Realignment

[Hawks86]

The MWC TV contract would help, but with those 4 leaving, I can see those numbers coming down, not up in 2026.

[BleedingBLue]

Sam gives the Montana schools and the DSUs all getting an invite a 40% chance.

"I’ll put it at a 40% chance that all four get MWC invites. And a 50% chance that at least two of them get invites. Options are limited for the MWC on new additions, but there are some outside of these four FCS powers. It all depends on what the league presidents covet — is it the already-established FBS label, is it TV markets, or is it brands?"

https://herosports.com/fcs-pac-12-rebui ... fect-bzbz/

[coloradocat]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

[BleedingBLue]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

[onceacat]

https://knightnewhousedata.org/fbs/mwc

Upping the AD revenue (by double it looks like to me) would be one of the major issues to be competitive at the MW level.

MW TV deal is $3.5 million per team so most of the increase is going to have to come from raising prices I would assume?

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the #1 source of revenue is from taxpayer support. I don't see Helena helping on that front. #2 (I think) is donor support, and at least right now MSU/UM don't have the same 'whales' as most of the bigger schools (other than that one guy out west)

[coloradocat]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

It might be a tough sell to people that don't want to play in the Potato Bowl but the counter to that is that instead of playing one or two meaningful home games before December and the rest being against FCS bottom-feeders (both in and out of conference) the inverse would happen where the entire home schedule, outside of probably one early game, would be against comparable or better competition. We likely wouldn't go undefeated at home but as long as we don't get blown out more than once a year the games would be better than we have now where a majority of the time there's not a huge reason to come back after halftime because the game is already in the bag. Plus, if we don't win the FCS championship how different is a couple playoff games from a bowl game, other than the fact that the bowl game is on the road?

[onceacat]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

To be clear, I have zero desire to see the Cats play in those meaningless bowl games. But I'm a bit torn, because at the FCS level we are getting playoff games with the likes of NC Central, Drake, Austin Peay, Lafayette, Garner Webb, and Mercer. 24 teams in the playoffs, but only 5 or 6 with a legit chance to even reach the Semis...

Is that REALLY a lot better than the Spud Bowl?

[coloradocat]

https://knightnewhousedata.org/fbs/mwc

Upping the AD revenue (by double it looks like to me) would be one of the major issues to be competitive at the MW level.

MW TV deal is $3.5 million per team so most of the increase is going to have to come from raising prices I would assume?

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the #1 source of revenue is from taxpayer support. I don't see Helena helping on that front. #2 (I think) is donor support, and at least right now MSU/UM don't have the same 'whales' as most of the bigger schools (other than that one guy out west)

Government/institutional support may be #1 but it's less than 50%. I could see Helena bumping it up a little but not much.

[AFCAT]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

To be clear, I have zero desire to see the Cats play in those meaningless bowl games. But I'm a bit torn, because at the FCS level we are getting playoff games with the likes of NC Central, Drake, Austin Peay, Lafayette, Garner Webb, and Mercer. 24 teams in the playoffs, but only 5 or 6 with a legit chance to even reach the Semis...

Is that REALLY a lot better than the Spud Bowl?

I guess watch a spud bowl game in person and compare that with the NDSU or SDSU playoff atmosphere in Bozeman the past few years and then decide.

[kennethnoisewater]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

To be clear, I have zero desire to see the Cats play in those meaningless bowl games. But I'm a bit torn, because at the FCS level we are getting playoff games with the likes of NC Central, Drake, Austin Peay, Lafayette, Garner Webb, and Mercer. 24 teams in the playoffs, but only 5 or 6 with a legit chance to even reach the Semis...

Is that REALLY a lot better than the Spud Bowl?

I'm a "move up" guy with a few stipulations, but I do think for the more casual fans, they don't really care who MSU is playing. They could play an NAIA team from Delaware and win by 90 and the casual fans (who you desperately need, IMO) would just brag about how good the Cats are. The casual fans are the ones that fill the stadium beyond the 10k or so dedicated fans.

