All Things 2025 College Football D2 and D3 Thread

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Scores and standings from the weekend:

NSIC
  • No. 15 Minnesota Duluth defeated U of Mary, 54-32
  • Bemidji State took down Jamestown, 47-25
  • Sioux Falls won versus Minot State, 24-17
  • No. 5 Augustana ran past SW Minnesota State, 57-29
  • Wayne State upset No. 9 Minnesota State-Mankato, 33-20
  • Winona State knocked off Concordia-St. Paul, 24-14
  • Northern State edged Minnesota State-Moorhead, 49-48
MIAC
  • Concordia defeated Augsburg, 26-7
  • Gustavus crushed Hamline, 63-9
  • Bethel shutout Macalester, 53-0
  • Saint John’s routed Carleton, 49-10
  • St. Olaf edged St. Scholastica, 44-41
UMAC
  • Greenville (IL) outlasted Minnesota Morris, 27-20
  • Martin Luther defeated Westminster (MO), 38-28
  • Northwestern took down Crown, 24-16
MCAC Quarterfinals
  • Minnesota West CTC routed Minnesota State CTC, 63-7
  • Central Lakes College edged Minnesota North-Mesabi, 25-19
  • North Dakota State CS shutout Vermilion CC, 59-0
NSIC
  • Augustana, 8-0 (7-0)
  • Minnesota Duluth, 7-1 (6-1)
  • Minnesota State-Mankato, 6-2 (5-2)
  • Northern State, 6-2 (5-2)
  • Minnesota State-Moorhead, 5-3 (4-3)
  • Sioux Falls, 5-3 (4-3)
  • Wayne State, 4-4 (4-3)
  • Winona State, 4-4 (4-3)
  • Bemidji State, 3-5 (3-4)
  • Mary, 3-5 (2-5)
  • Minot State, 2-6 (2-5)
  • Jamestown, 1-6 (1-6)
  • Concordia-St. Paul, 1-7 (1-6)
  • SW Minnesota State, 1-7 (1-6)
MIAC
  • Bethel, 7-0 (6-0)
  • Saint John’s, 6-1 (5-1)
  • Carleton, 5-2 (5-1)
  • Concordia, 5-2 (4-2)
  • Augsburg, 3-4 (3-3)
  • Gustavus, 3-4 (3-3)
  • St. Olaf, 3-4 (2-4)
  • Macalester, 2-5 (1-5)
  • St. Scholastica, 2-5 (1-5)
  • Hamline, 1-6 (0-6)
UMAC
  • Greenville, 4-2 (3-1)
  • Crown, 4-3 (3-1)
  • Martin Luther, 4-3 (2-2)
  • Minnesota Morris, 2-5 (2-2)
  • Northwestern, 2-5 (2-2)
  • Westminster, 2-5 (0-4)
 
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Augustana having a nice season. They looking to follow in St Thomas footsteps (Summit + NCHC) in the future?
 

GopherGrit said:
Augustana having a nice season. They looking to follow in St Thomas footsteps (Summit + NCHC) in the future?
Click to expand...
Yeah they already made the jump with hockey. In conversations about taking that step, it's usually them and Mankato.
 

GopherGrit said:
Augustana having a nice season. They looking to follow in St Thomas footsteps (Summit + NCHC) in the future?
Click to expand...

The Augustana to D1/FCS thing seems like a stretch. It would be one of the smallest D1 schools in the country at 1,750 undergrads/2,000 total students. On the plus side, the school has avoided bleeding at least a third of its enrollment over the years unlike most ELCA affiliates.
 

Panthadad2 said:
The Augustana to D1/FCS thing seems like a stretch. It would be one of the smallest D1 schools in the country at 1,750 undergrads/2,000 total students. On the plus side, the school has avoided bleeding at least a third of its enrollment over the years unlike most ELCA affiliates.
Click to expand...
The Summit rejected them back in 2020. I haven't heard anything that they've tried to get in since.

Mankato obviously makes the most sense, but as a state school, I don't see the funding there now, if ever.
 


disco said:
The Summit rejected them back in 2020. I haven't heard anything that they've tried to get in since.

Mankato obviously makes the most sense, but as a state school, I don't see the funding there now, if ever.
Click to expand...
What funding is needed to jump from NSIC to Summit League (low-major)? I'm honestly asking. I don't feel like it should be a massive jump.

