PAC soon on the Prowl again for more Football members...

NT80 · February 25

NT80 · February 25

More info...

"These conference affiliation changes will take place in the 2026-27 season with the media-rights potential one of the big reasons the Pac-12 refused to do a reverse merger with the 11-team MW, which would have resulted in a more bloated conference and less media money per school. Estimations have put the Pac-12's new TV deal at around $10 million per school. That would be significantly below the Power 4 but atop the Group of 6.

MW schools currently make about $3.5 million annually in media-rights money with Boise State getting an additional $1.8 million carveout. The American Athletic Conference has the Group of 6's highest per-school payout, which is reportedly around $8 million each. The MW also is negotiating a post-2026 media-right deals after adding Hawaii and UTEP as full members; Grand Canyon and UC Davis as non-football members; and Northern Illinois as a football-only school."

Full article....

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/pac-12-expects-to-have-its-television-deal-in-place-by-the-end-of-march

Edited February 27 by NT80
more info

GMG_Dallas · February 25

7 hours ago, NT80 said:

More info...

I'll continue the other conversation here.

Yes, Memphis, USF, and Tulane want P4 status when the ACC collapses. They are positioned to fill-in the ACC in various ways but especially geographically; we are not. Unless the BIG 12 collapses and they decide they need another DFW school, there are no other P4 conferences that make sense for us geographically. The next logical step upwards for us is the new PAC. The footprint is similar to the AAC's eastern schools. We just need 1 or 2 travel partners. I doubt the PAC will go snatch MAC schools. The MWC poaching is also done. Texas is a huge area of need for them. If UTSA and/or Texas State get plucked but we don't, might as well close up shop. It would be our last reasonable life jacket.

NorthTexasWeLove · February 25

dave chappelle tyrone biggums GIF

El Paso Eagle · February 26

12 hours ago, GMG_Dallas said:

I'll continue the other conversation here.

Yes, Memphis, USF, and Tulane want P4 status when the ACC collapses. They are positioned to fill-in the ACC in various ways but especially geographically; we are not. Unless the BIG 12 collapses and they decide they need another DFW school, there are no other P4 conferences that make sense for us geographically. The next logical step upwards for us is the new PAC. The footprint is similar to the AAC's eastern schools. We just need 1 or 2 travel partners. I doubt the PAC will go snatch MAC schools. The MWC poaching is also done. Texas is a huge area of need for them. If UTSA and/or Texas State get plucked but we don't, might as well close up shop. It would be our last reasonable life jacket.

IF (and that's a big IF) there was a package of UNT, UTSA, and Texas State (maybe a side of RICE) it might not be a bad deal

Aquila_Viridis · February 26

We should do everything we can to keep State down, the way others have done to us.

GMG_Dallas · February 26

11 minutes ago, Aquila_Viridis said:

We should do everything we can to keep State down, the way others have done to us.

Keeping them down will not elevate us. I'd rather be a package deal to the new PAC to elevate both of us.

3 hours ago, El Paso Eagle said:

IF (and that's a big IF) there was a package of UNT, UTSA, and Texas State (maybe a side of RICE) it might not be a bad deal

Would be a great deal. Our east coast AAC travel is not any worst than our west coast PAC travel would be.

Cougar King · February 26

16 hours ago, Aquila_Viridis said:

We should do everything we can to keep State down, the way others have done to us.

UNT doesn't have the political pull to do that.

UNTLifer · February 26

1 hour ago, Cougar King said:

UNT doesn't have the political pull to do that.

GIF by Demic

Cougar King · February 26

26 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

You're mad but it's true.

UNT has never strong-armed anybody politically. You don't have enough alums or connections in the state legislature. Your biggest donor cannot make a phone call to Abbott or Patrick to make something happen for you.

UNTLifer · February 26

26 minutes ago, Cougar King said:

You're mad but it's true.

UNT has never strong-armed anybody politically. You don't have enough alums or connections in the state legislature. Your biggest donor cannot make a phone call to Abbott or Patrick to make something happen for you.

Oh, I'm not mad. That's just my response to you being here.

DentonLurker · February 27

7 hours ago, Cougar King said:

You don't have enough alums or connections in the state legislature. Your biggest donor cannot make a phone call to Abbott or Patrick to make something happen for you.

You honestly don’t think Brint Ryan has those kinds of connections? He may choose to not use them, but I promise you he has plenty of ears to bend. Abbott and Patrick are small time compared to calls he could make. He’s Trump’s tax adviser…

keith · Friday at 08:44 PM

Perhaps it is just me, but it seems our leadership is sitting on the sidelines and watching things happen around them. I hope that's not the case, but is there any evidence to the contrary? Passivity will not be rewarded and the shakeups are not over. What is our long-term goal and aspiration for conference membership? Realistic or not, our goal should be the Big12. However long it takes (5, 10, 15, 20 years...), whatever moves are necessary that best positions UNT to achieve that goal should be pursued. Certainly our leadership doesn't think that this is it, that we've arrived at our final destination and the AAC is the best and final spot for us.

IMHO, we should be pounding on the door of the new PAC and making the case that North Texas is the best of the rest. We don't need anyone to come with us. If we lead, they will follow.

rcade · Saturday at 04:28 AM

7 hours ago, keith said:

Perhaps it is just me, but it seems our leadership is sitting on the sidelines and watching things happen around them. I hope that's not the case, but is there any evidence to the contrary?

Jumping from the Sun Belt to Conference USA to the American is evidence we don't sit around. If a bigger conference puts some dollars in our G string we take them to the private room. Maybe our moves aren't as good and our assets aren't as big but we try harder.

Edited Saturday at 04:33 AM by rcade

NT80 · Saturday at 06:17 AM

Info courtesy of @MCMLXXX on the Conference ReAlignment forum...

