I have said this before. I don't have a problem staying in FCS or moving up to the FBS. Both have good and bad. FCS we have a real shot winning the natty, but our competition is getting worse and worse. Half of our regular season schedule are d2 teams that moved up the last years. S. Utah, Utah tech, Portland St, N. Co. This is not a satisfactory schedule. Now we are losing NDSU and soon more teams to the FBS. Sadly we will never play those teams again. Montana does not play g6 teams because they can't pay us what we make for a home game. Plus FBS can't come here and play us anymore. So are we really D1 if FBS can't schedule a home and home with FCS.
To me it comes down to do want a regular season with 12 games that is our peers and if we win the conference we could get into CFP. Don't say it is impossible James Madison did it this year. MWC with the Dakota and Montanas would better then sunbelt, Mac, conference USA, and could challenge pac and American for a spot for the playoffs specifically if they go to 16 or 24 teams.
Or we can stay and play a less funded, no fan base, high school stadium, watered down schedule. Then the real season begins in the playoffs. With only really 3 or 4 teams really on par with us. As far as funding, facilities, and traditions, There will Cinderella teams like Ill.st. but the championship game is 95% will be montana and st, hopefully south Dakota doesn't leave and hopefully Tarleton st. (Which is d2 transplant) all stay.
What sounds more exciting to watch.
I wish we could do home and home with fbs then regular season games can be exciting plus the playoffs. But we can't. We have to choose. Do we want have a schedule with peer schools and slim shot to make the playoffs. The playoffs would be conference schedule. We would need to win at least 10 games to have a shot at CFP. Or do we want to play a meh regular season schedule that we should easily win 95% of the games and hopefully we play some good teams in the playoffs. Remember there is only a small handful of teams that really win the natty anymore. Just like CFP.
What is your choice? Move up/move forward and face challenges head on and might stumble a few times or stay were we are and feel safe and not move forward and keep competing for a championship that we should be in finals 4 every f'n year but have the chance rot within.
Staying put is not moving forward, it is very slow decline to average.