It's still unclear to me when and how long we have to rebuild the conference w/ up to 8 members.
is that before the 2026 season?
if so, i can see us "renting" the MWC for 2 seasons and announcing expansion plans. The 4 teams and markets that seem obvious in the MWC are Boise, UNLV, Fresno, and SDSU. Then maybe you go east w/ CSU, Tulane, Memphis, maybe north grab Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, and another team.
I also wouldn't plan on ASU, Utah, etc., leaving to join the pac-12. Wishful thinking.
Our best shot at a "call up" is FSU and Clemson bailing from the ACC and we get invited to backfill. ACC's conference head is on record of saying regional conference are gone, we've gone national. Stan/Cal are stuck in the ACC through 2036 and would welcome some west coast competition. Maybe bringing some of the band back together in an ACC west could be an option in a few years.
is that before the 2026 season?
if so, i can see us "renting" the MWC for 2 seasons and announcing expansion plans. The 4 teams and markets that seem obvious in the MWC are Boise, UNLV, Fresno, and SDSU. Then maybe you go east w/ CSU, Tulane, Memphis, maybe north grab Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, and another team.
I also wouldn't plan on ASU, Utah, etc., leaving to join the pac-12. Wishful thinking.
Our best shot at a "call up" is FSU and Clemson bailing from the ACC and we get invited to backfill. ACC's conference head is on record of saying regional conference are gone, we've gone national. Stan/Cal are stuck in the ACC through 2036 and would welcome some west coast competition. Maybe bringing some of the band back together in an ACC west could be an option in a few years.