Three Reasons Why The MAC Should Invite UConn Football
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- UConn football needs a conference & the MAC is just a few years away from a new television deal - let's talk about why this partnership makes sense. This video examines three reasons why the Mid-American Conference should extend an invitation to the Huskies as a football-only member.
UConn and MAC fans...let us know you're thoughts in the comments!! Would this be a mutually beneficial partnership? Why or why not?
Article Link: lastwordonspor...
#UConn #MAC #collegefootball
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Umass is already in the mac so i could see uccon as a football only invite,, was really surprised umass is leaving the atlantic 10 and even joining the mac in basketball as well
Agreed it just seems like a natural fit
I was told that UMass was booted from the MAC because they wouldn't join as a full member this is why the MAC let them go and the reason they're rejoing is because they are now MAC in basketball as well
UConn is going to wait to see what happens with the ACC and Big12. They're riding out the storm for now/the next handful of years if needed.
Big UConn fan here. I wouldn't really like this but I also wouldn't hate it, as long as there's not a hefty exit fee. Everyone knows that if UConn gets a B12 or ACC invite, they're gone, but it makes sense for the MAC to give them a spot to hang out for a while. It's a large public school with a large following and big athletic budget. The brand name would bring more eyes to the MAC. I don't know about 3 non-con basketball games. That's a lot. We do usually play several cupcakes so replacing those with MAC teams could work, but the fewer of those MAC basketball matchups the better. UConn's scheduling as an independent has been fine so far. It's not like the quality of schedule would improve by being in the MAC but I do understand the appeal of being in a conference, whatever conference that might be. I also understand that independent scheduling is getting harder as the number of conference matchups in certain conferences grows and the number of independent teams drops. Only UConn's AD really knows how hard the scheduling is for them. If they reach a point where it's hard to put together a schedule, then go join a conference. But have an exit strategy if that conference is the MAC, AAC, Conference USA, Sun Belt, etc.
Great insight and thoughts…thank you for sharing
Totally agree they’d need an exit strategy in the event they get a call from P4 (but that could be a while)
I think UCONN could work for football only as a way to help bulk up the MAC and their media deal. I also think if the MAC does do a football invite, unless UCONN is purely all in for independent, they have no where else to go. I do wish UCONN can get a home to the MAC and continue rivalries with UMASS and maybe make something with Buffalo.
Another thing I thought is that they have a deal with the MAC similar to Notre Dame with the ACC & Wazzu + Oregon State with the Mountain west. Schedule like 5-7 teams to bulk up their schedules and pair up with the mac for some late games
I’d love to see them in there with UMASS and Buffalo - the problem with doing an “alliance” based deal is they won’t get the CFP access they’d have if they were conference member
@@CollegeUnderdogs Trey what if UConn lose their men basketball coach to Los Angeles Lakers how does that impact their situation
They didn’t.
Yes UConn Football needs a conference but no that conference is not the MAC.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Buffalo would be a forming of a strong eastern footprint. You could probably get Temple at some point
I think with the dust settling on realignment (which I could be very wrong and more schools bolt for a more "lucrative" conference) you have four schools "left behind" in a sense.
Notre Dame (they will be fine)
UConn
Washington State
Oregon State
I'm not a college football expert by any means, but it seems being part of a conference provides stability and financial security.
UConn football has not been the strongest for a while now. Maybe joining the MAC for a while while rebuilding and seeing what the future holds might be the smart move.
As far as the "PAC 2" goes, unless Oregon State and Washington State somehow convince the Mountain West/top MW schools to join the PAC brand (which is essentially dead), I just don't see how this will end well for those two athletic programs.
Unless you're Notre Dame with it's financial might and connections, things are only going to get tougher. Look at the desperate (at least in my opinion) scramble that Cal, Stanford, and SMU made to get into the ACC. Nobody wants to be left behind.
If the P5 conferences have not invited (and there's a reason why they did not invite them) UConn, Oregon State, and Washington State, it might be time to latch onto a G5 conference, compete, perform, rebuild and retool and see what the future holds.
All three of these schools are not exactly in a position of power negotiations wise. Go for the stability.