Also think Mankato recently announced an upgrade in athletic facilitiess?


Other than travel, Pioneer League football might actually be cheaper to run than Northern Sun, because no scholarships?
 

GopherGrit said:
What funding is needed to jump from NSIC to Summit League (low-major)? I'm honestly asking. I don't feel like it should be a massive jump.

Also think Mankato recently announced an upgrade in athletic facilitiess?


Other than travel, Pioneer League football might actually be cheaper to run than Northern Sun, because no scholarships?
Click to expand...
Obviously it was a bigger jump, but I'm friends with someone who was pretty close to the UST athletic department during the transition. Both his daughters were varsity athletes there and he was a booster. I can't recall the exact numbers, but he told me how much the volleyball budget alone had to increase when they moved to the Summit. It was a LOT.

I do wonder about saving that money via Pioneer League football as well.
 

Rankings following the last weekend. First up D2

DII Media Poll
  1. Ferris State (MI), 8-0
  2. Harding (AR), 8-0
  3. Kutztown (PA), 8-0
  4. West Florida, 8-0
  5. Western Colorado, 8-0
  6. Pittsburg State (KS), 6-2
  7. Central Washington, 7-1
  8. Colorado State-Pueblo, 7-1
  9. Augustana (SD), 8-0
  10. Minnesota Duluth, 7-1
  11. Northwest Missouri State, 7-1
  12. Indianapolis, 7-1
  13. Virginia Union, 7-1
  14. Findlay (OH), 8-0
  15. Ashland (OH), 7-1
  16. Delta State (MS), 7-1
  17. Texas Permian Basin, 6-2
  18. Angelo State (TX), 6-2
  19. Johnson C. Smith (NC), 7-1
  20. Newberry (SC), 7-1
  21. Minnesota State-Mankato, 6-2
  22. Albany State (GA), 7-1
  23. West Alabama, 5-2
  24. Northwood (MI), 7-1
  25. Frostburg State (MD), 7-1
DII Coaches Poll
  1. Ferris State (MI), 8-0
  2. Harding (AR), 8-0
  3. West Florida, 8-0
  4. Kutztown (PA), 8-0
  5. Augustana (SD), 8-0
  6. Western Colorado, 8-0
  7. Colorado State-Pueblo, 7-1
  8. Central Washington, 7-1
  9. Pittsburg State (KS), 6-2
  10. Virginia Union, 7-1
  11. Findlay (OH), 8-0
  12. Indianapolis, 7-1
  13. Minnesota Duluth, 7-1
  14. NW Missouri State, 7-1
  15. Delta State (MS), 7-1
  16. Angelo State (TX), 6-2
  17. Ashland (OH), 7-1
  18. Minnesota State-Mankato, 6-2
  19. Johnson C. Smith (NC), 7-1
  20. Texas Permian Basin, 6-2
  21. West Alabama, 5-2
  22. Slippery Rock (PA), 5-2
  23. Albany State (GA), 7-1
  24. Frostburg State (MD), 7-1
  25. Grand Valley State (MI), 4-3
Other Midwest Programs Receiving Votes: Chadron State (NE), Northern State (SD), Indiana (PA), Saginaw Valley State (MI), Michigan Tech, Upper Iowa

DII Super Region 4 Rankings
  • Ashland (OH), 7-1
  • Augustana (SD), 8-0
  • Ferris State (MI), 7-0
  • Findlay, 8-0
  • Minnesota Duluth, 7-1
  • Minnesota State-Mankato, 6-2
  • Northwood (MI),, 7-1
  • Truman State (MO), 5-2
  • Indianapolis, 6-1
  • Upper Iowa, 6-1
DIII Media Poll
  1. North Central (IL), 7-0
  2. Mount Union (OH), 7-0
  3. Johns Hopkins (MD), 7-0
  4. Bethel (MN), 7-0
  5. Salisbury (MD), 7-0
  6. Hardin-Simmons (TX), 7-0
  7. Wartburg (IA), 8-0
  8. Wisconsin Whitewater, 6-1
  9. Wisconsin River Falls, 6-1
  10. Wisconsin La Crosse, 5-1
  11. Saint John's (MN), 6-1
  12. John Carroll (OH), 7-1
  13. Wisconsin Platteville, 5-2
  14. Christopher Newport (VA), 7-0
  15. DePauw (IN), 6-1
  16. Hope (MI), 6-1
  17. Berry (GA), 6-1
  18. Central (IA), 6-1
  19. Wheaton (IL), 5-2
  20. Cortland (NY), 6-1
  21. Randolph-Macon (VA), 7-1
  22. Baldwin Wallace (OH), 6-1
  23. Wisconsin Stout, 5-2
  24. Muhlenberg (PA), 6-1
  25. Wisconsin Oshkosh, 4-3
Other Midwest Programs Receiving Votes: Susquehanna (PA), Wabash (IN), Carnegie Mellon (PA), Alma (MI), Monmouth (IL), Franklin & Marshall (PA), Adrian (MI), Maryville (MO), Hanover (IN)

