C Rod

Looks like the MWC is trying to money-whip the remaining seven schools to sign a membership agreement.

If UNLV leaves for the PAC, and AF leaves for the AAC, I don't expect the MWC to just sit on their hands for two years. Expansion is a top priority for survival. Hawaii, SJSU, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico will need to add 3 schools quickly to meet the NCAA 8-team requirement and ensure they still have a conference to collect the PAC penalty fees after the lawsuits are settled. It's widely discussed that UTEP and New Mexico State are next in line for MWC invites. The MWC would just need one more school after that. Flush with cash, MWC could easily put up the $5M FCS-to-FBS entrance fee to help Idaho or North Dakota State jump to FBS and become their 8th member.

Here's a visual of exactly what we don't want to happen:

Okay let's agree to disagree. But you did in fact say the following, which means you want to see these MWC teams join the AAC before 2027 or 2028 and the dissolution of the MWC: This was my whole point... now is not the time for the AAC to raid the MWC and force it's collapse as you allude to above.

Wow... so the MWC threw the PAC-2 a bone with a scheduling agreement that included a penalty of $10M per school if the PAC tried to poach schools from the MWC. The PAC-2 agreed to terms, then a year later decides to poach MWC schools. However when it comes time to pay up, the PAC has the audacity to sue the MWC to get out from paying the $10M per school. What a dick move by the new PAC.

If the MWC folds, the PAC doesn't have to pay a dime. The PAC would then take the allotted $110M+ funds that were designated for the MWC schools and use those funds to pay the AAC exit fees for Memphis, Tulane, USF, and UTSA. Why? Because these schools are at the top of their wishlist and help maximize the next TV deal due to their brands and TV market size. The networks interested in the new PAC are The CW (national broadcast), TNT (cable), and Amazon/Apple (streaming). The CW is already involved with the PAC TNT is expanding into college football after losing their longstanding NBA TV deal The last thing we need to do is raid the MWC so it folds on itself. Regarding your idea: This would grow the AAC to an 18 team football conference. If you're concerned about 12 teams in the PAC being too many mouths to feed, how can you justify 18 teams in the AAC? AF, Nevada, and UNM/Wyoming won't jump to the AAC for half-share distribution because they'll make less than what they're currently making now in the MWC. Add in the additional travel costs and it makes even less financial sense for them to jump conferences at half-share distribution.

This is exactly what we should all be hoping for.

Considering the new additional markets would be Las Vegas, Memphis, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Tampa, I doubt the PAC would have any trouble commanding the higher-end of the $10-15M per school distribution. The new PAC-12 would be set with a solid 12 teams that are clearly the "best of the rest."

Think this one through all the way, my friend. What do you think the PAC 8 will then do will their $110M+ money that's freed up? They'll immediately pick up the phone and call Memphis, Tulane, USF, and UTSA and offer to cover their AAC exit fees. As we saw from yesterday's circus, everyone is "committed" until they're not. What you're proposing is actually a terrible idea. We need the MWC to survive.

I don't think that would be a smart idea. The MWC is now hanging on by a thread and is very close to dissolution. If it collapses, the PAC owes them nothing and could then use the money to lure Memphis, Tulane, USF, and UTSA by covering their $27.5M AAC exit fees. https://sports.yahoo.com/is-mwc-dissolution-coming-unlv-now-holds-keys-to-future-in-fight-between-pac-12-and-mountain-west-125447778.html

Air Force is back in play for the AAC.

It's getting exciting folks! Looks like AF is getting cold feet with the MWC.

I heard the number AF was offered was $10M. I wonder if UNLV bolting for the PAC would change Air Force’s mind.

🥤🍿

Oh boy. Gonna be a late night for the PAC and MWC.

Sounds fun. But watch out for the Midshipmen backside option.

LMAO. It really is going to be the STATE-8. Y'all heard it here first. Anyone know a good trademark attorney? Asking for a friend.

They need to rename the PAC 12 conference to the STATE EIGHT.

The PAC really screwed the pooch on this. They could have had UNLV and Air Force 10 days ago when they took the other 4 schools, and secured the league at 8 teams. Now, they're racing against time and the MWC to lockup the MWC bottom feeders at $27M a pop. 😂

The PAC is paying $27M per MWC school they poach. They could have taken 10 MWC teams to begin with and the MWC would have dissolved without the PAC owing any money. Now it’s going to cost the PAC another $55M for two more schools and the MWC will be flush with over $165+M in cash. This is hilarious.