Weird.

I would never say never, but it seems odd that ASU would want to be playing all their confernece games in Ohio.

The only logic to this MIGHT BE if the MAC were bringing in UMass for ALL sports, and needed another for 14.
I'd think first, if the MAC wanted to deal with having this 12/13 situation, the DO have the option of kicking Umass football out after 2 years, since Temple left.
They could also think about adding Army for FB only to get to a 12/14 arrangement...
Arkansas State ???

I wouldnt put a lot of faith in these rumors

Yeah, the only thing I think it's interesting that the Sun Belt thinks it might be losing more than one member. Likely CUSA might take WKU, Ark St and a third like ULL, UMass, GASt, or NMSU.

_________________
Fan of the Big 12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference and...

Don't see the benefit for Arkansas State.

I think Delaware or Southern Illinois may be better options.

I read on ESPN that the "Group of 5" conferences (MAC, AAC, C-USA, SBC, MWC) will each receive a $1 million per school for up to 12 schools. (so even if you have 13 or 14 members the max your conference can get is $12 million). I wonder if this will cause the MAC to cut UMass loose since, per their agreement, the MAC can choose not renew their deal with the minutemen after 2 seasons.

I also wonder if the SBC East would be a possible new home for UMass if they are booted from the MAC.

Here is my input: I think that the MAC will add 1 to balance out the conference, or drop U. Mass. I can see Delaware being added for that spot. However, I would like to see the MAC add 3 to get to 16: Northern Iowa, Delaware, and James Madison U.
Thoughts or comments?

My thoughts, for what they're worth, are this: I say drop UMass and stick with 12. Why water down the product and potentially serve as the gateway to FBS for schools who might someday create a Northeastern FBS conference? I should add the caveat that I'm an Ohioan born and bred and entertained graduate school offers from 5 of the 6 Ohio MAC schools. UNI, JMU, and UDel are all fine football programs I just like the MAC the way it was.

Out of curiosity, did you mean to extend these schools full invitations or football affiliateships?

Muskie,
That would be full invites.

I thought perhaps they should target:
Delaware
JMU
Youngstown State
as full members, and upgrade UMass to full membership.

That would bring them to 16, all play FB, and they could go to two 8's or 4 pods o' 4.
The Eastern pod could then be: Buffalo, UMass, Delaware, JMU.

Tute, the trouble with that is that UMass is in a better basketball home right now (which they might not want to leave) and the MAC is cognizant of the fact that UMass's long term goal is the AAC. This expansion to 16 could be a potentially costly price to pay in order to facilitate the ascension of the Minutemen to a better conference.

Agree. UMass may strongly prefer to remain in A-10 for basketball for now, dreaming of the AAC down the road.....

We're finally at the point where UMass is the biggest program in the A-10. The MAC is more their peer than they think.

Temple and UMass should both put all their sports in the MAC. It's not so bad a gig.

Well, Temple probably thinks they are already in a better place (the AAC).

UMass would likely love to be right there beside them, and it could happen if Navy were to drop out of the AAC, or the AAC wanted to go to 14.

Sadly, this thinking will steer their athletics into extinction. Temple's football is going to be in so much financial trouble the longer this AAC thing escalates. They didn't make money when they had Penn State, Miami, BC, Pitt, WVU, and Syracuse routinely on the schedule...what's going to change when it's SMU, UCF, Memphis, and Tulsa? Their basketball is going to a 2-3 bid league, just like the current C-USA...when the A10 is probably still a 3+'er. The school is so Philly-heavy...it thrives off the Big 5 and its multiple games with the likes of La Salle and St. Joe's. When those go, so will Temple's hoops program.

UMass' AAC fate is with UConn. If UConn will play nicely, which I don't think they will, UMass can get a huge rub. More than likely, though, I think the AAC will try to "fill in" the east with the likes of Marshall, ODU, Charlotte, or push yet again for Army's football-only status.