DIII Coaches Poll
  1. North Central (IL), 7-0
  2. Mount Union (OH), 7-0
  3. Johns Hopkins (MD), 7-0
  4. Salisbury (MD), 7-0
  5. Hardin-Simmons (TX), 7-0
  6. Bethel (MN), 7-0
  7. Wartburg (IA), 8-0
  8. Wisconsin Whitewater, 6-1
  9. Wisconsin River Falls, 6-1
  10. Saint John's (MN), 6-1
  11. Wisconsin La Crosse, 5-1
  12. John Carroll (OH), 7-1
  13. Christopher Newport (VA), 7-0
  14. DePauw (IN), 6-1
  15. Wisconsin Platteville, 5-2
  16. Cortland (NY), 6-1
  17. Hope (MI), 6-1
  18. Randolph-Macon (VA), 7-1
  19. Central (IA), 6-1
  20. Berry (GA), 6-1
  21. Wheaton 5-2
  22. Trinity (Tex.) 6-1
  23. Wabash (IL), 6-1
  24. Baldwin Wallace (OH), 6-1
  25. Muhlenberg (PA), 6-1
Other Midwest Programs Receiving Votes: Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wisconsin Stout, Carnegie Mellon (PA), Alma (MI), Adrian (MI), Hanover (IN), Coe (IA), Monmouth (IL), Concordia (WI),

NJCAA Rankings
  • College of DuPage (IL), 6-2
  • Rochester CTC, 7-1
  • North Dakota State CS, 8-1
  • Minnesota West CTC, 5-3
  • Erie CC (NY), 8-1
Also receiving votes: Louisburg (NC)
 

Funny, both Gophers and Dragons won to go 6-3 today, wearing black against a team in white and green.
drake1.jpeg

Dragonswin2.jpg
 



disco said:
Obviously it was a bigger jump, but I'm friends with someone who was pretty close to the UST athletic department during the transition. Both his daughters were varsity athletes there and he was a booster. I can't recall the exact numbers, but he told me how much the volleyball budget alone had to increase when they moved to the Summit. It was a LOT.

I do wonder about saving that money via Pioneer League football as well.
Click to expand...
My co-worker is a St Thomas alum that is pretty plugged in, said he heard rumors St Thomas FB programs bleeds money and heard they might axe it.
 

Scores and stats after Saturday.

NSIC
  • No. 18 Minnesota State-Mankato crushed SW Minnesota State, 48-7
  • Wayne State shutout Concordia-St. Paul, 34-0
  • Minnesota State-Moorhead routed Bemidji State, 49-21
  • No. 13 Minnesota Duluth raced past Jamestown, 45-29
  • No. 5 Augustana defeated Northern State, 27-14
  • Sioux Falls rolled against Winona State, 49-24
  • U of Mary took down Minot State, 36-21
MIAC
  • No. 10 Saint John’s defeated Gustavus, 31-13
  • No. 6 Bethel routed Concordia, 55-9
  • Carleton crushed Augsburg, 49-18
  • Macalester raced past St. Olaf, 27-6
UMAC
  • Westminster (MO) raced past Greenville (IL), 24-7
  • Northwestern defeated Martin Luther, 24-17
  • Crown took down Minnesota Morris, 34-15
MCAC Semifinals
  • North Dakota State CS defeated Minnesota West CTC, 41-28
  • Rochester CTC routed Central Lakes College, 30-10
Standings

