wardly

The main reason FSU,Clemson, and perhaps North Carolina, want out is the grant of rights that the ACC is tied to for another 12 years is the annual payout is significantly less than the BIG 10 and SEC . This gap is growing annually and if you want to play big time football you need to make big time money. If ESPN wants the ACC to be successful they need to level the monetary playing field . I have not seen any indication that they are willing to do this.

They have 2 years to work it out. Also if the ACC implodes where is the landing spot for SMU?

Thanks for the link! Great information!

If the ACC projected implosion leaves enough schools to keep it alive and Cal and Stanford push for OSU and WSU to be included then they may have a chance to join. Otherwise, with the OSU athletic director stating 8 schools would be the optimal number it appears the objective of the PAC 2 is to be the best west coast conference they can be.I don't see where UNT moving west into a different time zone is preferred over the AAC. ( PS: Somehow my reply went directly into the middle of your post and when I deleted it I accidentally took some of your original post with it. My apologies.)

From what I have read they are trying to get thru this season and have scheduled a number of games with MWC football as you have pointed out. It was easier to park their other sports in the Big West until the financial settlement with former PAC 12 members is settled and they determined whether or not to play as an independent in football. However no conference other than the MWC wants them , not even the AAC. If memory serves our previous commissioner told them that we had no interest in just 2 west coast teams. The BIG 12 , Big 10, and ACC also had no interest when they expanded but all bets are off if the ACC implodes. Otherwise it appears the only question is can they wiggle out of their "all or non " agreement with the MWC and negotiate an acceptable media contract.The OSU athletic director recently stated that he though 8 schools is the perfect number for a new PAC. Speculation by the U TUBE sports pundits is that in a perfect world OSU and WSU choices would be Fresno ST., SDSU,UNLV,Colorado St. , Boise st., and AFA. However one podcast team speculated that the Air Force Academy might want to spread their wings [pun intended] and consider the AAC since it now includes both Army and Navy in football. The PAC 2 certainly doesn't want Hawaii, SJSU, Nevada, Wyoming,or New Mexico but may be stuck with them in a reverse merger. In summary the PAC 2 have until 2025/2026 to put together a conference with at least 8 members but nothing is going to happen until the ACC situation is resolved.

FYI, the NCAA has increased the application fee for FCS programs who want to move up to FBS from $5,000 to $5 million dollars. This should deter some schools and make it more difficult for conferences like CUSA to back fill any member loses.

The PAC 12 wanted $20 million per team more than what was offered. I assume OSU and WSU media expectations are more realistic. While football driven the MWC had a strong men's basketball season last year and with the addition of the PAC 2 expect to be the best of G6 conferences and paid accordingly.

The PAC 2 has a signed agreement with the MWC that if they cherry pick it will cost them $10 million for the first school, increasing another $2.5 million per school afterwards ramping upwards. For example they take 6 schools the 6th will cost them $22.5 million. This was reported by Trey Smith on his "College Underdogs " podcast . Smith follows the AAC exclusively. In addition any school leaving the MWC to the PA 2 must pay a $5 million exit fee. It is set up so that the PAC 2 must take the entire existing MWC in any merger.

Will ours?

I agree, but I doubt they want us either. From what I have read the MWC has told the PAC 2 that it's all or none. If they stick to their guns then its a mute point. However if the PAC 2 cherry picks SDSU,Fresno St., Boise, Air Force,Colorado State and UNLV then those "left behind" will be looking for help. CUSA or the WAC would probably throw them a lifeline. Personally I like us in the AAC. The MWC has a scheduling agreement with WSU and OSU , and a few weeks ago their Commissioner alluded to scheduling more games with AAC members. Perhaps that is why Wyoming is on this season's schedule. Also it appears that once again I was wrong about realignment as many pundits are projecting the implosion of the ACC as early as July with Clemson and FSU leading the charge. [so much for their iron clad conference media rights contract ]. If this happens then the BIG 10,SEC, and soon to be renamed BIG 12 will pick it apart. There may be a few leftovers who could find a home in the AAC,but the good news for the conference would be that Memphis, Tulane, and USF would once again be passed over.

Every scenario I have seen that adds Texas teams to the MWC does not include UNT. Rice,USTA,Texas State and even UTEP are mentioned.

Sure. They still need "W's" to be bowl eligible, and the lower divisions need the big paycheck.

This

Seems real as I don't see many references to the PAC 2 as a P5 program. Also the POWER Conferences are mainly referred to as P'4's. Regardless at some point the PAC 2 will find its G Spot.

The PAC 2 will add at least 6 G5 schools to its 2 team conference next year and become an official a G6 program. Regarding the K-State fan base, they sell out their home football games and put their money where their mouth is. UNT has never had a strong fan base and does neither.

