So Appy State and Georgia Southern to Sun Belt

[LDopaPDX]

I think the more likely reality is that the FBS will further subdivide into BCS with a possible couple of hanger-on conferences and non-auto conferences. The full-schollie FCS level will likely merge with the non-auto remaining conferences and form a third level. This has already been discussed many times, ask your AD. I guarantee the WAC would piss themselves if Eastern announced they wanted to make a move, and Eastern is light-years away from being a legitimate FBS prospect institution. My point in mentioning that is this... how desirable is just "moving up" if that's where you get stuck?

Plus, what is the motivation in moving up if you just make more money and get forced into bigger expenses? The quality of football sure isn't any better from the bottom 20 FBS teams to the top 20 FCS teams. When Eastern played Idaho this year it was like men playing boys... seriously, if Eastern had any finishing ability in that one, it could have been a 41-3 rout. EWU had at best a mediocre defense, and Idaho finished with barely over 200 total yards (something like 60 came on a single trick play).

 

[Bisonation]

we are jealous of APPY and GSU jumping to FBS>

NDSU & Montana have to get together and at least discuss the possibility ASAP.

 

[CatsAttack]

I think the more likely reality is that the FBS will further subdivide into BCS with a possible couple of hanger-on conferences and non-auto conferences. The full-schollie FCS level will likely merge with the non-auto remaining conferences and form a third level. This has already been discussed many times, ask your AD. I guarantee the WAC would piss themselves if Eastern announced they wanted to make a move, and Eastern is light-years away from being a legitimate FBS prospect institution. My point in mentioning that is this... how desirable is just "moving up" if that's where you get stuck?

Unfortunately, based on current leadership, I would argue that UM is just as far away (other than the stadium capacity issue). Not a slam against the institution, team or fanbase...a slam on your leader. Hell, if it were a UM vs. MSU footrace to FBS and each school HAD to keep their current president, I would bet the farm on MSU...

 

[billings_poke]

I think the more likely reality is that the FBS will further subdivide into BCS with a possible couple of hanger-on conferences and non-auto conferences. The full-schollie FCS level will likely merge with the non-auto remaining conferences and form a third level. This has already been discussed many times, ask your AD. I guarantee the WAC would piss themselves if Eastern announced they wanted to make a move, and Eastern is light-years away from being a legitimate FBS prospect institution. My point in mentioning that is this... how desirable is just "moving up" if that's where you get stuck?

Probably not going to happen if you listen to the AD's now. The conferences are getting bigger and probably killing the whole third level idea. The number of FBS conferences is decreasing instead. WAC is gone and ONE FBS in the east may disappear as well as its members get absorbed. This is causing some scheduling problems.

The NCAA is giving the Big Boys everything they want in form of new rules, paying players, control of the cash, etc. They will remain in the NCAA. Big Boys also want at least 7 home games a year and they want some non AQ leagues around for scheduling purposes. There will remain 4 -5 conferences just below the big boys in the form of the MWC/BE/CUSA/MAC and Sun Belt. That is the middle group and you will have to join them. I don't see anyone looking to leave that group and merge into some FCS/FBS hybrid mess. Nor do I see many, if any, from this group, getting a ticket to the top 4-5 conferences. This middle group is stabilizing a bit it seems

TV likes the middle group for off -time scheduling as well. MWC TV deal will pay about $2.5 million per team for TV deals. TV and AQ league scheduling will keep a middle group alive and there will be no merger with FCS.

Appy State and Georgia Southern are making moves to join the middle group. They know there will be no merger FBS/FCS idea happening. And although the quality of football may be close the Middle of the FBS pays a lot more money and has better exposure for the University itself and they know that.

 

[LDopaPDX]

I think the more likely reality is that the FBS will further subdivide into BCS with a possible couple of hanger-on conferences and non-auto conferences. The full-schollie FCS level will likely merge with the non-auto remaining conferences and form a third level. This has already been discussed many times, ask your AD. I guarantee the WAC would piss themselves if Eastern announced they wanted to make a move, and Eastern is light-years away from being a legitimate FBS prospect institution. My point in mentioning that is this... how desirable is just "moving up" if that's where you get stuck?

Probably not going to happen if you listen to the AD's now. The conferences are getting bigger and probably killing the whole third level idea. The number of FBS conferences is decreasing instead. WAC is gone and ONE FBS in the east may disappear as well as its members get absorbed. This is causing some scheduling problems.

The NCAA is giving the Big Boys everything they want in form of new rules, paying players, control of the cash, etc. They will remain in the NCAA. Big Boys also want at least 7 home games a year and they want some non AQ leagues around for scheduling purposes. There will remain 4 -5 conferences just below the big boys in the form of the MWC/BE/CUSA/MAC and Sun Belt. That is the middle group and you will have to join them. I don't see anyone looking to leave that group and merge into some FCS/FBS hybrid mess. Nor do I see many, if any, from this group, getting a ticket to the top 4-5 conferences. This middle group is stabilizing a bit it seems

TV likes the middle group for off -time scheduling as well. MWC TV deal will pay about $2.5 million per team for TV deals. TV and AQ league scheduling will keep a middle group alive and there will be no merger with FCS.

Appy State and Georgia Southern are making moves to join the middle group. They know there will be no merger FBS/FCS idea happening. And although the quality of football may be close the Middle of the FBS pays a lot more money and has better exposure for the University itself and they know that.

I know the possibility has been broached on an informal level before... that is, forming a third tier with a playoff system as a championship that would consist of the top FCS programs and the bottom FBS programs. Part of the reason is massive revenue boost of doing away with minor bowls and putting those teams into a playoff format on campus locations--- more ticket revenue plus more game = more money.

The question, of course, is how do you handle the discrepency in scholarships? That is the big hurdle.

 

[billings_poke]

I know the possibility has been broached on an informal level before... that is, forming a third tier with a playoff system as a championship that would consist of the top FCS programs and the bottom FBS programs. Part of the reason is massive revenue boost of doing away with minor bowls and putting those teams into a playoff format on campus locations--- more ticket revenue plus more game = more money.

The question, of course, is how do you handle the discrepency in scholarships? That is the big hurdle.

Problem is

But yet the FCS playoffs lose money with just the best of the FCS, I don't think there is a massive revenue boost to be had in any scenario, playoff or not, without the top 5 conferences involved. One reason the MWC has a decent TV contract now is that we host teams like Notre Dame, USC, and Oregon at MWC stadiums. Take that away and you take away any real TV money. If the top 5 do pull away the rest of the middle take a huge revenue hit not a gain by going to playoffs