NSIC
  • No. 5 Augustana, 9-0 (8-0)
  • No. 13 Minnesota Duluth, 8-1 (7-1)
  • No. 18 Minnesota State-Mankato, 7-2 (6-2)
  • Minnesota State-Moorhead, 6-3 (5-3)
  • Northern State, 6-3 (5-3)
  • Sioux Falls, 6–3 (5-3)
  • Wayne State, 5-4 (5-3)
  • Winona State, 4-5 (4-4)
  • U of Mary, 4-5, 3-5)
  • Bemidji State, 3-6 (3-5)
  • Minot State, 2-7 (2-6)
  • Jamestown, 1-7 (1-7)
  • Concordia-St. Paul, 1-8 (1-7)
  • SW Minnesota State, 1-8 (1-7)
MIAC
  • No. 6 Bethel, 8-0 (7-0)
  • No. 10 Saint John’s, 7-1 (6-1)
  • Carleton, 6-2 (6-1)
  • Concordia, 5-3 (4-3)
  • Augsburg, 3-5 (3-4)
  • Gustavus, 3-5 (3-4)
  • Macalester, 3-5 (2-5)
  • St. Olaf, 3-5 (2-5)
  • St. Scholastica, 3-5 (2-5)
  • Hamline, 1-7 (0-7)
UMAC
  • Crown, 5-3 (4-1)
  • Greenville, 4-3 (3-2)
  • Northwestern, 3-5 (3-2)
  • Martin Luther, 4-4 (2-3)
  • Minnesota Morris, 2-6 (2-3)
  • Westminster, 3-5 (1-4)
 
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Rankings after the last weekend.

DII Media Poll
  1. Ferris State (MI), 9-0
  2. Harding (AR), 9-0
  3. Kutztown (PA), 9-0
  4. West Florida, 9-0
  5. Pittsburg State (KS), 7-2
  6. Central Washington, 8-1
  7. Colorado State-Pueblo, 8-1
  8. Augustana (SD), 9-0
  9. Western Colorado, 8-1
  10. Minnesota Duluth, 8-1
  11. NW Missouri State, 8-1
  12. Indianapolis, 7-1
  13. Virginia Union, 8-1
  14. Findlay (OH), 9-0
  15. Ashland (OH), 8-1
  16. Texas Permian Basin, 7-2
  17. Johnson C. Smith (NC), 8-1
  18. Newberry (SC), 8-1
  19. Minnesota State-Mankato, 7-2
  20. Albany State (GA), 8-1
  21. Western Oregon, 7-2
  22. Chadron State (NE), 7-2
  23. Wingate (NC), 7-2
  24. Delta State (MS), 7-2
  25. Assumption (MA), 7-1
DII Coaches Poll
  1. Ferris State (MI), 9-0
  2. Harding (AR), 9-0
  3. West Florida, 9-0
  4. Kutztown (PA), 9-0
  5. Augustana (SD), 9-0
  6. Colorado State-Pueblo, 8-1
  7. Central Washington, 8-1
  8. Pittsburg State (KS), 7-2
  9. Findlay (OH), 9-0
  10. Virginia Union, 8-1
  11. Western Colorado, 8-1
  12. Indianapolis, 8-1
  13. Minnesota Duluth, 8-1
  14. NW Missouri State, 8-1
  15. Ashland (OH), 8-1
  16. Minnesota State-Mankato, 7-2
  17. Texas Permian Basin, 7-2
  18. Johnson C. Smith (NC), 8-1
  19. Albany State (GA), 8-1
  20. Slippery Rock (PA), 6-2
  21. Delta State (MS), 7-2
  22. Angelo State (TX), 6-3
  23. Grand Valley State (MI), 5-3
  24. Assumption (MA), 7-1
  25. Newberry (SC), 8-1
Other Midwest Programs Receiving Votes: Chadron State (NE), Indiana (PA), Upper Iowa, California (PA), Michigan Tech

