Welcome Guest! Create an Account login email: password: remember me: BASKETBALLFOOTBALLMESSAGE BOARDCHATLINKS site searchwhere to watchcontact usabout usadvertise with ushelp Message Board BobcatAttack.com Message Board Ohio Basketball Topic:  Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC? Topic:  Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC? Author Message Bobcat Tattoo General User Member Since: 12/11/2022 Post Count: 31 Status: Offline     Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/16/2024 1:11:59 PM  I know there's been a buzz for a while about NIU football joining the Mountain West, and it now seems like a done deal: https://www.si.com/college/group-five/mountain-west/repor... As for hoops, if it's true that they leave it can only help the MAC. NIU for UMass is obviously a major upgrade. **In case you can't see the article: "Per Brown, the rest of NIU's sports are also expected to leave the Mid-American Conference for a mid-major league such as the Summit, Ohio Valley and Horizon." Back to Top GraffZ06 General User Member Since: 1/5/2005 Location: Dayton, OH Post Count: 2,055 Status: Offline     RE: Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/16/2024 1:51:41 PM  Horizon makes a lot of sense as a non-football league with regional ties and minimal $$ requirements. Gets the Chicago market back into league after Loyola and UIC departures. They'll need to save with all the $$ they are going to have to dump into football to a) compete at mtn west and b) travel to men west. MAC football takes a hit. MAC basketball, UMass for NIU?, I'll take that trade all day. Last Edited: 12/16/2024 1:54:14 PM by GraffZ06 Back to Top FormerMember General User Member Since: 1/7/2022 Post Count: 242 Status: Offline     RE: Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/16/2024 7:34:19 PM  The ironic part is that most NIU fans were complaining about UMass joining the league when I think most MAC fans are more excited about gaining them for basketball than losing NIU for football. Back to Top Bobcat1998 General User Member Since: 11/7/2012 Post Count: 2,334 Status: Offline     RE: Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/17/2024 8:36:42 AM  FormerMember wrote: The ironic part is that most NIU fans were complaining about UMass joining the league when I think most MAC fans are more excited about gaining them for basketball than losing NIU for football. Goodbye NIU, don't let the door hit you where the good lord.... Back to Top M.D.W.S.T General User Member Since: 12/23/2021 Post Count: 2,432 Status: Offline     RE: Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/17/2024 12:52:09 PM  Addition by subtraction. Back to Top Kevin Finnegan General User Member Since: 2/4/2005 Location: Rockton, IL Post Count: 1,139 Status: Offline     RE: Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/17/2024 12:53:22 PM  Personally hate it being 30 minutes from Dekalb. It was my easiest chance to catch OHIO sports. Back to Top El Gato Roberto General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Buffalo Grove, IL Post Count: 1,198 Status: Offline     RE: Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/17/2024 1:41:04 PM  Kevin Finnegan wrote: Personally hate it being 30 minutes from Dekalb. It was my easiest chance to catch OHIO sports. +1 "The name's Ohio University, but everybody calls me Ohio. Any of you guys call me Ohio U, and I'll kill you." Back to Top TWT General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Alexandria, VA Post Count: 5,082 Status: Offline     RE: Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/18/2024 7:57:35 PM  Its time for the MAC to seriously consider adding schools that don't play FBS football but can help us in basketball. Saint Louis, UI-Chicago, Rhode Island, Fordham. If that was the way the MAC was nobody would want to leave it. Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended 2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round 2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl 2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086 Back to Top GraffZ06 General User Member Since: 1/5/2005 Location: Dayton, OH Post Count: 2,055 Status: Offline     RE: Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/20/2024 2:04:46 AM  TWT wrote: Its time for the MAC to seriously consider adding schools that don't play FBS football but can help us in basketball. Saint Louis, UI-Chicago, Rhode Island, Fordham. If that was the way the MAC was nobody would want to leave it. I think the problem is, the minute the MAC allows members who don't play FBS football, half the current league members will breathe a sigh of relief and either drop football or move to FCS. You'd end up with a league of like 4 football teams. Come to think of it, that's exactly what should happen. Ok let's do this. Back to Top GoCats105 General User Member Since: 1/31/2006 Location: Seattle, WA Post Count: 7,152 Status: Offline     RE: Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/20/2024 10:41:27 AM  TWT wrote: Its time for the MAC to seriously consider adding schools that don't play FBS football but can help us in basketball. Saint Louis, UI-Chicago, Rhode Island, Fordham. If that was the way the MAC was nobody would want to leave it. I'm not sure I like this, but they need to do something fast. I just don't like the idea of going to market in 2026-27 when the current TV deal expires with almost no changes to your current product, save for the NIU/UMass swap. I don't know if ESPN/FOX/CBS sees that as an upgrade, but IMO it's minimal at best. Edit: I guess the one thing the MAC has going for it is that with bringing in UMass, that could be a sign the A-10 is getting weaker. Dayton really wants out and to be in the Big East. You could probably kick the tires on Rhode Island as a full member, but they would have to make a massive upgrade financially in football. Last Edited: 12/20/2024 12:39:46 PM by GoCats105 Back to Top TWT General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Alexandria, VA Post Count: 5,082 Status: Offline     RE: Northern Illinois to Leave the MAC?    Posted: 12/20/2024 4:44:29 PM  GoCats105 wrote: TWT wrote: Its time for the MAC to seriously consider adding schools that don't play FBS football but can help us in basketball. Saint Louis, UI-Chicago, Rhode Island, Fordham. If that was the way the MAC was nobody would want to leave it. I'm not sure I like this, but they need to do something fast. I just don't like the idea of going to market in 2026-27 when the current TV deal expires with almost no changes to your current product, save for the NIU/UMass swap. I don't know if ESPN/FOX/CBS sees that as an upgrade, but IMO it's minimal at best. Edit: I guess the one thing the MAC has going for it is that with bringing in UMass, that could be a sign the A-10 is getting weaker. Dayton really wants out and to be in the Big East. You could probably kick the tires on Rhode Island as a full member, but they would have to make a massive upgrade financially in football. I think the MAC will do fine going to market with the NIU/UMass swap in 26/27. My point more is that it would be smart to take in some non-football members while the leverage is still there and not wait until its gutted and without a national TV deal. Pay some of these basketball schools a full media share of the MAC contract to entice them over. Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended 2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round 2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl 2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086 Back to Top Showing Replies:   1 - 11  of 11 Posts Jump to Page:   1 View Other 'Ohio Basketball' Topics                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               WHO'S ONLINE There are 254 Active Visitors on BobcatAttack.com 254 Guests 0 Registered Users There are no other users looking at this page.

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