a major revenue driver for NDSU compared to its FCS peers. Ticket sales pull in roughly $4.5 million to $6 million annually. Football season ticket sales and playoff gate shares make up the lion's share of this category, alongside basketball and other ticketed sports.

4. Conference/NCAA Distributions & Media Rights (approx. 10%)​

Because NDSU is an FCS school, its media rights revenue is modest compared to the SEC or Big Ten. However, it pulls in roughly $3 million+ annually from a combination of:

  • NCAA Distributions: Payouts from participating in the NCAA basketball tournament and operational performance grants.
  • Conference Payouts: Media arrangements and postseason distributions from the Summit League and Missouri Valley Football Conference.

5. Corporate Sponsorships, Licensing, and Royalties (approx. 7%)​

This includes multi-year corporate partnerships, stadium advertising (such as signage inside the Fargodome or the Scheels Center), and royalties from the sale of officially licensed Bison merchandise and apparel. This generally brings in $2.4 million to $2.6 million per year.

6. Student Fees (approx. 4%)​

A dedicated, restricted portion of standard student tuition fees is allocated directly to the athletic department to support baseline operations and grant students access to home sporting events. This contributes roughly $1.4 million annually.

7. Other Revenues (Game Guarantees & Camps)​

The remainder of the budget is filled out by operational revenue streams:

  • Competition Guarantees: "Buy games" where the football or basketball teams travel to play major FBS/Power Four programs in exchange for a guaranteed flat payout (often ranging from several hundred thousand to over a million dollars per game).
  • Sports Camps: Youth and high school athletic camps hosted by NDSU coaching staffs during the summer.

How the Money is Spent​

To keep the department balanced, these revenues are poured directly back into three nearly equal buckets: Athlete Scholarships & Student Aid (~19%), Coaches' Salaries & Compensation (~19%), and Game Travel/Operations (~20%), with the remainder funding facilities upkeep, medical staff, and non-coaching athletic personnel.” Gemini.
 
It makes zero sense to consider moving up in a landscape that is rapidly evolving. What we know today is certainly different than what we will see in 2-5 years down the road. The BOR knows this and will never agree to move up unless there is a major shift that minimizes financial risk and maximizes financial gain. People can debate this topic until the hell freezes over. Nothing is happening without the BOR’s approval. Nothing!
 
Copper Griz said:
It makes zero sense to consider moving up in a landscape that is rapidly evolving. What we know today is certainly different than what we will see in 2-5 years down the road. The BOR knows this and will never agree to move up unless there is a major shift that minimizes financial risk and maximizes financial gain. People can debate this topic until the hell freezes over. Nothing is happening without the BOR’s approval. Nothing!
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Maybe, but can you afford to pass up an opportunity, a current invite, not knowing if it will be available later because of the rapidly evolving landscape?
 
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