DII Super Region 3 Rankings
  1. Ferris State (MI), 8-0
  2. Findlay (OH), 9-0
  3. Indianapolis, 7-1
  4. Ashland (OH), 8-1
  5. Augustana (SD), 9-0
  6. Minnesota Duluth, 8-1
  7. Truman State (MO), 6-2
  8. Minnesota State-Mankato, 7-2
  9. Upper Iowa, 7-1
  10. Northwood (MI), 7-2
DIII Media Poll
  1. North Central (IL), 8-0
  2. Mount Union (OH), 8-0
  3. Johns Hopkins (MD), 8-0
  4. Bethel (MN), 8-0
  5. Hardin-Simmons (TX), 8-0
  6. Wartburg (IA), 9-0
  7. Salisbury (MD), 8-0
  8. Wisconsin River Falls, 7-1
  9. Wisconsin La Crosse, 6-1
  10. Saint John's (MN), 7-1
  11. John Carroll (OH), 7-1
  12. Wisconsin Platteville, 6-2
  13. Christopher Newport (VA), 8-0
  14. Wisconsin Whitewater, 6-2
  15. DePauw (IN), 7-1
  16. Hope (MI), 7-1
  17. Berry (GA), 7-1
  18. Wheaton (IL), 6-2
  19. Central (IA), 7-1
  20. Cortland (NY), 7-1
  21. Randolph-Macon (VA), 8-1
  22. Baldwin Wallace (OH), 7-1
  23. Trinity (TX), 7-1
  24. Susquehanna (PA), 6-2
  25. Wabash (IN), 7-1
Other Midwest Programs Receiving Votes: Carnegie Mellon (PA), Adrian (MI), Wisconsin Stout, Wisconsin Oshkosh, Maryville (MO), Hanover (IN)

DIII Coaches Poll
  1. North Central (IL), 8-0
  2. Mount Union (OH), 8-0
  3. Johns Hopkins (MD), 8-0
  4. Salisbury (MD), 8-0
  5. Hardin-Simmons (TX), 8-0
  6. Bethel (MN), 8-0
  7. Wartburg (IA), 9-0
  8. Wisconsin River Falls, 7-1
  9. Saint John's (MN), 7-1
  10. Wisconsin La Crosse, 6-1
  11. John Carroll (OH), 7-1
  12. Christopher Newport (VA), 8-0
  13. DePauw (IN), 7-1
  14. Wisconsin Platteville, 6-2
  15. Cortland (NY), 7-1
  16. Hope (MI), 7-1
  17. Wisconsin Whitewater, 6-2
  18. Randolph-Macon (VA), 8-1
  19. Central (IA), 7-1
  20. Berry (GA), 7-1
  21. Wheaton (IL), 6-2
  22. Trinity (TX), 7-1
  23. Wabash (IN), 7-1
  24. Baldwin Wallace (OH), 7-1
  25. Hampden-Sydney (VA), 7-1
Other Midwest Programs Receiving Votes: Wisconsin Stout, Wisconsin Oshksoh, Monmouth (IL), Alma (MI), Washington (MO), Concordia (WI)

NJCAA
  1. College of DuPage (IL), 6-2
  2. Rochester CTC, 8-1
  3. North Dakota State CS, 9-1
  4. Erie Community College (NY), 9-1
  5. Minnesota West CTC, 5-4
Receiving Votes: Louisburg (NC)
 

GopherGrit said:
Augustana having a nice season. They looking to follow in St Thomas footsteps (Summit + NCHC) in the future?
Click to expand...
They tried. Summit rejected so they added hockey as a result.
IceBoxGopher said:
Yeah they already made the jump with hockey. In conversations about taking that step, it's usually them and Mankato.
Click to expand...
I haven't seen or heard any conversations about Mankato since just subsequent to USD and UND making the move 15 or so years ago. MSU brought in the consultants, who are usually paid to tell the institution that it's feasible, and said "no." Nothing since.
GopherGrit said:
What funding is needed to jump from NSIC to Summit League (low-major)? I'm honestly asking. I don't feel like it should be a massive jump.

Also think Mankato recently announced an upgrade in athletic facilitiess?


Other than travel, Pioneer League football might actually be cheaper to run than Northern Sun, because no scholarships?
Click to expand...
SDSU, arguably the most successful Summit school when all athletics are considered had a budget of $23 - $30 million athletics budget depending on reporting. Mankato reports about $14 million. Transitioning schools typically ramp up funding over a period of years. I think Mankato's consultants told them a decade and a half ago that it would be tough.

SJUgopher said:
My co-worker is a St Thomas alum that is pretty plugged in, said he heard rumors St Thomas FB programs bleeds money and heard they might axe it.
Click to expand...
Even without scholarships I assume the school is providing some kind of financial aid package. The travel expense has to be just brutal. But I can't see the program getting axed.
 



swede2 said:
They tried. Summit rejected so they added hockey as a result.

