Could FCS Schools be the Next Targets for the Mountain West? - Mountain West Addition Update

[@hunttx19]

As a small donor to Tarleton Sports. I can tell you we want a full membership. Our brand new basketball stadium will be done by the 2026 season and there are now talks of adding more 6-8 more private suits and expanding our football stadium by another 2000-4000s seats in the next 5 years. We just need the invite.😂

[@drgat6953]

Imagine being a NM St fan and seeing your school passed over for UC Davis and maybe other FCS programs.

[@TylerStout35]

@drgat6953 I think UNM vehemently argued to keep them out. I doubt anyone really argued in their favor haha

[@drgat6953]

@TylerStout35 I heard that rumor as well.

[@russrichards6685]

Las Cruces market is small. The MW is looking for the potential for TV sets moving forward. The UC Davis and Sacramento area might provide that. It’s not a knock on NMSU, it’s just geography. And population.

[@RON-m8c]

🤪 AT SOME POINT, WINNING HAS TO MATTER, DOESN'T IT? 😂

[@dinog3052]

The CUSA's Grant of Rights lasts through 2027, and any school leaving before then must pay $800,000 in exit fees for each year left in the GOR. That could create hesitancy for schools like NM State, which ranks 113th in athletic revenue amongst Division I schools.

[@YellowstreakBison]

Montana State & Montana would be a good fit in the MWC. Right time zone. $26M & $29M revenues. #42 & #112 on Sagarin. Compare that to Northern Illinois in the central time zone, $22M, and #166.

[@bretcrooks4207]

I agree maybe even adding Eastern Washington Weber State or someone else from the big sky

[@twinstalkitup]

NDSU for football needs to get done ASAP

[@keshacherry5684]

Yeah i agree and they might as well add sdsu for a nice rivalry

[@michaelgraalum381]

@@keshacherry5684 They should take Illinois State as well then, two Dakotas and two Illinois and they might end up being the best 4 programs in the conference

[@dalemcilwain]

Have all four Dakota schools make the jump. Therefore, the MWC can have an undiscovered region.

[@DocSkirv]

@@dalemcilwainthis makes zero economic sense from a media POV. No disrespect. I watched SDSU and NDSU games on TV and it’s good football. But, athletic department budgets, NIL, and media share make it prohibitive to the extreme that even one of these will jump.

[@keshacherry5684]

@@DocSkirv yeah that’s a good point a primary issue is the economic standing some of these schools when making the jump but it is nice to imagine some of these happening tbh

[@stevenvitte]

Tarleton State is a no-brainer for the MWC eventually. It secures Texas for them. Also, the MWC should consider both NDSU and SDSU. If they can only get NDSU for Football-Only, so be it. Regardless, this will take a few years to develop.

[@bradleyredgate3719]

I completely agree I think North Dakota State, South Dakota, State, and Montana State all need to come over to the mountain west conference

[@bradleyredgate3719]

I mean those three schools make more sense than Tarleton State and Sacramento State

[@kevinturner1849]

@@bradleyredgate3719I’d even add in Montana with Montana St. The four of those schools for football would elevate the MWC substantially IMO. I’d like to see SD and ND join the other Dakota schools as well in the future. I understand there’s only so many they can add in the near future but in the long term future they would be great.

[@TDG702]

Montana, NDSU would immediately be top tear football schools in attendance, and on field product.

[@GregZentTrumpetMan]

NDSU has four major issues preventing a move to fbs: 1) no invite 2) geographic isolation 3) small tv markets 4) alumni doesn’t live near the campus after graduation

[@robertsanders6858]

Tarleton State, Sac State and Louisiana Tech in all-sports would be super adds to the MWC IMO.

[@terryfox9344]

1. Love the Paydirt Pete shirt. I also love the Beaver shirt that you wore yesterday! 2. If I were the MWC, I would take UC Davis football, but if they're not ready, they're not ready. 3. If I were the MWC, I would take Toledo, North Dakota St, or Tarleton St, football only, in that order. You're the best.

[@TheBigMountainPodcast]

It is my understanding that UC Davis is not ready. But many people underestimate what this addition does to the conference.

[@Mr.Ed_Wayner]

I don’t see Texas St going to the MWC. I do see them going to the PAC-12 if they can get another central time zone member. IMO Sam Houston St would make sense. Sam Houston IMO also makes sense for the MWC especially since the already have a relationship with UTEP from C-USA. Sam Houston & Tarlton St make sense for the MWC. But if I were the MWC, I would add Sam Houston, Tarlton, La Tech & or Louisiana Lafayette. The LA schools would be straight south NIU.

[@michaelgraalum381]

Why would you want SHSU when you coudl have NDSU?