Maybe it's a ways off, but the increase in enrollment will pay off eventually, especially since it's happening at a time where the football program is successful. That's twice as many fans caring about the football program being added to the fan base every year just based on enrollment alone. And in the 90's when I went to school and there were 100 students at games (OK I know I'm exaggerating), so it was rare to find a student that was a big fan. Now with 16k students and a good team, you have to figure that a MUCH bigger chunk of students are pretty avid Bobcat fans. When they get a little older and start making money, you now have a far bigger donor base. Maybe a move up is premature right now, maybe it's not. I think in 10 years MSU will be in a better position. Problem is, if you wait 10 years, will there be an opportunity to move up? Or will the FCS be so bad that people lose interest? I don't know that answer, but my gut feeling is that you have to get ahead of it a bit. But if the money isn't there, it isn't there.

[BleedingBLue]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

It might be a tough sell to people that don't want to play in the Potato Bowl but the counter to that is that instead of playing one or two meaningful home games before December and the rest being against FCS bottom-feeders (both in and out of conference) the inverse would happen where the entire home schedule, outside of probably one early game, would be against comparable or better competition. We likely wouldn't go undefeated at home but as long as we don't get blown out more than once a year the games would be better than we have now where a majority of the time there's not a huge reason to come back after halftime because the game is already in the bag. Plus, if we don't win the FCS championship how different is a couple playoff games from a bowl game, other than the fact that the bowl game is on the road?

I think your answer to the above is very dependent on each fan's perspective and feelings. I for one have been in awe of the atmosphere of every home playoff game since 2019, and the home Cat/Griz games. There isn't another game in that time frame where I've been impressed with the atmosphere and/or the crowd for a majority of the game. I think a couple home playoff games is way different, way more important, and far more awesome than some meh bowl game.

Home playoff games since 2019: 2019 Albany - W 47-21. Cats jumped out to an early lead, but it wasn't a bad game. Great atmosphere. 2019 Austin Peay - W 24-10. Great game, was cold but the crowd was one of the more electric crowds in recent memory 2021 UT - Martin - W 26-7. Great game, Tommy making his first start and the D was stupid good. Atmosphere was amazing. 2021 SDSU - W 31-17. Fantastic game and one of the best atmosphere's I've seen in Bobcat Stadium. 2022 Weber - W 33-25. Cats controlled the game, but it was never out of reach and got lots of us a little worried late. Great atmosphere, especially after the 4-safety special 2 months earlier. 2022 Bill & Mary - W 55-7. That team deserved the beating they got for all the smack talked prior to the game, and I've never seen a crowd so into a game even when the team is up by 40 points. Every fan in there wanted the beating to continue. 2023 - NDSU - L 34-35. The game every fan wanted. NDSU at home. Raucous crowd and a fantastic game.

The home playoff games are absolutely, unequivocally different, and much better than a bowl game. Each game comes with the hope your team moves one step closer to a National Championship and does so in front of the home fans. The fans that come out when it's 25 degrees at kick off and scream their heads off the whole game are the true fans and they show it. The crowds when Utah State, New Mexico, Hawaii, San Jose State and Air Force come to town will be no different than the current crowds for Portland State, Northern Colorado, UT Tech, Maine etc. I'd argue due to rivalries and past history the crowds for EWU, Weber & Sac State would be better (into the game wise) than they would for any MWC team that would come to town (unless Choate is still at Nevada).

[BleedingBLue]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

To be clear, I have zero desire to see the Cats play in those meaningless bowl games. But I'm a bit torn, because at the FCS level we are getting playoff games with the likes of NC Central, Drake, Austin Peay, Lafayette, Garner Webb, and Mercer. 24 teams in the playoffs, but only 5 or 6 with a legit chance to even reach the Semis...

Is that REALLY a lot better than the Spud Bowl?

In my opinion yes. Those games actually mean something. We're competing to win a National Championship at our level, not win a give me money bowl that doesn't mean diddly squat. I outlined the home playoff wins in my post above since 2019. I'd take any of them over a bowl game every day of the week.

[NOCOcat2005]

Its time to move up, i work fort a Mountain West School, soon to be a Pac-12 School and I see no difference in most of the programs in the MWC from the Bobcats/Griz/NDSU/SDSU. All 4 schools should take the opportunity if presented. And don't talk to me about market size, Laramie and Logan are in the MWC.

[vimforwin]

My take as a former player and active bobcat follower out of state.