I haven't seen or heard any conversations about Mankato since just subsequent to USD and UND making the move 15 or so years ago. MSU brought in the consultants, who are usually paid to tell the institution that it's feasible, and said "no." Nothing since.

SDSU, arguably the most successful Summit school when all athletics are considered had a budget of $23 - $30 million athletics budget depending on reporting. Mankato reports about $14 million. Transitioning schools typically ramp up funding over a period of years. I think Mankato's consultants told them a decade and a half ago that it would be tough.


Even without scholarships I assume the school is providing some kind of financial aid package. The travel expense has to be just brutal. But I can't see the program getting axed.
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Denver is leaving the Summit League for the WCC. So Summit hockey conference is probably dead. But maybe there is room for Augustana again.
 


swede2 said:
Summit might need Augie. There will only be 8 teams left and Oral Roberts has left before. There aren't a lot of options out there for the Summit.

If SDSU and NDSU end up in the Mountson West, Summit League is dead.
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I think any of the Dakota schools moving up to FBS is still a serious longshot. They'll need an invite, and so far, nobody has offered them yet. They're such geographic outliers (particularly the ND schools) which I think still matters a bit at the G5 level. Both states are fiscally cheap as well, and unlike the move up to FCS I could see the respective boards not allowing both to move up without the other.
 

disco said:
I think any of the Dakota schools moving up to FBS is still a serious longshot. They'll need an invite, and so far, nobody has offered them yet. They're such geographic outliers (particularly the ND schools) which I think still matters a bit at the G5 level. Both states are fiscally cheap as well, and unlike the move up to FCS I could see the respective boards not allowing both to move up without the other.
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There are solid reports that xDSUs were getting an invite from the Mountain West within the last year to backfill the PAC departures. The MWC was going up fund the transition fee and provide an initial athletic department bump. But the plan was derailed when UNLV and AF decided to stay put, thanks to large payments and future promises from the MWC. It was the right move obviously for the MW to keep UNLV and AF in the fold, but the xDSU move was actually very close.

I think most people underestimate the resources these schools have and would have of they moved to FBS. Both schools are already spending very near the range of MWC athletic budgets and in SDSU's case, is spending more on football than MWC newcomer Northern Illinois and as much as NIU overall and fellow MWC newcomer UTEP. Add in media revenue - not great but better than the few pennies they recieve now - and the schools would have the resources to be competitive.

And while the states are fiscally conservative to be sure, very few general fund dollars go to the universities and none to athletics. While the legislature could intervene, it didn't when SDSU moved to Division I 22 years ago. The Regents merely stipulated that SDSU couldn't raise student fees to fund athletics and it hasn't.

When USD later transitioned, the regents didn't make the same requirement. USD relies heavily on student fees for athletics and SDSU less and less. The regents and everyone else, USD included, knows it can't make the FBS jump.

While NDSU has all but begged for an FBS invite, SDSU had been more coy. The AD had always maintained that SDSU belongs in the second tier of college football (I agree). But lately, the AD has been more frank and telling, and he's made it clear that if an invite came, SDSU would take it and would have the resources to do so. There's nothing to suggest that the regents, knowing USD couldn't hack it, would tie USD to SDSU's tail.

Personally, I'm not wild about meaningless MW football. But I think a split is coming where B1G/SEC takes a handful of the most desireable ACC/Big 12 schools and forms a new football league. When the do, the rest of FBS will be the new FCS, where xDSU belongs. They'll be better positioned in the MW to be a part of that second tier than on the outside looking in from the MVFC.

The Summit on the other hand is trash. They need out and into a stable conference.
 

swede2 said:
There are solid reports that xDSUs were getting an invite from the Mountain West within the last year to backfill the PAC departures. The MWC was going up fund the transition fee and provide an initial athletic department bump. But the plan was derailed when UNLV and AF decided to stay put, thanks to large payments and future promises from the MWC. It was the right move obviously for the MW to keep UNLV and AF in the fold, but the xDSU move was actually very close.

I think most people underestimate the resources these schools have and would have of they moved to FBS. Both schools are already spending very near the range of MWC athletic budgets and in SDSU's case, is spending more on football than MWC newcomer Northern Illinois and as much as NIU overall and fellow MWC newcomer UTEP. Add in media revenue - not great but better than the few pennies they recieve now - and the schools would have the resources to be competitive.