Trey…..You make a ton of sense. However, I don’t think UCONN would agree to 2 or 3 WBB/MBB OOC games. Maybe one a year though. Would that be acceptable? I’ve always been a fan of the MAC. Very entertaining football. As a UCONN guy, I’m tired of waiting on the ACC / Big 12 to come calling. If the MAC offers a football only invite they should take it.
Good point!
Yeah I personally think it would be a while before B12/ACC come back into the fold…may as well get in somewhere that makes geographical sense and gets you that chance at a CFP bid
UConn would be a great fit for the Mac football wise but know UConn they are trying to and jump in the water with the big fish but couldn’t even survive in the American conference football wise
And I think it may be a while before big fish come back into the fold
That scheduling agreement only works for basketball if one of them is guaranteed to be UMass. And only one road game, and two home games.
I've thought this would be great before but I doubt it will happen because they'll never join as a full member and that's why the MAC won't allow it.
Trey, very interesting. I have followed UConn at a distance for 15 years, so I think I know a little bit about the way they feel. So, I'll evaluate your suggestion first from UConn's side and second, from the MAC's side.
A large number of UCONN fans don't give a rat's behind about football. They would love for UCONN to become a football only member in a FCS conference centered in the Northeast/New England. The UCONN administration currently rejects this idea. UCONN would like an all sports invitation from either the ACC or the Big XII. What are the prospects of this? I certainly don't know. If that isn't available UCONN would consider a football only invite from the MAC, American, or Conference USA (they might even consider one from the Sun Belt or Mountain West, but those appear unlikely). One of the reasons (in my opinion) that UConn has survived as an independent in football, is the settlement of UCONN's suit against the ACC, wherein the ACC agreed to schedule a number of games over a long period of time. That time appears to be drawing to a close, making it more difficult for UCONN to schedule starting in 2029 (assuming that UMASS and Army don't cancel their scheduled games, in which case their difficulty might start as early as 2027).
So, would UCONN accept an all sports invitation from the MAC? No, and if you ask that question of a UCONN fan who doesn't care about football, duck, because you will get a strong reaction. The reason is quite simply that MAC basketball doesn't measure up to their standards, and actually they will go on and on and you really don't want to hear all of it. (UMASS agreeing to an all sports invitation was something that UMASS felt that they had to swallow, but UCONN's fans would probably burn their campus to the ground, rather than do that.)
So, bottom line, is that UCONN would probably accept a football only invite from the MAC.
OK, now how about from the MAC's perspective? Well, the MAC tried that with UMASS and it wasn't satisfactory for them. UMASS has a better basketball program than the MAC schools. UCONN, however, is a cut above UMASS in basketball, and probably more competitive in football against the MAC than UMASS, so they are more attractive than UMASS, which actually struggled in football against the MAC teams. Would a deal that bound UCONN to play 3 MBB games and 3 WBB games per season against MAC opponents be enough for the MAC? UCONN has about 10 non-conference games per season, so that would be roughly 30% of their non-con games. Something like that might be doable, but someone would need to get some hard numbers to see what that might look like. It has to be a win-win for both UCONN and the MAC for it to be doable.
Finally, if something like this is done, be prepared for blowback from both conference fans and UCONN fans who have not run the numbers. I hear this every year from both ACC and Notre Dame fans saying that they have been screwed by the deal, when if they ever sat down and actually calculated the dollars and cents, they would see that both sides are benefitting and no one is cheating the other..
As always, thank you for the insightful and well researched info
Totally agree with you on the blowback that would happen if some scheduling arrangement were to be worked out with MBB/WBB yet it would be mutually beneficial to both UConn and MAC
Terry….Interesting analysis. Being from CT, I know of only a couple of people who want to drop down to FCS and reconstitute the old Yankee Conference. And most of these guys, used to go see UCONN play in the old Memorial Stadium on campus when they were in the Yankee conference. And please know that the vast majority of UCONN fans care a lot about UCONN football and do not want to drop down to FCS. They draw well when they win. There was a buzz around UCONN football back in 2022 when they showed signs of life. They were beginning to draw some big crowds. When they played football in the old Big East they filled the Rent regularly. Winning changes everthing.
