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Ohio Football

Topic: SBC rumor

Topic: SBC rumor

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MUsince96
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Member Since: 6/15/2012
Post Count: 21

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SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 8:46:00 AM

I heard an interesting rumor this morning that Ohio reached out to the SBC about the potential of joining the conference. I was curious if anyone on the Ohio side of things had caught wind of such a rumor.

OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,734

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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 9:44:02 AM

My first reaction is that there is no truth to such a rumor, but I don't have a good handle on the thinking of our relatively new and current president, who is from Kentucky. So, I suppose it's possible, but it still seems kind of far-fetched to me.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

GreenDaddy
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Member Since: 7/6/2025
Post Count: 2

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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 9:58:40 AM

I was coming here to ask the same question. Supposedly Ohio has contacted the SBC about potential membership. Definitely seems odd, but as a Marshall fan, I'd support it.

cbarber357
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Member Since: 9/9/2012
Location: Pickerington, OH
Post Count: 937

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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 10:47:45 AM

Anyone have a source for this? Can�t find anything online.

MUsince96
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Member Since: 6/15/2012
Post Count: 21

Status: Offline

RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 11:09:01 AM

Just a rumor from an SBC forum poster who in the past seemed to have knowledge of what was going on in the league office.

Flat Tire
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Member Since: 12/24/2006
Post Count: 128

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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 11:11:48 AM

The only information I could find about this rumor is from poster MUsince 96 and Green Daddy in this thread asking for information. I haven't checked all the threads, but I haven't seen anything to back up the statement of the OP. One of Ohio inspired post is below:

MUsince96 Online
All American
*Posts: 3,191
Joined: Jan 2009
Reputation: 177
I Root For: Marshall

RE: Realignment tidbits
Could we be trading one set of Bobcats for another?

https://csnbbs.com/thread-1011986-page-9.html

Green Daddy posted this: "
I could see a scenario where they (Ohio) would view trading Kent State, Akron, Bowling Green, and Eastern Michigan for Marshall, App State, JMU, and ODU as a win."

One well reliable SBC poster has a cryptic post about a possible unnamed school that could be a candidate for SBC membership. In this 10 page thread, a lot of schools are mentioned as candidates by various posters. Several other posters have listed Ohio on their wish list for the replacement of Texas State.

If I have missed the information or I am incorrect; I am sure the other MU posters will correct me.

Last Edited: 7/6/2025 11:21:40 AM by Flat Tire

MUsince96
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Member Since: 6/15/2012
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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 12:34:34 PM

Flat Tire. What I saw that made the hint that the new school of interest was Ohio came from a DM.

Not something you're going to find.

TWT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,167

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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 1:46:47 PM

It does make sense to pair up with Marshall if Ohio was to do another conference because they can be travel partners. Additionally Ohio has most wins of any MAC school in FB since 2005 and with a strong recruiting state has prospects of being competitive at the bowl champion level (six straight bowl wins, MAC record) over the longer haul.

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

SBH
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 2:27:29 PM

No way. I've been told by multiple ADs that Ohio and Miami are joined at the hip w respect to conference affiliation.

OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 3:30:28 PM

SBH wrote:

No way. I've been told by multiple ADs that Ohio and Miami are joined at the hip w respect to conference affiliation.

There was such a strong Confederate influence at Miami during the late rebellion that they would feel right at home with schools in Alabama, Georgia, etc. Ohio, on the other hand, supplied more men to the Union officer corps, per capita, than any other school in the state, according to President Solomon Howard.

Or, as my favorite AI Bot put it:

Southeastern Ohio was indeed very pro-Union during the Civil War. The region, which includes areas like Athens and surrounding counties, had a strong commitment to the Union cause. Many residents were opposed to slavery and supported the war effort, contributing troops and resources to the Union Army.

In contrast, Southwestern Ohio had a more mixed sentiment, with some areas showing support for the Confederacy due to their closer ties to the South and the presence of Southern sympathizers. This division in loyalties was reflective of the broader national tensions during the Civil War, where geographic and social factors influenced public opinion and political affiliations.

[Yes, I'm being a little sarcastic here, but I couldn't resist the temptation to get in a little Civil War history.]

TWT
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Location: Alexandria, VA
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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 3:38:43 PM

SBH wrote:

No way. I've been told by multiple ADs that Ohio and Miami are joined at the hip w respect to conference affiliation.

Its different now. NIU is gone and the MAC TV deal is over in 2 years. SBC has in recent years been the strongest G5 conference on the football field and has a TV deal in place until 2030-31. SBC is also eying East Carolina should the AAC fall apart so to get in now might be a good move.

As to Miami it was imperative to stay hitched to them 80's and 90's but Ohio has built its academic brand to the point where it can stand seperately and be in a conference without the other in-state universities.

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

randy
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Member Since: 2/23/2005
Location: along the green river, OH
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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 3:43:35 PM

way too much speculation for me. for what? football, M/W BBall? Don't see it happening IMO. Might as well get a women's beach volleyball team to compete in the league as well.

randy
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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 3:51:00 PM

in a not too distant past, there was talk of MTSU and Western Kentucky joining the MAC

TWT
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,167

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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 4:19:42 PM

randy wrote:

in a not too distant past, there was talk of MTSU and Western Kentucky joining the MAC

That was before CUSA had a TV deal and before NIU walked away from the MAC. A lot of this anymore has to do with the timing of the TV deals. I said when NIU left it was time to look around (sounds like the AD did) and the SBC as a possible G5 option. Budget requirements are lower than the AAC but the strength in football is comparable, if not better.