[@TDG702]

Louisiana has awesome new branding and decent basketball

[@Spitfirethedragon]

Central Arkansas's ad is pushing to get their school into FBS. They are in the Little Rock metro area and like 30 minutes from the airport. One D2 school to look out in the future that is expanding their stadium is Central Oklahoma in the OKC's metro. Those are good pieces to fit in. I would look at Weber State for the Salt Lake City's media market. They would fill that missing spot. I would look at Long Beach State, Fullerton State, UC-Irvine or UC-San Diego for non-football as well to get a Southern California presence.

[@69gvfb]

Will the MWC ever be more than a stepping stone to a bigger conference? They're doing well being proactive in replacing the departing schools. However, what will the end result be? NIU without a regional rival isn't moving the needle much imo

[@jesterscorner879]

History says no. TCU, Utah, BYU, BSU, SDSU, Fresno, CSU and USU are already proof of that. Once a team starts becoming a top performer on a regular basis they move on.

[@michaelwall3393]

@@jesterscorner879well here is the thing about what you are saying, Bozo St, CSU, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State made a parallel move in joining a rebuild G6 PAC with WazzU and OzzU and Gonzaga as will not be above AAC strength or revenue or anything else and not much more valuable than the current MWC and remodeling MWC. This is why no AAC school is joining either of these two conferences. The ignorance and arrogance of the PAC and its future new members have again put them in a position that would be classified as self destructive behavior at best and masochist at worst. Now three former MWC members did elevate themselves into a better position than they were. But keep in mind that both TCU and Utah had been in Power/Autonomy Conferences before MWC formed and BYU had been courted routinely by Autonomy Conferences/Power Conferences long before finally getting in the Big12. Now do I believe that the remaining MWC members and the new PAC members could bolt for the AAC as a slight advantage and upgrade and eventually get in one of the A4 conferences? Probably and very likely to happen for a few. Does that mean all of the G6 conferences and the top 4-6 FCS conferences are stepping-stone-up to better conferences and positions later on? Absolutely it does. But to insinuate that the new PAC will not be a stepping-stone conference is wrong. The new PAC resembles how the MWC was first conceived and created from the WAC and some western states teams in other conferences with 2-4 schools eying up to level up to a Power/BCS/Autonomy conference with 3 getting there but not at the same time. Everyone knows that at least 4 of the new PAC members are eying up to get in either the Big12 or ACC or even AAC to then get in Big12 or ACC.

[@scottyclayton2501]

Imagine if NIU was a full member. Sending the baseball team to Hawaii lol

[@thatcollegefootballguy]

Great video JY! I'm thinking the same way you are. But all of this might not happen until maybe 2028. Perhaps later.

[@paulmezzetta6905]

Tarleton State University would be awesome

[@SurfCityBill]

Fair analysis. We shall see how it plays out.

[@ReisterJP]

2:18 pay dirt noun Synonyms of pay dirt 1 : earth or ore that yields a profit to a miner 2 : a useful or remunerative discovery or object

[@TheBigMountainPodcast]

The first show with my new shirt and a screw the pooch. My bad. Words aren’t always my thing. That’s why I do a podcast! Lol.

[@ReisterJP]

@TheBigMountainPodcast it's a tongue twister for sure tell the UTEP AD we want Texas Western not UTEP

[@angeloangelojoseph1494]

Tarleton would be a good choice, but it still leaves a big hole in the middle of your map, mainly Utah. How about adding Ut Tech and So Utah.

[@ChrisRVegas]

Both Utah Tech and SUU are too small.

[@TylerStout35]

@angeloangelojoseph1494 i don't think they would want to add 2 school that are right next to each other, especially that close to Vegas. If they are going to add a Utah school I think Weber would be a better fit and maybe one of the 2 southern schools.

[@robertgoodson5528]

Their commissioner has stated that they're done with realignment. In order to keep UNLV and Air Force in the fold, they have to meet a certain threshold for their payouts. Adding more members takes away from that goal. Eventually, the current version of the MWC will fold, and after the upcoming divisional split (with the P4 breaking away from the G6), a significant number of their members will just depart to merge with the Big Sky (who will be jumping up from the FCS). The Dakotas can come into play at that point.

[@TheBigMountainPodcast]

We would disagree with most everything you said here. But thx for the comment.

[@solo.xplorer]

​@TheBigMountainPodcast Yeah, his crystal ball was toking too much of that green stuff and was waaay off. 😂

[@jasonpayne5656]

Has there been no discussion of adding Louisiana?

[@sgtmorhew]

I hope that both Tarlton and NDSU join the Mountain West. Is that too much to ask for?

[@TheBigMountainPodcast]

Full agreement here!

[@michaelgraalum381]

It was reported in the Fargo press that when they were talking with the MWC, that they insisted on an all-sports membership. I suspect they already have a football-only invitation elsewhere.

[@trvy8175]

The MAC doesn’t need to anything. UMass is coming in full time which keeps them at 12

[@andrewwhipple7162]

You need a cooler background. Pics of schools, a shelf with a football and basketball. Leatherbound books, etc. But a good show.

