So Plough just posted this like 10 minutes ago…

what does it mean? Only good I believe.

https://youtu.be/k5mUTQYY0Hw?si=tvLJ3mARYzBnPZND

Big mountain podcast detailing Cal State University, Sacramento’s move to FBS

lol what in the world....

He posted a gif after the Sac FBS independent waiver got rejected too lol (ill link it here)

I assume both posts are related to Sac moves. This one is even more ominous though... idk what hes saying but it seems like Plough knows something we dont

that Big Mountain guy got his chapstick all over Luke Wood’s backside. If it was menthol, sitting is gonna burn.

We are on the same page in regards to the future of UC Davis football. Where we differ is the money part.

If you can provide the solution for funding all of this change, I'm sure everyone will be on board. The honest fact is, We.....are....not....ready. We aren't. Maybe in a couple years things might change, but for the near future, the move to FBS is in my opinion 50/50 at best.

Stop with the weirdo comments. That’s not cool to say about another man.

The podcast is a great resource as they have sources with many schools administrations. They have an interview with AD DeLuca speaking about new stadium and move to mountain west (from last year.)

Great post Gabe. I think you are right about that. I am just excited as ever for this upcoming season no matter what. I agree with what we talked about earlier that this could be our year, and I really mean it!

to really see a difference for the Dakotas is to note that at UND, hockey is the big sport on campus compared to NDSU.

Comments on both videos...disabled.

Does Sac State have a basic math problem.

I have not followed this issue as closely as others, but I have not seen anything involving any financing projections. I hear them speak about higher revenue from multiple sources, but again, not seen the math.

Without looking at the line-item revenue and expense assumptions, hard to say if this is a good move (financially) or a move that will bankrupt the athletic program.

Consider other FBS programs are bleeding money, hard to believe Dr. Woods and his crew can do it better.

What are you talking about! Dr. Wood clearly stated 975 million dollars and over 600 million dollars in TV revenue! That money is gonna start flowing in faster than a flash flood once they are paying for Akron's flights to Sacramento to be played on ESPN (in which Sac gets no conference tv revenue from)!

Yes it makes no sense financially and the numbers seem insane if thats what you were asking.

Man, Kevin O'Leary on the MAC board, getting them to sign on the line which is dotted!

https://collegiateconsulting.com/newsletter/collegiate-consulting-assist-sacramento-states-move-to-fbs-mid-american-conference/

Seems like a few other teams are looking into a Sac-esque move

"Previously, Collegiate Consulting has assisted six institutions Georgia State, Appalachian State, Missouri State, Sam Houston State, Jacksonville State, and Kennesaw State with their successful transition to FBS and is currently working with three FCS institutions as they explore FBS opportunities."

What new revenue is Sac going to get?..Reportedly they get no share of the TV revenue, for several years. They are joining a conference that is only marginally tougher than the Big Sky, and teams have limited name recognition here, so ticket sales aren't likely to dramatically increase, and they are paying for opposing team travel. It was a puzzle how they were obtaining the cash to cover the NIL money they were disbursing, now that will need to increase. I don't think the consulting firm wrote their report based on the terms of the agreement they reached with the MAC. What they bought for 20+ million is an FBS label. A label is a marker for something, not the thing itself.

That is the big question. Where is the money going to come from?

"Game guarantees" is an interesting way to source revenue. Seems like they're really hanging their hat on this. At the most, you'd get 3 of those per year, in varying degrees of payout and opponent quality. In theory, one could do that at the FCS level too. They're saying Fresno is paying them 400k to play this year (scheduled as an FCS opponent). Do they really think Fresno would pay them double for the same exact game, but with the FBS patch slapped on? Who is to say the programs Sac wants to get paid by don't just schedule an FCS opponent instead? Super strange all around.

Well they’re getting a lot of local TV news coverage on this move. KCRA actually showed a map where the other MAC schools are located. I still think Wood walks leaving Orr or someone else to pick up the pieces. Orr seems like a good guy. My guess is he’s looking for a new zip code.

I was being sarcastic :rofl: None of it makes any sense short term and is a sketchy plan at best long term. Of all the FBS conferences they are ending up in the MAC is the least practical and will provide the least excitement/revenue I could imagine. I think they are banking on being successful in the MAC and getting an invite from the MW or PAC next realignment cycle…

so ticket sales aren't likely to dramatically increase — Riveraggie

The trick for attendance would be to get a cool new OOC opponent to come out every year if they could afford it..... and if they are willing to pay- Davis. Gonna be tough to get that OOC team to come to the current Hornet Stadium though.

I'm sure they'll get an initial spike with the excitement.......like they did with the Go-Go guy....but I'm sure excitement will fade again after Kent State and Bowling Green make a couple trips out. I doubt this amounts to more than 15,000 average attendance over 5 years (which is a little over where they are at now). What makes it even more difficult is likely going 4-8 every year to start. What they really need is an improved stadium to help interest.

NSDU is going to have a much better go at this..... It will be interesting to watch.

What I look forward to is Davis playing them again and getting back to beating a "bigger, faster" team from the upper classification......like the 1990's.


Went off-topic here, my bad!

From the AI regarding MAC attendance and the prospect of Sac averaging 15k+ over the next 5 years:

Based on 2025 data, MAC football attendance ranges from roughly 21,000 at the top (Toledo, Ohio) to under 8,000 at the bottom (Akron), with many schools averaging fewer than 10,000 fans per game. This represents a significant, long-term struggle for the conference to draw crowds.

I tend to agree with SailorGabe in that there will be a major shake-up in college football after the '27 season or whenever the new TV deals are up, with a split between Power 4 and the rest+ maybe 3-5 current FCS's elevating at that time, perhaps with a re-vamped playoff split between the two "upper levels".

Perhaps the fact that Sac is FBS makes a game with them more attractive for Davis. The way these games have historically been evaluated is a win earns more credit than an FCS game, and a loss is ignored. I'd do it, but only if it was the only FBS game on that years schedule.

The actual term was “no conference disbursements“. To me that would include $0 from any NCAA distribution for the performance of a MAC team in March Madness. Conceivably, the CSUS men’s or women’s team could make the tournament and win a game or two (admittedly unlikely), earning a distribution for the conference, and Sac wouldn’t receive a dime.

If we can get 300-400K for a bus ride, tough to pass up.

Remember that Sac is to be a football only member of the MAC, their other sports are in the Big West

Oops,

I'd love to have them back on our out of conference schedule and paying up $300,000 or more to bus across the Causeway, "play up" and beat another "varsity football team." Who doesn't like easy money!

I'm just saying we shouldn't do charity work. They should pay Davis like any other FCS school, I get that it could be less because of minimal travel and existing relationship. I'd take the game every couple years for $250k, which seems to be the low end payout for these games.

My point is only one FBS opponent. More than one compromises chances to make the playoffs. I'd rather have a schedule that has Sac or San Jose than UCLA or Washingron. I wouldn't play Sac to do them a favor, they are a competitor for the market, not a partner.