And while the states are fiscally conservative to be sure, very few general fund dollars go to the universities and none to athletics. While the legislature could intervene, it didn't when SDSU moved to Division I 22 years ago. The Regents merely stipulated that SDSU couldn't raise student fees to fund athletics and it hasn't.

When USD later transitioned, the regents didn't make the same requirement. USD relies heavily on student fees for athletics and SDSU less and less. The regents and everyone else, USD included, knows it can't make the FBS jump.

While NDSU has all but begged for an FBS invite, SDSU had been more coy. The AD had always maintained that SDSU belongs in the second tier of college football (I agree). But lately, the AD has been more frank and telling, and he's made it clear that if an invite came, SDSU would take it and would have the resources to do so. There's nothing to suggest that the regents, knowing USD couldn't hack it, would tie USD to SDSU's tail.

Personally, I'm not wild about meaningless MW football. But I think a split is coming where B1G/SEC takes a handful of the most desireable ACC/Big 12 schools and forms a new football league. When the do, the rest of FBS will be the new FCS, where xDSU belongs. They'll be better positioned in the MW to be a part of that second tier than on the outside looking in from the MVFC.

The Summit on the other hand is trash. They need out and into a stable conference.
Click to expand...
Serious question. Why would the MWC want to pick up the xDSU's over the Montana schools?

USD is obviously the smallest of the Dakota four, but I do wonder how the NDSU/UND rivalry would play out with both schools under the ND Board of Education.

And just to clarify, the Summit is not a football conference.
 

disco said:
Serious question. Why would the MWC want to pick up the xDSU's over the Montana schools?

USD is obviously the smallest of the Dakota four, but I do wonder how the NDSU/UND rivalry would play out with both schools under the ND Board of Education.

And just to clarify, the Summit is not a football conference.
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The first is a good question. I don't know or remember if the Montanas would have been involved. The unconnected chatter and speculation always seems to float the idea of xDSU and Montanas to the MWC.

I would assume that NDSU, with its open desire and lobbying for an FBS invite, is confident that whatever ND calls its board of higher ed, won't be an impediment.

Correct. The Summit is not a FB conference but it's a pressing matter for all of its current members. There's no stability and with Denver's departure, it's down to 8 members. And while I don't think UST will be joining the Big East anytime soon, no one will be surprised when it joins the MVC. UST fits the MVC new profile - private/catholic school on a larger market. The MVC doesn't have the same cache as it did before Wichita and Creighton bolted but it's much more stable and desirable than the Summit. The MWC would resolve that issue for the xDSUs, at least.
 

The thing that's so weird about the possibility of the Dakota and Montana schools joining the MWC is that they refused to admit Idaho and NMSU, which are squarely in their footprint, and were already FBS schools, mainly because of opposition from their in-state schools.

Obviously things are different now, but poor Idaho had to drop back to FCS.
 

disco said:
The thing that's so weird about the possibility of the Dakota and Montana schools joining the MWC is that they refused to admit Idaho and NMSU, which are squarely in their footprint, and were already FBS schools, mainly because of opposition from their in-state schools.

Obviously things are different now, but poor Idaho had to drop back to FCS.
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I think its largely a factor of the chaos of today's college football realignment. NMSU was always about UNM. I think Idaho struggled for years to meet the old NCAA DI/FBS attendance requirements. Conferences like the MWC now need to buttress against future defections and loss of standing. Footprint doesn't seem to matter at all anymore. The MWC brought in NIU as a football only participant which accomplishes a goal of another time zone. The xDSU schools accomplish that goal as well.

I also assume that the potential value of schools to a conference is easier to measure today than 15 or 20 years when it was strictly a metric of how many television sets were in the market. I think the new reality is that an NDSU, particularly, is going to be more interesting and relevant nationally than a school with a city in its name. Of course, that interest is based on nearly uninterrupted domination of FCS for 15 years. What does that look like 20 years on when an xDSU hasn't played in a meaningful game since leaving the FCS (of course, NDSU fans think they'd soon be the new Alabama in the FBS)?

I personally think the FCS is the best fit for the xDSU and Montana schools in a perfect world but I get the allure of moving to the MWC.
 


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