St. Marys appears very close to being added for basketball.

Texas St. listed as "all but done" and UNT now listed as "possible" along with UTSA in this updated PAC expansion video.

Edited Saturday at 06:19 AM by NT80

jtm0097 · Saturday at 02:48 PM

On 2/26/2025 at 11:20 PM, DentonLurker said:

You honestly don’t think Brint Ryan has those kinds of connections? He may choose to not use them, but I promise you he has plenty of ears to bend. Abbott and Patrick are small time compared to calls he could make. He’s Trump’s tax adviser…

He might have those connections but he doesn't care about UNT athletics. It's great how much money he has donated to the College of Business. Being a UNT COB alum, I do appreciate him doing that. However, just like the rest of our big money donors, people don't care about our athletics program. How long have we been trying to expand the athletic center now? I remember when the goal was $20 Million. Looks like 38 people have given $4.4 million.

https://meangreensports.com/news/2024/11/18/general-regents-approve-athletic-center-phase-1-design

rcade · Saturday at 05:02 PM

2 hours ago, jtm0097 said:

He might have those connections but he doesn't care about UNT athletics.

He cares about athletics. He was one of the initial donors to the Athletic Center and Apogee Stadium and gave $1 million for the new scoreboard and sound system for basketball in the Super Pit. He also sponsored the Frisco Football Classic in 2021 when UNT needed a bowl game invite.

NT80 · Saturday at 05:53 PM

This will determine how much the PAC has remaining to use towards buying exit fees of AAC schools they want to offer.

DentonStang · Saturday at 10:15 PM

Nobody who hasn't already turned them down is additive. They are screwed. Stunning incompetence

NT80 · Saturday at 11:49 PM

1 hour ago, DentonStang said:

Nobody who hasn't already turned them down is additive. They are screwed. Stunning incompetence

You're thinking of the MWC. Texas State turned them down, but very much wants a PAC invite.

The PAC did attempt to find interest from Memphis, Tulane, and perhaps USF/UTSA, but formal invites were not issued. Revenue estimates (media deal) were not known then, nor were court verdicts on poaching fines with the MWC. Thus they floated low-ball numbers and all declined. Memphis, Tulane, and USF has since implied they are waiting for ACC or Big 12 invites when those conferences media contracts expire and they lose schools again to the SEC/Big10.

PAC ADs have implied their next football invites will focus on Texas schools.

jtm0097 · Sunday at 12:04 AM

6 hours ago, rcade said:

He cares about athletics. He was one of the initial donors to the Athletic Center and Apogee Stadium and gave $1 million for the new scoreboard and sound system for basketball in the Super Pit. He also sponsored the Frisco Football Classic in 2021 when UNT needed a bowl game invite.

Well I stand corrected about his other donations.

However, we are struggling to raise money for the athletic center expansion. That's not debatable, we're very short of the goal.

DentonStang · Sunday at 04:44 AM

4 hours ago, NT80 said:

You're thinking of the MWC. Texas State turned them down, but very much wants a PAC invite.

The PAC did attempt to find interest from Memphis, Tulane, and perhaps USF/UTSA, but formal invites were not issued. Revenue estimates (media deal) were not known then, nor were court verdicts on poaching fines with the MWC. Thus they floated low-ball numbers and all declined. Memphis, Tulane, and USF has since implied they are waiting for ACC or Big 12 invites when those conferences media contracts expire and they lose schools again to the SEC/Big10.

PAC ADs have implied their next football invites will focus on Texas schools.

Yeah, but who adds to the revenue as opposed to dilutes it? Nobody. Even if AAC teams were additive....what's the buyout for AAC teams?

NT80 · Sunday at 06:09 AM

1 hour ago, DentonStang said:

Yeah, but who adds to the revenue as opposed to dilutes it? Nobody. Even if AAC teams were additive....what's the buyout for AAC teams?

PAC has 7 now for football, need 8 by 2026 season. But really prefer 9-10 by 2027 for better scheduling.

The American Athletic Conference (AAC) buyout fee is $10 million plus a 27-month notice period.

The PAC has a war chest of funds to help with buyouts if needed.

I think Texas State buyout from the SBC is only $5 mil.

NM Green · Sunday at 05:24 PM

I’ve gone back and forth on the PAC but it’s time we take the risky leap. The Boise AD says Texas is very important to the new PAC. Texas State is going and we represent North Texas. DFW Austin are rich markets. San Antonio is too close to TSU and I don’t think Memphis or Tulane will bite.

We have the basketball programs and this is going to be a big 12 level bball league with St. Mary’s College, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Utah State, Colorado State and Boise. All legit bball powers. Unlike in CUSA and the AAC where the leagues took steps back after we joined the PAC is not going to fall off. They’ve got established powers in there.

I watched the Oregon State St. Mary’s game last night and it would be great to call those programs bball conference peers.

We’re probably locked out of the Big 12 with TCU in town. This is a chance to elevate and take our product out west to the Bay Area, Southern California, the Rockies and the Great Northwest.

It’s time to show our interest. Don’t let them lowball us and definitely present our strengths and make a play to go bigger.

GMG

GMG_Dallas · Sunday at 05:54 PM

On 2/26/2025 at 11:20 PM, DentonLurker said:

You honestly don’t think Brint Ryan has those kinds of connections? He may choose to not use them, but I promise you he has plenty of ears to bend. Abbott and Patrick are small time compared to calls he could make. He’s Trump’s tax adviser…

Ryan was also the chairman of Patrick's Tax Policy Advisory Board in 2015 and in 2020 was again appointed by Patrick to chair a taskforce. Whether he's willing to use those connections is a different conversation.