The PAC/MWC Dominoes Begin to Fall

[Green Laser]

Unless I'm missing something, if we played as a FCS independent wouldn't we still be eligible for the FCS rankings, playoff berths etc. ? If not why couldn't we stay in the BSC for football only, the dungpile and poly have been getting away with it for years. Being a FCS independent might give us the opportunity to have more scholarships than BSC limits.

 

[HornetFootballFan]

Sounds like we met all the FBS metrics and the "you can't because you need an invite" is the only reason for the recommended denial. Considering that there currently are and historically have been FBS programs operating as an independent, I wonder if there are grounds for an antitrust lawsuit if our application is denied by the D1 Council.

Yes… I think that could be an option IF after this next meeting that we find out some other changes are also in action.
We might find this next meeting provides more options? Or less options? Which could be antitrust “glass ceiling” in CFB,
In addition. The BigWest appears to be our home for Olympic sports and our Football will be FCS Indy another season.
The big Sky revenues of $100K season are mind blowing low. Nothing to lose

 

[SDHornet]

If going to the MWC meant keeping football at FCS level, then we would be golden.

Already in a FBS conference, and the NCAA wouldn’t have had an issue. Just upgrading the program to fit the MWC peer schools.

But we shunned the MWC because Wood was to rabid on PacX. Meanwhile the PacX just laughed.

If the BW is so great, why did Davis move away from that direction? They played chess while Wood played chutes and ladders.

Now Sac is in football hell. We only got $100,000 from BSC, but at least they had a trophy/ring to play for. As an Indy, no postseason, no trophy and only being paid half to play away FBS games.

What about this magical ‘26 schedule Orr had put together? Any contracts signed with FBS teams? More money lost. NIL gone, players gone, coach gone, pride comes before a fall and Sac State fell to the literal bottom.

You keep asserting that we had a MW invite, is this true or are you just making this up? No, the FBS Oversight committee would not have viewed our Oly sports being in the MW as an FBS invite for football.

If not having an FBS schedule lined up for '26 and beyond was an issue, the recommendation would likely have stated that. If not having the funds to meet FBS standards was an issue, the recommendation would likely have stated that. As far as what has been made public at this point (maybe more comes out later, who knows) the recommendation is solely based on not having a football invite from an FBS conference, which I have yet to find as an FBS requirement on the NCAA's website. Dr. Wood met with the NCAA President before submitting the waiver application. It's anyone's guess what was said at that meeting, but I doubt Dr. Wood moves forward with the application if the message was clearly conveyed that it would not be approved.

You're also not factoring how opting-in to the House Agreement plays into this BW decision. The BSC has not opted-in, which means they will all be at a recruiting disadvantage moving forward as a handful of other FCS conferences already have. The House Agreement changes the entire landscape of collegiate athletics and we have just begun to see the fallout from it.

Regarding FCS Indy, we'll be eligible for postseason as an at-large and 8+ D1 wins likely gets us a berth. Given the unbalanced BSC FB membership and their need to get in front of CA recruits, I'm not overly concerned about filling out an FCS schedule in the coming years.

 

[SDHornet]

Yes… I think that could be an option IF after this next meeting that we find out some other changes are also in action.
We might find this next meeting provides more options? Or less options? Which could be antitrust “glass ceiling” in CFB,
In addition. The BigWest appears to be our home for Olympic sports and our Football will be FCS Indy another season.
The big Sky revenues of $100K season are mind blowing low. Nothing to lose

It was always going to be a "normal" BSC year for the upcoming '25-26 academic season. '26 and beyond will be Big West for Olympic sports and homeless FCS football. And yes, monetarily speaking, there was nothing significant keeping us in the BSC. In fact, we will probably save more than that due to the reduced travel costs in the BW.

 

[Hornet25]

It can't be underestimated how the house settlement vote, changing of governance and all out greed of these college football conferences plays a factor. The P4 and specifically the SEC are actively trying to remove schools and conferences from the playoffs so they can keep profits for themselves. No way they want another FBS school. They are making up rules as they go.

But essentially telling Sac State they are not allowed to be independent because it's against the rules is a weak and losing argument. Or flat out saying a school is only deemed ready for FBS when a conference invites them into the club is a lawsuit waiting to happen. There is no point in a committee hearing a waiver case if their argument is they have no power to waive the requirement. They actually put that in print. This is why they lose all of their court battles.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

I dont see where joining the BW will provide benefit in the long run. Yes, it will save money. But if we can only go FBS by joining a conference and there are only two conference options, why join the BW when the MWC or Pac is the ultimate goal? If we somehow get an invite from MWC/Pac in the next 2-3 years, we just jettison the BW? What would the BW gain by adding Sac?

There is no longterm upside for the BW or for Sac.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

It can't be underestimated how the house settlement vote, changing of governance and all out greed of these college football conferences plays a factor. The P4 and specifically the SEC are actively trying to remove schools and conferences from the playoffs so they can keep profits for themselves. No way they want another FBS school. They are making up rules as they go.

But essentially telling Sac State they are not allowed to be independent because it's against the rules is a weak and losing argument. Or flat out saying a school is only deemed ready for FBS when a conference invites them into the club is a lawsuit waiting to happen. There is no point in a committee hearing a waiver case if their argument is they have no power to waive the requirement. They actually put that in print. This is why they lose all of their court battles.

Does Sac have $$$ for litigating City Hall? Does the CSU jump in at this point? What about Gov. Numbnuts? Maybe that tool can be a guest on The View and bash the NCAA?

 

[Hornet25]

Does Sac have $$$ for litigating City Hall? Does the CSU jump in at this point? What about Gov. Numbnuts? Maybe that tool can be a guest on The View and bash the NCAA?

Who knows. But the word on Twitter is this was essentially the NCAA humbling Sac State. Putting them (him) in their place. Again, not a strong legal position.