UConn will wait on the ACC situation, then try to get in the Big 12 or ACC. If they don’t get in, their plan would likely try to get a football only membership with the American conference. Or if UConn is optimistic and can’t get in the Big 12 or ACC, they could try to make a scheduling agreement with one of them
They need a conference over a scheduling agreement for CFP access - I don’t see UConn ever getting an at large bid, however they could get one of the 5 highest ranked conference champion bids
UConn wants to go to the ACC for all sports!!!!!
It sounds crazy and I doubt The American would do it due to previous history but what about UConn as football only and then bring in Dayton and VCU as all sports members (due to Army being football only)?
Aresco was adamantly against UConn as a football only member, I wonder what the new commish would think about it
I’d like to see AAC explore other additions
@@CollegeUnderdogsI would like to see the AAC pursue James Madison and Georgia State.
Upon further investigation, articles from when UConn joined the big east say they can talk to G5 conferences about joining as a football only. However, the MAC still has been pretty staunch they won’t take a football only member. I am SMUFBOffense btw :)
It would be interesting if the MAC took the gamble.
Your suggestion for the MAC to invite UConn as football only members with a MBB/WBB scheduling arrangement was ALREADY done with Temple from 2005 to 2010. The MAC said never again. UMass joined as football only with a 2 year limit to go MAC all sports membership. They initially turned this down to keep MBB/WBB in the A10. Now UMass is going all sports membership. Therefore, UConn has a better chance going CAA in football than MAC as football only.
You are correct about the MAC expansion for a better TV deal. Here is what ESPN is thinking:
1: Add Western Kentucky (good football/MBB) and Middle Tennessee State (average football/MBB). These schools are reasonably close to most current MAC schools. They would not dilute revenue, but could dilute TV appearance time.
2: If UMass needs a travel partner, would Albany or Stony Brook be interested in upgrading their programs?
3: Another 2 schools which could upgrade to the MAC in their general footprint are Northern Iowa and Youngstown State. These are not as large TV markets as #2, but could work.
I am not sure if the MAC could go to 18 schools without pods acting as Divisions. If the money could be agreed, all 3 options are viable. They all are better fits than UConn be Big East MBB/WBB is the focus; not football.
Good thoughts…remember though, it’s a lot more expensive for those FCS programs to make the jump to FBS
@@CollegeUnderdogs Understood. WKU and MTSU would be immediate adds without upgrades to get the MAC to 14 for ESPN+. The FCS Football and sometimes NCAAT MBB Teams at Albany, Stony Brook, and Northern Iowa would all cost money to upgrade. Youngstown State has had good FCS football but might be the weakest MBB add.
You already have UMass. This is 13. Adding WKU and MTSU brings in a natural rivalry into MAC while keeping the basic footprint. This is 15. You can create 3 Pods of 5 schools. Adding Albany is on the RT90 corridor. This is a like to have but not essential.
POD 1: UMass, Buffalo, Akron, Kent State, Ohio U. (RT90, RT71, RT77).
POD2: Bowling Green, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan. (RT75, RT94).
POD3: WKU, MTSU, Miami (OH), Ball State, Northern Illinois. (RT65, RT71, RT90, RT24, RT75). These schools are mostly off of RT65 and RT71.
@@CollegeUnderdogs didn’t Middle Tennessee State change their mind at last minute about joining MAC
Playing UCONN in basketball is a heck of alot different than playing Temple. Playing UCONN in as an OOC would provide a nice jolt to MAC basketball.
@@jamesk7963 So, your position is to accept UConn as MAC Football Only Membership with a specified number of UConn MBB/WBB games as a requirement. This is the same terms Temple was given. The MAC said Never Again. UMass tried to get the MAC to change to this arrangement and the MAC said NO! Now UMass is a MAC All Sports Member.
Please explain how you are going to get past all of this history both on the MAC and UConn sides?
Uconn is useless without basketball. That school is basketball central and grossly under-develops its football team. They should have never left the American athletic conference.
Aresco wouldn’t keep them as a football only
@@CollegeUnderdogs Aresco was right to do that. The Uconn football TV market is useless. You don't take that deal unless the school can demonstrate that they are willing to heavily invest in football, which Uconn won't do. Now Uconn is in a terrible position for the next few years. Maybe they can go to a gutted ACC, but B12 or B10 aint gonna happen.