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm

SBC East 64.86
AAC 64.11
MWC 62.86
SBC West 61.58
MAC 58.23
CUSA 55.62

Ohio would be slotted in the SBC East the toughest G5 division. While strength trends can change some I'm not seeing how the MAC can regain the level it had back in 2003 or 2012 with all the new FCS call ups plus NIU going to the MWC. Revenue sharing in an era when most MAC schools produce very little revenue.

SBC might even help Ohio in other sports. Baseball immediately comes to mind but also basketball as far as non-confernce opponents willing to play us in The Convo.

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

SBH
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 4,244

Status: Offline

RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 4:30:06 PM

You're delusional. Our alumni base is not aligned with the SBC footprint. And, no, it's not different now following the loss of NIU. The Huskies were hardly a cornerstone of the MAC. Ohio's trustees would never let a move to the SBC happen...unless Miami we're making the move as well. And that's as far fetched as you could get.

TWT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,167

Status: Offline

RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 5:03:56 PM

SBH wrote:

The door is open for a move now and like NIU sometimes you have to take it. I'm not sure how Miami is important. They aren't that close by and not a prime competitor for students anymore as most of their class is out-of-state. OSU and UC are bigger competitors and what do they have, higher profile football.

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

Alan Swank
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Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,206

Status: Offline

RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 6:13:21 PM

Absolutely no way this would happen. If nothing else, the Ohio legislature would never let it happen.

greencat
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Member Since: 3/12/2005
Post Count: 2,539

Status: Offline

RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 6:29:29 PM

randy wrote:

in a not too distant past, there was talk of MTSU and Western Kentucky joining the MAC

Until MT screwed it up at the last minute over a million dollar penalty to exit their conference that could have been recouped with a 100 mile ride to Knoxville for a single away game. WKU was ready to bolt.

Can assure you that nobody in Murfreesboro TN gives a flip about seeing the local college play Florida International or Kennesaw State in football. They would have gotten more people in the stands even playing BGSU or Ball State.

TWT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,167

Status: Offline

RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 6:35:52 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

Absolutely no way this would happen. If nothing else, the Ohio legislature would never let it happen.

The Ohio Legislature blocking a move from the MAC? Again here since Ohio receives more state instruction funding than any MAC school I'm not sure why it has to be aligned with them in an athletic conference. Cincinnati didn't have to be in the MAC. Even Julie has publicly said Ohio is FBS before it is MAC.

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

Alan Swank
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Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,206

Status: Offline

RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 8:03:57 PM

TWT wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

Absolutely no way this would happen. If nothing else, the Ohio legislature would never let it happen.

Not only would the state legislature balk at this but so too would the academic community. Take a look at who we consider to be our peer institutions. Nobody from the Sun Belt on that list.

https://catmailohio.sharepoint.com/sites/PRO-IeaWebdocs2/...

Here's a link to Sun Belt academic ratings.

https://collegejaguar.com/sun-belt-schools-ranked-academi... /

Last Edited: 7/6/2025 8:06:26 PM by Alan Swank

ohio9704
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Member Since: 2/11/2006
Post Count: 1,542

Status: Offline

RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 8:04:30 PM

Would this be 1 to be back to 14 or expanded to 3 to get to 16. Would Miami and say Toledo migrate to the SBC also.

GreenDaddy
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Member Since: 7/6/2025
Post Count: 2

Status: Offline

RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 8:44:01 PM

ohio9704 wrote:

Would this be 1 to be back to 14 or expanded to 3 to get to 16. Would Miami and say Toledo migrate to the SBC also.

Expansion to get to 16 teams. Getting the western division to agree to get back to 14 by adding an eastern school would be nearly impossible.

OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,734

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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 8:47:31 PM

TWT wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

Absolutely no way this would happen. If nothing else, the Ohio legislature would never let it happen.

While there are many reason not to do this, the reaction of the Ohio General Assembly isn't one of them. Are they going to cut our funding because we switch athletic conferences? If Toledo had accepted the offer to join NIU in the MWC, would the legislature have given a rats ass about it?

MUsince96
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Member Since: 6/15/2012
Post Count: 21

Status: Offline

RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 9:56:53 PM

I did see Lori Stewart Gonzalez was provost and executive vice chancellor at App State when they joined the Sun Belt.

TWT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,167

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RE: SBC rumor

Posted: 7/6/2025 10:22:28 PM

GreenDaddy wrote:

ohio9704 wrote:

Would this be 1 to be back to 14 or expanded to 3 to get to 16. Would Miami and say Toledo migrate to the SBC also.

Expansion to get to 16 teams. Getting the western division to agree to get back to 14 by adding an eastern school would be nearly impossible.

Travel is big in the SBC. 16 teams then creates a 7 team divisional setup with one crossover on an 8 game conference schedule. Ohio in the east then Western Kentucky and Louisana Tech in the west. 16 I believe would also allow for an automatic TV deal renegotiation whenever the expansion is for 2 or more schools.

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

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