If Montana State can get an invite they need to take it. FCS is dying. Many of our on field peers need FBS play up games to survive. FBS teams with super conferences are going away from playing FCS teams. What will the Northern Colorado, Eastern Washington, Idaho States of the world look like if they don’t collect FBS play up money?

The landscape has changed. The teams we have seen with administration and fan support have thrived. Look at Appalachian State and James Madison. At what point do we strive to compete with programs that have similar support. Do we really think playing Utah Tech and NAU in front of 5k is exciting?

I hear the argument that people want to compete for national championships. But to the average fan they’re more invested in bowl season than the fcs national championship. The average college fan doesn’t not care for FCS football. Bringing in schools like Wyoming and Utah State will attract more eyes to the program. Beating up on Mercyhurst and Maine isn’t appealing. At some point we as a program need to take the risk and make the jump.

[BleedingBLue]

Its time to move up, i work fort a Mountain West School, soon to be a Pac-12 School and I see no difference in most of the programs in the MWC from the Bobcats/Griz/NDSU/SDSU. All 4 schools should take the opportunity if presented. And don't talk to me about market size, Laramie and Logan are in the MWC.

Logan has the Salt Lake market, and Wyoming has been in the MWC since before TV Markets were such a huge deal for college football.

[rivercat]

I'd forego the FCS playoffs for the opportunity to play more meaningful, competitive scheduled games. Maine was in all honesty boring after 15 minutes and 4 seconds into the game. The majority of the crowd opted for tailgating rather than watching the 3rd quarter.

I think there will be a playoff in the near future for the G5. Currently the G5 has no shot at a national championship which is unique in collegiate sports.

MSU, um, and the DSU's would be very competitive in the MWC right now without the benefit of additional financial resources or scholarships that they have. If they moved up, they would be competing on equal footing and winning MWC championships.

[AFCAT]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

It might be a tough sell to people that don't want to play in the Potato Bowl but the counter to that is that instead of playing one or two meaningful home games before December and the rest being against FCS bottom-feeders (both in and out of conference) the inverse would happen where the entire home schedule, outside of probably one early game, would be against comparable or better competition. We likely wouldn't go undefeated at home but as long as we don't get blown out more than once a year the games would be better than we have now where a majority of the time there's not a huge reason to come back after halftime because the game is already in the bag. Plus, if we don't win the FCS championship how different is a couple playoff games from a bowl game, other than the fact that the bowl game is on the road?

I think your answer to the above is very dependent on each fan's perspective and feelings. I for one have been in awe of the atmosphere of every home playoff game since 2019, and the home Cat/Griz games. There isn't another game in that time frame where I've been impressed with the atmosphere and/or the crowd for a majority of the game. I think a couple home playoff games is way different, way more important, and far more awesome than some meh bowl game.

Home playoff games since 2019: 2019 Albany - W 47-21. Cats jumped out to an early lead, but it wasn't a bad game. Great atmosphere. 2019 Austin Peay - W 24-10. Great game, was cold but the crowd was one of the more electric crowds in recent memory 2021 UT - Martin - W 26-7. Great game, Tommy making his first start and the D was stupid good. Atmosphere was amazing. 2021 SDSU - W 31-17. Fantastic game and one of the best atmosphere's I've seen in Bobcat Stadium. 2022 Weber - W 33-25. Cats controlled the game, but it was never out of reach and got lots of us a little worried late. Great atmosphere, especially after the 4-safety special 2 months earlier. 2022 Bill & Mary - W 55-7. That team deserved the beating they got for all the smack talked prior to the game, and I've never seen a crowd so into a game even when the team is up by 40 points. Every fan in there wanted the beating to continue. 2023 - NDSU - L 34-35. The game every fan wanted. NDSU at home. Raucous crowd and a fantastic game.

The home playoff games are absolutely, unequivocally different, and much better than a bowl game. Each game comes with the hope your team moves one step closer to a National Championship and does so in front of the home fans. The fans that come out when it's 25 degrees at kick off and scream their heads off the whole game are the true fans and they show it. The crowds when Utah State, New Mexico, Hawaii, San Jose State and Air Force come to town will be no different than the current crowds for Portland State, Northern Colorado, UT Tech, Maine etc. I'd argue due to rivalries and past history the crowds for EWU, Weber & Sac State would be better (into the game wise) than they would for any MWC team that would come to town (unless Choate is still at Nevada).