[@TheBigMountainPodcast]

We have been told that. We will see what we can do.

[@loboblast1]

Makes sense for Texas St to pass on MWC. However, IMO, it was because they probably thought there would be an opening in AAC. Since AAC schools passed on the low ball offer from PAC12, that is when Texas St came in to play. Like Utah St was there 2nd tier option in MWC, Tx ST is there 2nd tier option compared to AAC schools. Now I would be very surprised if they can still manage to get the projected $10-15mm per school.

[@churejas13]

I've mentioned it in other videos on here, but what do you think of utep for football? They're not in the mwc yet, so pac could do a gcu on them if that makes sense, and adds another Texas school. *Forgot to add, but UTEP also landed Malichi so that's another nice addition to the league.

[@jesterscorner879]

The big X factor for that figure is Gonzaga being in the fold. I get that they aren't football, but they are a very valuable BBall brand. With them BSU, OSU, WSU, SDSU, etc. I think they could get to the $10-$12 million range.

[@BIGRGreenEyes]

What is the hold up with the Montana Schools? Northern Illinois is so dumb geographically. College sports conferences are extremely ridiculous now.

[@TheBigMountainPodcast]

It is our understanding that the Montana schools have never been in play for the MWC for this round of realignment.

[@Kc20243]

Ndsu has reached out to the mountain list but a lot of the schools in the current conference weren't in agreement probably cuz they're afraid

[@DocSkirv]

The question is who will be the subtractions. UNLV and AFA, along with UNR and potentially UNM all strike me as PAC and AAC targets. Expansion and relocation is far from over, and the MOU is not gonna stop that.

[@onlinepole]

The Dakota FCS programs just don’t add many potential viewers & new fans to the NWC. Heck Montana & both Dakotas populations combined don’t equal 1% of 🇺🇸’s total population. Illinois’s population is 4% of 🇺🇸’s

[@JosephMelendrez007]

With Texas State it must mean the media partner wanted the central time zone to be included.

[@jamesgibson1098]

UNLV got a great deal to stay. Hopefully it pays off for a year or two and then they can jump to the Pac or better. Seems like they are playing the long game thinking that realignment isn't over in the P4.

[@dannytorres6538]

Love ur Texas Western shirt! Go miners

[@ReisterJP]

Texas Western is such a cool name UTEP go back to it branding is everything

[@TheBigMountainPodcast]

Thank ya

[@TylerStout35]

​@ReisterJP UT Western sounds pretty cool too I think.

[@ReisterJP]

@TylerStout35 I agree! University of Texas Western sounds like marketing gold

[@RossK1988]

NDSU was being used as a bait tactic to pressure NIU. As a bison fan that makes me sad.

[@GradSlacker]

Why not add UConn as a football only school?

[@drag0..]

Not worth the travel distance

[@TheBigMountainPodcast]

I don’t believe eastern schools are worth it at this point. Especially with the NIU addition.

[@JWillwithreason]

UConn adds the Eastern time zone which creates more broadcast volume and a flagship state university with an affluent alumni who would travel well especially to Hawaii, Nevada (Tahoe), San Jose St (Bay area)and Vegas. It will also help with non conference Mens basketball schedules by helping to establish relationships.

[@locadeelpaso]

Paydirt Pete Baby!! 🤙

[@danielmarley9922]

Eventually the FCS, D2, and D3 schools will be a thing of the past with this NIL.

[@PickMyAxe915]

Nice shirt.

[@scottyclayton2501]

How likely is it that NDSU and SDSU might join the MAC? I know that it’s not the most likely but I would love it. I guess I can only dream

[@scottyking7161]

Teresa Gould and Gloria Navarez should've collaborated to start a new league. Zero exit fees. The schools left out would just have to go down in competition. But I believe a league would've thrived with this list. Oregon st Wazzou Boise SD ST FRESNO Colorado St Utah St UNLV Gonzaga UTSA Texas st UNT Memphis Tulane

[@markdyer6040]

It’s Paydirt Pete, not Payday Pete !!!!

[@ChristopherJohnson-l3c]

Way to catch yourself on how you pronounce Nevada!

[@TheBigMountainPodcast]

Imma trying!

[@WolfpackEntertainmentYT]

ugh. half the ncaa is a clusterfuck. Cincy makes no geographic sense in the big 12. Add NIU or move both them and Cincy to the ACC. The Big Ten is a giant mess as is the Big 12. The Pac 12 original teams SHOULD NOT be in the big ten. They need to be moved back to the Pac 12 since its not dead.

[@ScottShurmur]

Stop being stubborn and just add NMSU. Two instant big rivalries; prefect travel partner with UTEP. Stop listening to UNM and whoever else wants to keep them out.

[@dinog3052]

In 2021, the New Mexico State Aggies were accepted to join Conference USA and would start by 2023 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