A question was posed on MVCFans that I think is quite interesting. With NIU and Toledo being courted by the MWC to be football only members. There is doubt that the MAC would allow them to continue to stay in the conference. So I now pose the question here. Should the Valley pursue Toledo and NIU as potential memebers.
I was thinking about this earlier when the story of the offer from the MWC broke. First, yes…the MAC would want them in all sports, with the Valley having no football, MVFL isn’t associated with the MVC, they are a fit for us. Second, there’s no other league like us, having no FBS football is an advantage here, and I suspect that NIU and Toledo would be receptive. Yes, definitely offer them both!!!
Sorry if my wording is off, I’ve recently shifted to midnights and I’m a bit off…lol…editing took a bit, not that anyone knows that I was editing for a long time…lol…
I think it truly depends on what leverage Jon Steinbrecher can bring on NIU and Toledo. After NIU's win over ND in football it could be pretty tough to get them to leave MAC football for a pretty much equivalent conference in the MVFC.
@historyman They wouldnt be joining the MVFC. They are being courted by the Mountain West for football only, and there is doubt as to whether they would be able stay in the MAC for all other sports. They would li9ikely be kicked out.
@historyman They wouldnt be joining the MVFC. They are being courted by the Mountain West for football only, and there is doubt as to whether they would be able stay in the MAC for all other sports. They would li9ikely be kicked out.
Ok, so losing Missouri State to CUSA in fall 2025, possibly adding Northern Illinois & Toledo to MVC. That would then be 13 schools in the MVC. Is the MVC expecting another school departing or will there be 13 schools?
It would make no sense for NIU and/or Toledo to go to the MWC for football only. Their media power decreases with the 5 schools leaving, and anything replacing them will not have the same clout. There isn't enough of a difference between the MAC and MWC to assume the extra burden of a separate conference for all other sports. I've read that it is currently a $1.5m per school difference, and the MWC won't be getting $4m/school again
@valpotx The major draw is the media deal. That CBS and FOX deal distributes about 5 million to member schools
Right, but from what I've read, the MWC currently gets around $4m to $5m per school for the media deal, whereas the MAC gets around $2.5m per school. That difference just isn't worth it, when the MAC is highly unlikely to let both schools keep the rest of their programs in the MAC. If they go to the MWC for all sports, it would make sense.
Well MWC came out and said that their next targets after Hawaii is NIU and Toledo. Doubtful the MAC would keep them in the conference for just the olympics. Perfect world is Toledo goes to MVC and NIU goes to Horizon.