Too bad we'd never see a Hawaii-MSU matchup in Bozeman in December. That might be interesting......for them.

[rfischer94]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

It might be a tough sell to people that don't want to play in the Potato Bowl but the counter to that is that instead of playing one or two meaningful home games before December and the rest being against FCS bottom-feeders (both in and out of conference) the inverse would happen where the entire home schedule, outside of probably one early game, would be against comparable or better competition. We likely wouldn't go undefeated at home but as long as we don't get blown out more than once a year the games would be better than we have now where a majority of the time there's not a huge reason to come back after halftime because the game is already in the bag. Plus, if we don't win the FCS championship how different is a couple playoff games from a bowl game, other than the fact that the bowl game is on the road?

I think your answer to the above is very dependent on each fan's perspective and feelings. I for one have been in awe of the atmosphere of every home playoff game since 2019, and the home Cat/Griz games. There isn't another game in that time frame where I've been impressed with the atmosphere and/or the crowd for a majority of the game. I think a couple home playoff games is way different, way more important, and far more awesome than some meh bowl game.

Home playoff games since 2019: 2019 Albany - W 47-21. Cats jumped out to an early lead, but it wasn't a bad game. Great atmosphere. 2019 Austin Peay - W 24-10. Great game, was cold but the crowd was one of the more electric crowds in recent memory 2021 UT - Martin - W 26-7. Great game, Tommy making his first start and the D was stupid good. Atmosphere was amazing. 2021 SDSU - W 31-17. Fantastic game and one of the best atmosphere's I've seen in Bobcat Stadium. 2022 Weber - W 33-25. Cats controlled the game, but it was never out of reach and got lots of us a little worried late. Great atmosphere, especially after the 4-safety special 2 months earlier. 2022 Bill & Mary - W 55-7. That team deserved the beating they got for all the smack talked prior to the game, and I've never seen a crowd so into a game even when the team is up by 40 points. Every fan in there wanted the beating to continue. 2023 - NDSU - L 34-35. The game every fan wanted. NDSU at home. Raucous crowd and a fantastic game.

The home playoff games are absolutely, unequivocally different, and much better than a bowl game. Each game comes with the hope your team moves one step closer to a National Championship and does so in front of the home fans. The fans that come out when it's 25 degrees at kick off and scream their heads off the whole game are the true fans and they show it. The crowds when Utah State, New Mexico, Hawaii, San Jose State and Air Force come to town will be no different than the current crowds for Portland State, Northern Colorado, UT Tech, Maine etc. I'd argue due to rivalries and past history the crowds for EWU, Weber & Sac State would be better (into the game wise) than they would for any MWC team that would come to town (unless Choate is still at Nevada).

That UT Martin game in '21 was special. I remember turning to my wife after the crowd started chanting Tommy's name and saying, "We are watching the birth of a legend."

[RICO CAT]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but moving up isn't at all enticing to me. The only way it would be, is if, as Kenneth said, there is a G5 playoff. In which case it's a "move up" today, but we'd be right back where we were in the 90s and 2000s, playing against a bunch of former FCS schools. The added benefit would be competing against teams that have been FBS for a long time but got left behind. You can bet your butt the CFP is a Power 4 only playoff if the G5 adds their own playoff. The Power 4 doesn't need the G5 at all. We wouldn't have to worry about attendance numbers either because we wouldn't be going 10-2 every year and fighting for a playoff spot, at least not for awhile.

A big argument for moving up whenever given the opportunity is that if we were to wait until there was a G5 playoff it might be too late. The G5 might close the door and throw away the keys so they don't water down the revenue distributions at that point. If it's assumed that it will eventually happened we almost have to go as soon as someone asks us so that we're there for it. We might not go 10-2 every year but we'd still likely win at least 7-8 games and build from there.

I agree it might be too late, I'm just saying it's a tough sell for some fans, like me, to go up and hope we get to play in the Famoujs Idaho Potato Bowl until/if/when a G5 playoff materializes.

