Official: SAC to the MAC

[SDHornet]

Pardon me if this was addressed already.
With the requirement to add at least 22 more scholarships, will there be an adjusting in sports added or dropped? I'd guess at least one women's sport will have to be added

Due to the House Settlement, it's roster limits and not scholarship count now (see link below). Nonetheless, I've heard nothing about Sac State needing to add a new sport so I assume the current women's sports can absorb the increase as the roster limits were significantly increased. Between cross country, track, gymnastics, and rowing I don't think we'll have a problem matching an additional 20ish women's roster spots for the increase in size of an FBS roster.

https://www.ncsasports.org/blog/ncaa-scholarship-roster-limits-2024

 

[Hornet25]

I was thinking over the travel costs and remembered that Hawaii was paying travel costs of other teams in order to be a football only member of the MWC. So it's not groundbreaking or outrageous as social media would have you believe.

The rest of the deal is right inline with what NDSU did to get into the MWC, minus the 5 year deal. But both sides know Sac State wants to play in a western conference, so there is an out clause. That out clause is probably the reason for the hefty price tag of the deal.

 

[Hornet25]

He gets it.

 

[SDHornet]

His numbers are typical nonsense.

Overall going FBS is a positive to try to elevate the entire program, just costs a lot, seems the entry fee is spread over period of time, only $6mil year one, plus NCAA $5mil.

If there are no MAC rights , maybe they held the local rights?

the travel subsidy is not ideal, but 4-5 charter flights a year isnt the worst . Just adds to the expense which is enormous anyways. Hopefully they aren’t paying hotel as well.

Overall, Wood is pushing all in with hope the city gets behind them.

Now, the stadium…

MAC has a media deal with both ESPN and CBS Sports Network. I think the way it works is if neither of the media partners pick up a home game, Sac State can shop it and keep the revenue. Personally I want as many games a possible on the linear networks.

We'll also get much more money for those P2 money games now. A few hundred grand per game at the JV level will now easily exceed $1M per game.

 

[idkk]

MAC has a media deal with both ESPN and CBS Sports Network. I think the way it works is if neither of the media partners pick up a home game, Sac State can shop it and keep the revenue. Personally I want as many games a possible on the linear networks.

We'll also get much more money for those P2 money games now. A few hundred grand per game at the JV level will now easily exceed $1M per game.

That's how the MWC TV deal works, but looking at the last few years of the MAC, it seems like the MAC-controlled games that aren't on ESPN networks/CBSSN end up on ESPN+: https://getsomemaction.com/news/202...asting-schedule-for-2025-football-season.aspx

Edit: It's not a great sign if Wood doesn't know that ESPN has those rights. Maybe they carve out Sac State home OOC for local TV when they do the "long form" contract (this gives CSNBB vibes)