Who asked for your opinion on this, which is wrong anyway.
@@jonathanjones3091wtf?? They’ve invested billions into Burton Fottball Facility which beats any university facilities including pro fb… maybe learn a bit before opening you mouth!
@@ManWytch And who is their coach? Exactly? Try using that money on some coaching and better players. Your players look like they should be playing D3 ball.
This all depends on what ESPN wants to do in this situation
I hate that espn seems to hold so many cards in all this
@@CollegeUnderdogs you forgot Disney involvement as well. Remember that ESPN wouldn’t have been allowed to do this without Disney being involved in this matter
My guess is that ESPN wouldn’t mind having UCONN return to the fold in football. It wouldn’t bother me one bit if they played on ESPN+. UCONN made a killing in the portal this season. They will surprise a lot of people like they did in 2022.
One other thing to consider before this video even starts. I’m not sure the big east even allows UConn to join a football conference as a football only member without a penalty.
The 3 other Big East teams that play football are in different FCS conferences so I’m not sure how or why they’d be able to penalize UConn for joining an FBS
@@CollegeUnderdogs because UConn has a unique contract agreement with a unique buyout structure separate from the others. I know for a fact based on the reporting out there that the buyout is $30M to leave the big east fully until 2026, then $15M until 2029, then $10M, just for UConn, and the buyout is far less for anybody not named UConn because they don’t need that deterrent.
Big east does not sponsor football. So the conference has no say on UConn football.
@@Alohanate2004 they do have say over whether UConn leaves the big east in all sports and can enforce a larger exit penalty
I do not see it happening. But if... IF ... the ACC loses eight in the Doomsday scenario of UVa, VA Tech, NC State, UNC, Clemson, GA Tech, FSU, Miami ... would the Big East attempt a football revival and 18 total? UConn and Nova (moving up to FBS) adding BC, Syracuse, Pitt, Wake, Duke, Louisville, and one more?
You don’t think that with a new commissioner that maybe the AMERICAN Kicks the tires on adding them as a FB only add?
Heck no.
How is being independent viable at all? It might not be viable for Notre Dame soon.
Being Independent is close to a death sentence for a program in this landscape
UConn will go bowling this year. To much potential to be in the mac. That lowers uconns ceiling drastically
UConn could go 12-0 this year and will play in the Armed Forces Bowl
If UConn goes 12-0 in the MAC and wins the conference championship, they’re a playoff team
See the difference?
@@CollegeUnderdogs no
Word came out that UConn to the Big 12 is imminent @@CollegeUnderdogs
UConn won’t leave for any group of 5 league… it’s a demotion!! Wait for B12 or ACC offer or stay put as independent! MAC?? Ti play who?? Buffalo? Ball St? Akron? Central Mich? Please!! It would be worse than AAC! At least now they play 4 P4 teams and their pic of Go5… But to be in a league of small Ohio and Michigan schools is folly and not serious conversation!
You must not understand how the CFP works
@@CollegeUnderdogs I’ve been following this before you were born kid… UConn will never join MAC and to think so is folly! It’s same mistake as putting fb in AAC … it won’t happen! Watch UConn fb since Yankee league. It won’t ever happen! They would rather take money from their billion $$$ endowment fund than join a league of teams that won’t help fan base. They need regional rivals: Cuse, BC, Pitt, Louisville… Western Michigan or Ball St isn’t going to cut it!
@@CollegeUnderdogs you got that from what I said huh?? Grow up! Folks can disagree with you and actually have a better understanding than you! Im sure it happens often!
The Mac ain't getting Uconn cause their basketball team would never go
Football only invite
They can invite Alabama, Notre Dame, USC and Texas too. We are NEVER EVER EVER going to the MAC. No one at UConn wants this so go fishing in a different pond. But nice try and no hard feelings.
100%. Flagship state university with resources and great media market. Put UConn in a P4 and it will thrive just like it did in the old Big East.
UConn could lose their head coach to LA lakers
I know crazy…apparently he’s 50/50 now
He stayed.