With the big dogs having greater access to NIL money the separation between "haves" and "have nots"will become even greater.However we will continue to schedule each other as they need a "W" and we need at least one money game. Regarding Texas State, they ranked higher because they have a much better team As you know we passed on hiring their new coach last year. On another note I saw Trey Smith AAC podcast where he discussed the PAC 2 possibility thinking outside the box and reaching out to UTSA, Tulane, USF, and Memphis as possible new members. I give this less than a zero chance of happening but once again we are shaded by UTSA who has admittedly done an excellent job in building a football program while UNT continues to struggle.

THIS!

Yes. I thought for a moment I was in Lubbock. K-St. has a rabid fan base but I didn't their pockets went that deep. Programs like UNT don't have a chance to compete with programs that have this type of money. In my opinion the G6 conferences need to separate themselves from the P4 programs and try to establish their own NIL guidelines. I am not an attorney and don't know if conferences can legally cap NIL payouts. If it could be done then you could establish a maximum amount each school is allowed to distribute as well as to which sports in an effort to maintain some semblance of a level playing field. In addition, while it may seem far fetched now, I would explore the possibility of selling naming rights to our athletic program such as we have done at our football stadium.If the BIG 12 does partner with Allstate Insurance and become the Allstate 12 Athletic Conference, which is estimated to bring $5 million annually to each member, then either the American Athletic Conference should follow suit or allow its members to individually explore their options. It's a brave new world and every school needs to be thinking outside of the box for ways to drastically increase revenues if they want to survive .

Not at present, but when they receive NIL pay from the school they should be. Why don't we just agree to disagree and see how things play out in the next few years if not sooner. At present its just speculation as to how players will be classified in the future. At age 81 I could be dead by then and it won't matter, at least to me. However, you could find yourself rooting for the HEB/UNT GREEN GROCERS football team trying to schedule a game with a member of the ALLSTATE 12 FOOTBALL CONFERENCE. Who knows?

Agreed, but an employee is an employee is an employee. The IRS makes no distinction except for part time vs full time.

If he answered a " help wanted" ad he was recruited.

If UNT deducted Social security and taxes from your paycheck you were considered by them as an employee . If not, you were considered an independent contractor. UNT still exercised the same control over you but without contributed to F.I.C.A. The benefits afforded you as an employee depended upon the number of hours you worked which classified you as a full time or part time employee. I was an "independent contractor " for a medical device manufacturer as their distributor in North Central Texas, Oklahoma, and N.E. Louisiana for 30 years and I assure you that they controlled, directed, and treated us as employees . After WW 2 they got a ruling from the IRS which affirmed our independent contractor status. Since I treated my sales force in the same manner I obtained a "letter ruling " from the IRS which also ruled that my salesmen were independent contractors and not do any employee benefits such as insurance, 401K, etc. The hammer hanging over my head is that if one of my salesmen had successfully challenged the letter ruling and the IRS reversed their original decision I would have been libel for their uncollected taxes. I had 2 salesmen declare bankruptcy while working for me and was fortunate that the IRS didn't come at me for a portion of their taxes owed. If I had it to do over again I would have made them employees from the beginning and adjusted their commissions to cover my additional expenses. I have been retired for 21 years but it is my understanding that it has become more difficult to obtain independent contractor status for what are essentially employees based upon their day to day control and direction by their employer.

First, when the NIL comes in house players will become employees. Second , we can afford to pay all players in specific sports , just not at the same salary. You know, like the real world. UNT will have a certain amount of money available for NIL payment, which we can call a salary cap, and allocate those funds for specific sports, such as football and men's basketball. There will be a pecking order established as to who get how much based upon how many beans are in the pot, if you are a starter,at what position etc. Out biggest problem is getting donors to financially support projects such as expansion of athletic department facilities , donate to Mean Green Club, and also donate to NIL. I doubt you will get students to agree upon increasing fees to financially support athletics when they don't attend athletic events. Basically UNT is between a rock and a hard place financially . Just a thought. If the Big 12 can sell conference naming rights, such as "General Motors Football Conference ", then individual universities , perhaps needing conference approval, should be able to do the same. How does the H.E.B./U.N.T. football team sound? Go Grocers!

When the athletic departments start paying players the NIL money they are in fact are employees. If memory serves one schools in a secondary east coast conference whose name escapes me have their players trying to form a union.

Until recently good friend of mine was treasurer of the LSU Tiger Club . This is the alumni arm that raises funds for the Athletic Depart, who in return request release of those monies for approved expenditures . When LSU hired Baylor's women's basketball coach the response was "great, now we can lose several more millions in women's basketball."