jpfalcon09 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:56 pm
FWIW, there are folks on the NIU board stating this is a done deal for the Huskies. They'd then drop to the OVC, MVC, Horizon in other sports. Speculation is this is rooted in the MAC (Steinbrecher) being unable to secure a more lucrative media deal. Basically the current $4.2 million increase in media fees would be worth the investment in football given that travel and budgets for other sports would drop by leaving the MAC.
We'll see if this is all true or not, and if so then what does that mean for Toledo?
Wonder where they'd head for Hoops? No way the MVC would want them for basketball...OVC/Horizon would make some sense, I suppose. Not like NIU has been competitive in the MAC for awhile, so not sure who would want them.
I think it's a bit of a fool's errand, because I fully expect the MWC media deal for football to be worth far less in its next iteration w/o Boise. Still, seeing these sorts of stories just reiterates how poor our MAC media deal is.
jpfalcon09 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:56 pm
FWIW, there are folks on the NIU board stating this is a done deal for the Huskies. They'd then drop to the OVC, MVC, Horizon in other sports. Speculation is this is rooted in the MAC (Steinbrecher) being unable to secure a more lucrative media deal. Basically the current $4.2 million increase in media fees would be worth the investment in football given that travel and budgets for other sports would drop by leaving the MAC.
We'll see if this is all true or not, and if so then what does that mean for Toledo?
Wonder where they'd head for Hoops? No way the MVC would want them for basketball...OVC/Horizon would make some sense, I suppose. Not like NIU has been competitive in the MAC for awhile, so not sure who would want them.
I think it's a bit of a fool's errand, because I fully expect the MWC media deal for football to be worth far less in its next iteration w/o Boise. Still, seeing these sorts of stories just reiterates how poor our MAC media deal is.
I would guess the Horizon for NIU. That's the league they were in during the early 90s before rejoining the MAC. Horizon also doesn't have a Chicago team anymore (granted it's an hour from Chicago to Dekalb). If Toledo made the move I could see the rest of their sports in the MVC
jpfalcon09 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:56 pm
FWIW, there are folks on the NIU board stating this is a done deal for the Huskies. They'd then drop to the OVC, MVC, Horizon in other sports. Speculation is this is rooted in the MAC (Steinbrecher) being unable to secure a more lucrative media deal. Basically the current $4.2 million increase in media fees would be worth the investment in football given that travel and budgets for other sports would drop by leaving the MAC.
We'll see if this is all true or not, and if so then what does that mean for Toledo?
Wonder where they'd head for Hoops? No way the MVC would want them for basketball...OVC/Horizon would make some sense, I suppose. Not like NIU has been competitive in the MAC for awhile, so not sure who would want them.
I think it's a bit of a fool's errand, because I fully expect the MWC media deal for football to be worth far less in its next iteration w/o Boise. Still, seeing these sorts of stories just reiterates how poor our MAC media deal is.
I would guess the Horizon for NIU. That's the league they were in during the early 90s before rejoining the MAC. Horizon also doesn't have a Chicago team anymore (granted it's an hour from Chicago to Dekalb). If Toledo made the move I could see the rest of their sports in the MVC
Probably right with the Horizon
Looking at Toledo as purely an athletics thing not looking at their greater issues for their institution it makes sense. They've managed the budget that football could fit in the MWC with Hoops fitting well in the MVC (although they'd struggle initially).
Personally, as a bigger hoops fan than anything, I'd absolutely love BG finding it's way to the MVC for hoops.
I don't understand the draw of the mountain west with the loss of those 4 teams. Over half the teams now are wac leftovers. Toledo and niu always were going to be the first to leave the Mac the main question was when and where. I still think the aac is a better fit but they never called.
I wonder how well the math works for niu for only being in the ovc/horizon for non football. They're pretty bad outside football so I can't imagine them getting a bigger offer
Could toledo swing for the a10? That would be a huge win for them if they got that
As much as they are our rivals, this feels like Miami to the NCHC here for UT. Could see it absolutely backfiring on them and killing the program in time.
jpfalcon09 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:02 am
Brett McMurphy posted on X that a decision from NIU to join the MW is "imminent". They would begin membership in 2026 if they choose to leave the MAC.
The rest of NIU’s teams aren’t worth anything to the conference. I wish we could force them to take it all or stay.
jpfalcon09 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:02 am
Brett McMurphy posted on X that a decision from NIU to join the MW is "imminent". They would begin membership in 2026 if they choose to leave the MAC.
The rest of NIU’s teams aren’t worth anything to the conference. I wish we could force them to take it all or stay.
If NIU leaves for football, they would also have to leave the MAC in other sports.
jpfalcon09 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:02 am
Brett McMurphy posted on X that a decision from NIU to join the MW is "imminent". They would begin membership in 2026 if they choose to leave the MAC.
The rest of NIU’s teams aren’t worth anything to the conference. I wish we could force them to take it all or stay.
If NIU leaves for football, they would also have to leave the MAC in other sports.
I know this (and all the realignment moves) are about football, but I wouldn't be shocked if NIU took the Mountain West football only move with one of the reasons being to get the rest of their sports out of the MAC. When was the last time they were relevant in a MAC sport that wasn't football
If NIU leaves for football, they would also have to leave the MAC in other sports.
Saw a tweet yesterday about someone from Horizon being spotted on campus.
I hate to see any realignment involve the MAC since it has been the one consistent conference, but honestly this would make a ton of sense for NIU. Better football money from the MWC, and a better competitive fit for other sports in the Horizon. It's also the furthest west in the MAC by a good bit, so it also makes some sense geographically. Much better for the MAC than someone like Toledo or WMU leaving.
BG '10
Attended more games than any responsible student should have.