Let's say for arguments sake we move up and waffle between 7-8 wins a year for the first 5 years. Will support remain the way it is now with the team playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or the Isleta New Mexico Bowl every year?

It might be a tough sell to people that don't want to play in the Potato Bowl but the counter to that is that instead of playing one or two meaningful home games before December and the rest being against FCS bottom-feeders (both in and out of conference) the inverse would happen where the entire home schedule, outside of probably one early game, would be against comparable or better competition. We likely wouldn't go undefeated at home but as long as we don't get blown out more than once a year the games would be better than we have now where a majority of the time there's not a huge reason to come back after halftime because the game is already in the bag. Plus, if we don't win the FCS championship how different is a couple playoff games from a bowl game, other than the fact that the bowl game is on the road?

I think your answer to the above is very dependent on each fan's perspective and feelings. I for one have been in awe of the atmosphere of every home playoff game since 2019, and the home Cat/Griz games. There isn't another game in that time frame where I've been impressed with the atmosphere and/or the crowd for a majority of the game. I think a couple home playoff games is way different, way more important, and far more awesome than some meh bowl game.

Home playoff games since 2019: 2019 Albany - W 47-21. Cats jumped out to an early lead, but it wasn't a bad game. Great atmosphere. 2019 Austin Peay - W 24-10. Great game, was cold but the crowd was one of the more electric crowds in recent memory 2021 UT - Martin - W 26-7. Great game, Tommy making his first start and the D was stupid good. Atmosphere was amazing. 2021 SDSU - W 31-17. Fantastic game and one of the best atmosphere's I've seen in Bobcat Stadium. 2022 Weber - W 33-25. Cats controlled the game, but it was never out of reach and got lots of us a little worried late. Great atmosphere, especially after the 4-safety special 2 months earlier. 2022 Bill & Mary - W 55-7. That team deserved the beating they got for all the smack talked prior to the game, and I've never seen a crowd so into a game even when the team is up by 40 points. Every fan in there wanted the beating to continue. 2023 - NDSU - L 34-35. The game every fan wanted. NDSU at home. Raucous crowd and a fantastic game.

The home playoff games are absolutely, unequivocally different, and much better than a bowl game. Each game comes with the hope your team moves one step closer to a National Championship and does so in front of the home fans. The fans that come out when it's 25 degrees at kick off and scream their heads off the whole game are the true fans and they show it. The crowds when Utah State, New Mexico, Hawaii, San Jose State and Air Force come to town will be no different than the current crowds for Portland State, Northern Colorado, UT Tech, Maine etc. I'd argue due to rivalries and past history the crowds for EWU, Weber & Sac State would be better (into the game wise) than they would for any MWC team that would come to town (unless Choate is still at Nevada).

Too bad we'd never see a Hawaii-MSU matchup in Bozeman in December. That might be interesting......for them.

Air Force probably eyeing the AAC conference right now to join Army and Navy as there is speculation other teams may bolt. However the buyout could be a problem for a service academy unless an exception is made. If I’m Hawaii, I’d be really nervous about now. Travel logistics will keep them from getting any conference invite.

[Catsrgrood]

As the P5, G5 and FCS are currently structured, count me firmly in the “no interest whatsoever in moving up” crowd.

I get there are plenty of benefits to it, tv deals, money for bowl appearances, etc. That is a very real part of the equation.

But purely from a fan perspective, I couldn’t care less about going 7-4 or 8-3 (in a good year after we build up to it), and getting some random bowl game that nobody outside of the two fanbase cares about, and then win or lose, your season is done after that one “post season” bowl game.

Playoffs are unmatched, the thrill of either losing and you’re done or winning and moving on and playing for the chance at a national championship is everything.

I’d rather be one of the top dogs vying for that championship than just another team that might get a bowl game that has absolutely no shot at sniffing a national championship.

Especially since we’ve been so close the last few years. The worst thing to me would be to be so close to a national championship like we have been, not winning one, then moving up and have zero shot at being in that position ever again.

Now if there is a restructuring of the whole thing where there are essentially 3 levels of D1 football that all have their own playoff system with a national championship at the end, then sign me up for that second tier all day long. I think the Cats deserve to be at the second level of D1, whatever that may look like. Right now, that is FCS.