Bobcat Corner 004: MAC Expansion Candidates (2026-)

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Welcome to Bobcat Corner Episode 004! This is more of a discussion starter kind of video. The topic is potential expansion candidates for the MAC, and who to add to help UMass with travel.
The following list that I go through in review here are candidates that "should" be at least talked about. In no way at all do I confirm that any of these schools will join the MAC because we simply don't know what will happen come 2026 and beyond.
This is my list below. (The likelihood of it happening is on a scale from 1-10 with 1 being Not Likely and 10 being Absolutely.)
UConn Huskies (1 - Fun to talk about, but Not Likely. UConn is too loyal to the Big East and would rather hold out hope for a Big XII or ACC invite.)
Marshall Thundering Herd (3 - They do have a past history with the MAC, but it's probably not going to happen. It would be a good idea.)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8 - This is the most likely candidate to make the jump to the MAC. They discussed this move before.)
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (7 - This hinges on Western Kentucky, and if the MAC wants to expand past 14 teams.)
Appalachian State Mountaineers (3 - I would love to see a school like App. State join the MAC, but I believe they're content being in the Sun Belt.)
Syracuse Orange/Boston College Eagles (2/2 - It's very unlikely these ACC schools will jump down to the MAC unless they feel like they need to make such a move out of desperation. I don't think the ACC survives past 2030 regardless.)
Dayton Flyers* (5 - I could see this happening if they want to jump to the FBS level. Being in Ohio could be a drawback though.)
Youngstown State Penguins* (5 - Does YSU want to invest in football? That's been a big question for years.)
Villanova Wildcats* (4 - The Philadelphia market helps Villanova. This would be a good invitation to send imo.)
Albany Great Danes* (4 - Albany, New York is a nice market and not far from Buffalo. The issue is money.)
Maine Black Bears* (3 - I know this is an odd choice, but it would give access to the far Northeast. Again, the issue is money.)
Marist Red Foxes* (3 - Having researched this college, this would fit the MAC landscape, but once again... the issue is money.)
= Many of these discussions hinge on money, if the colleges are going to able to afford football programs long-term and want to pay a $5 Million fee to jump from FCS to FBS level football.
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[@daveporter0217]

Dayton and Marist are non scholarship in football. Would they be willing to make that jump?

[@STVCastle]

Yeah, that's the question I ask. Dayton and Marist have some good things going for them, but would they want to invest more in football?

[@damascuslutin3956]

Northern Iowa might work but probably would have to upgrade sports facilities

[@damascuslutin3956]

If the MAC goes to 16 members ND State 🦬 and SD State 🐇 and Illinois State or southern Illinois etc

[@STVCastle]

I'd be good with ND State and SD State, but I do wonder if the MAC would be venturing too far out west travel-wise. Illinois State or Southern Illinois would be okay choices too.

[@johnnyscarecrow71]

Stony Brook would fit academically and expand the MAC's reach east into the NYC media area. They would need to reclassify, which could be an issue.

[@mmmcounts]

The MAC is uniquely good at having a sensible footprint involving member programs that have a lot in common. Mid week football games notwithstanding, a lot of what happens is within driving distance and travel costs are relatively manageable. However, something has occurred to me as we look at possibilities for expansion. Down at the FCS level, the MVFC along with the MVC seem to have worked out the perfect system. The MVFC is football only, and that conference adds worthy football programs solely on the basis of the football program. Meanwhile, the MVC will add the Olympic sports if that makes sense and if not, they don't. They will also add worthy members that don't have a football program. The footprint of the MVFC and MVC pretty well aligns with where the MAC is at, and I think it would be foolish if the MAC didn't take a similar approach and simply replicate what's been done at the lower level. I do believe the MAC should make several additions in football only- SDSU, NDSU, and Northern Iowa (the other NIU). I don't think the conference should add any of them in all sports at any point. Additionally, if you can get the interest if either school, either Illinois St or Southern Illinois would also be good additions and that should happen in all sports. Northern Illinois is over here in the western portion of the conference trying to have a real rivalry with one of these Ohio programs, and that's not a long term solution. One more program from the state if Illinois would be a fantastic rivalry for NIU (Illinois), and Illinois St would probably be preferable on the whole. In terms of basketball focus, I do believe the MVC has done a great thing by getting Loyola of Chicago together with UIC. The city of Chicago has some of the highest density of elite basketball talent in the world, and it makes all the sense in the world to have two programs in the city within the same conference. The MAC should grab both of those programs and try to build a wall around that basketball talent. I do believe it would also make sense to add Dayton, but you want to hold off on pursuing their football program unless and until they join the MVFC, have real success there, and build a larger stadium while upgrading other facilities. It would also help if one or more current Ohio members of the MAC leave the conference, and that is entirely realistic. I think that's a good first step. I do realize the conference has 13 full members once UMass is in, and if I got all of what I just asked for, the conference would have 17 in football and 17 in Olympic sports. Those numbers are not great, so let's say I get 3 or the 4 that I asked for in each category. This is the general idea, though- take the best of the MVFC and add those football programs and only those football programs, and then generally speaking add Olympic sports only if the school is within your region. It does make a certain amount of sense to try and find travel partners for UMass, but let's be honest guys- I don't know if UMass is cut out for the FBS level. I do not know if that school is going to last as a MAC member in the long term.

[@CoachHoffmanOL]

UConn could join the MAC as a non-basketball member. Hoops would stay in the Big East. Probably not happening. NDSU will not happen; they have said multiple times they are not interested in FBS. Include Villanova and Albany in this group as well. Not a chance Dayton, YSU, Maine, and Marist would move up from their respective levels. The money and resources are not there. Syracuse and Boston College DEFINITELY will not happen. They would be kneecapping their programs going to the MAC. WKU is the most likely candidate to be #14.

[@christmasvillager8489]

Either we raid Conference USA or ask a power fcs or D2 to move up.

[@michaelpark3318]

WKU is split on the MAC, some are ready to go now and others think we should be tied to the South, which means staying in CUSA.

[@pjdavis403]

That would be horrible for UCONN men’s basketball. WKU or Youngstown State

[@johnshaw7562]

Did you see the UMass thing coming?

[@STVCastle]

I honestly did not see it coming, considering UMass didn't do well the last time they were in the MAC. Something must have changed recently.

[@timothyryan9241]

No more Ohio schools in the MAC so no to Youngstown State. Marshall left the Mac for another conference. No to Marshall. Back in 2001 when 9-11 happened Toledo was to host Youngstown State the Saturday of that week. Throughout the nation there were games being cancelled and teams rescheduling with others that wanted to play that Saturday. Toledo contacted Youngstown State and they said they intended to play Toledo that Saturday. Whomever Marshall was to play cancelled so Marshall contacted Youngstown State and said they would travel there to play them. So later in the week they cancelled their game at Toledo to host Marshall. McNeese State and Toledo tried to schedule a game at Toledo but it was late in the week and could not get flights set up to work it out in such a short time. So no game for Toledo. Another reason no to either school joining the MAC.

[@mklein818]

What about NDSU?

[@STVCastle]

I'd be good with schools like ND State and SD State, but I do wonder if the MAC would be venturing too far out west travel-wise.

[@gregsmith230]

What about Boise State, they would be a perfect fit.

[@damascuslutin3956]

Boise State 🐴 is in Idaho near the west coast