I think the key here is timing. Pac8 has to add two schools to be ready to compete by summer 2026. Show of hands who thinks we can be ready in 2 years especially with revenue sharing coming next year?

Jon Wilner who has written extensively about the Pac12 for many years had two articles in the Mercury news today. His feeling is two more mountain west teams fill the void, with UNLV the top choice. He mentioned the Big Sky and basically no way a Montana school (much closer than us up bring ready) could/would make the jump.

And feels like this is the end of the Mountain West as a real FBS conference. Doesn’t see any other lower FBS school wanting to join. So, a new mountain west might have a big sky feel.

he’s eligible next week

Thompkins back; pretty beat up on defense (both Connor brothers). Need to control the ball and keep our defense off the field.

Title 9 is a killer, especially since (I believe) Mrak interprets it to match school demographics which is about 60% female. To add the 22 football scholarships for football you have to find 22 women’s scholarships and I think we may have run out of sports. Alternatively, you can cut mens programs to keep the same number. And, we are running out of men’s sports for that!

I don’t think schools who have made the recent jump has 26 or so sports.

They played us really tough at home last year (many teams play us tough in that first home game….bring back USD!)

Most interesting thing said in that clip : 41000 tickets sold for the opener! UTEP is 20-49 under the current coach yet they fill the Sun Bowl. Different world.

i believe that both the Mercer and Stetson' are one-off's.

It’s weird how a couple mistakes can make a big difference. Big play to get first and goal from 1, nicely designed play gets a TD…. Oh wait, flag for illegal formation. Backward play, settle for FG. That could have been 13-0 instead of 9 and some momentum and crowd energy.

Second half, Perez gets 30 yard punt return setting us up for a score to maybe put it away. Wait, 2 flags for illegal substitution….next play, LONG TD on 4th down pass. That’s a big swing. We’re slumping and they are singing in the sidelines.

it’s at the Senior Bowl in Mobile Alabama. It’s some special setup that puts us on ESPN when almost no other games are on.

I think the mountain west is getting killed by the portal - seems to be zero consistency year to year.

son of a gun, I must have misread or they adjusted. This little heat spell hung on longer than expected in the east bay.

Windy in Dixon. Hope it calms. Their QB is a runner so wind won’t effect

I’ll ask tonight

I’m still not sure where the game is; they said neutral field on the ZOOM meeting

Forecast calls for 81 at kickoff. Start strong and fast, let them make mistakes, and get win number 1. Hopefully a decent crowd, but limited students will keep the numbers down

TAMC plays a bunch of guys tight to the line so we should see some shots down the field and plenty of Lan. Plough said it could be one of those games were the runs are 1 yard, 2 yard, 50 yards.

Back to future schedule….I believe they mentioned SMU is on the docket down the road

yes. They referred to it as ‘week 0’ (we’ll have 2 byes). I thought they said it was at a neutral site at a new stadium in North Carolina. But I also heard senior bowl which has been in Mobile. Probably should have paid a little more attention.

A couple non game tidbits from alumni zoom. We open next year in week 0 (pre Labor Day) vs Mercer back in North Carolina (neutral….might be wrong on location). We’re also hosting Stetson in 2026. Interesting additions

The pace will be fast, faster and warp speed. TAMC is not deep or disciplined.

Did you watch the game? I turned it on in the second half and it was still close (i think 24-14 or 16-6), but from that time on SDSU pretty much had their way with them. TAMC had 180 total -> not sure what the break down was first vs second. Both teams combined for 31 (!) penalties, so maybe that slowed the Aztecs down early? I, honestly, didn't watch too closely. Those games at Berkeley wear me down!

Plough said at the press conference that the defense wes good (fast, flying around) and the offense much improved from last year. 180 yards doesn't seem like a big showing, unless penalties (long yardage) and SDSU's growing lead (lots of pressure) slowed them down.

don't hold your breath, Agalum. I think they, for some reason, have to use campus catering for hospitiality. Weird that i hear raves about the dining commons food, but the stuff we get pre-game is not so good.

I was looking at the game stats and see no Zach Kennedy on the stat sheet, even though the participation report has him starting. Was he really shut out? I don't recall hearing him name on the PA.

Speaking of PA, I love the Cal PA guy. Sounds like one of those announcers on the old newsreels from the 40's and 50's ("And here comes Sea Bisquet down the stretch!"). Just sounds like college football on a nice fall afternoon.