UMass to the MAC

[Cluck U]

CUSA teams signed a grant of rights agreement through 2027. Leaving early means a $800,000 payment per year.
If W. Kentucky leaves to join the MAC in 2025 that’s a $2.4 million payment. Not earth shattering but something for the institution to ponder.

So, $2.4 million, plus a $3 million departure fee.

Gosh, who would be silly enough to pay around $5 million to switch conferences?


Happy UMass found a home. As you mentioned, also happy that they have the cold, November night games.

[tomdawg00022]

Does the MAC have any history of transitioning in a program from FCS?

Marshall, UCF, and I believe Buffalo.

Marshall had history in the league in the 50's and 60's. UCF was a football-only add.

[77HEN]

Does the MAC have any history of transitioning in a program from FCS?

Marshall, UCF, and I believe Buffalo.

Marshall had history in the league in the 50's and 60's. UCF was a football-only add.

I asked because that is a clear difference between taking in UMass vs UD. Maybe they consider UMass BBall team to be better too. But does the MAC have any plans to start up a lacrosse conference? Or any schools individually? LAX has been spreading throughout the country.

[tomdawg00022]

UMass is their only lacrosse school on the men's side. I don't think their athletic programs are in a strong enough financial spot to add lax. If a few other schools added it, it's possible the league could sponsor with a chunk of affiliations but my hunch is UMass will likely keep lax in the A-10 or move it to the Big East, etc.

Women's lacrosse is sponsored. I think they have 5 (including UMass) + 3 affiliations

[finpxz1]

The plan is pretty obvious to me. Get to FBS as soon as possible, and then potentially use CUSA as a launching pad to bigger and better opportunities in 5 to 10 years. But it was important for us to get there first before any future options could be on the table.

[Miami (Oh) Yeah !]

I was told relatively recently from a source that I respect and who should be in a position to know that when UD was considering its move to FBS UD approached the MAC and was told that the MAC had no interest in adding UD. When I asked why, this source said that they did not know. I would appreciate it if anyone on these boards is in a position where they can confirm or refute this story here. Further, if offering a confirmation I would appreciate any insight into why the MAC would not be interested in adding UD.

I believe that the majority opinion on these boards is that CUSA is a better move for UD than the MAC would be. I would appreciate any pros or cons and the reasons why to that view.

If the MAC passed on UD knowing they were likely to add UMass, then I believe that the MAC already has their #14 waiting in the wings which I believe is WKU. WKU has almost been added twice now. Once around 2001 until I believe EMU's president torpedoed the idea and then again in 2021 until MTSU balked and the MAC didn't want to just have 13 as they want an even number. WKU is still interested and I dont see the MAC adding #13 without already knowing who #14 is. I also think that the two additions are timed up with renegotiations with ESPN.

[bluehenbillk]

The plan is pretty obvious to me. Get to FBS as soon as possible, and then potentially use CUSA as a launching pad to bigger and better opportunities in 5 to 10 years. But it was important for us to get there first before any future options could be on the table.

Thats exactly it. None of the “next step” leagues were accessible any longer going directly from FCS.

[Steve1981]

UMass is their only lacrosse school on the men's side. I don't think their athletic programs are in a strong enough financial spot to add lax. If a few other schools added it, it's possible the league could sponsor with a chunk of affiliations but my hunch is UMass will likely keep lax in the A-10 or move it to the Big East, etc.

Women's lacrosse is sponsored. I think they have 5 (including UMass) + 3 affiliations

https://247sports.com/college/massachus ... 227832655/

Perhaps UD could have an affiliation with the MAC for men's soccer and join UMass men's lacrosse in the A10 if the application is accepted.

UPDATE 10:35am 2/28/24 - New info this morning on the above Olympic sports. From what we've been told, UMass' current plans are to apply to the A10 to keep men's lacrosse and women's rowing in the conference as affiliate members. If the conference does not accept those applications, they would look for other affiliate options. With men's soccer they are in fact looking to see if the MAC wants to restart their league, and if not they would look for an affiliate spot somewhere else. Women's lacrosse would play in the MAC. With baseball, the plan (as of now) is to move it to the MAC as well.

This is a time of excitement for the University of Massachusetts and its athletic programs. There is still some uncertainty, there are still some unknowns, but the fact that the Minutemen and Minutewomen have a conference they can call home is important. This is a move towards the future for UMass, something that has not been a strong suit for them for a very long time.

While it may have taken a long and winding road to get here, the fact that everyone can now move forward with the knowledge that this is the next step for UMass is incredibly significant.

[Bluewyn Gold]

So, $2.4 million, plus a $3 million departure fee.

ODU, Marshall, and MSU paid $1.75M each for their CUSA departure fee, not $3M.

https://www.conductdetrimental.com/post ... conference

[Cluck U]

So, $2.4 million, plus a $3 million departure fee.

ODU, Marshall, and MSU paid $1.75M each for their CUSA departure fee, not $3M.

https://www.conductdetrimental.com/post ... conference

Yes, but jd says that has been upped to $3 million. Inflation is hitting everywhere.

On top of the standard $3.0m exit fee.

Or would they get the same $1.75M exit fee deal that Marshall, USM & ODU paid out?

That amount was correct in 2022, but I was told it's gone up to $3m and that took place in 2023 when the GOR went into effect.

[Hens79]

UD moving to FBS and CUSA is still great news. It simply had to happen. But there is no way to spin UMass going to the MAC and potentially WKU as well as anything other than not good news.

Hopefully it is still full steam ahead for UD, especially the NEZ upgrade. But CUSA is already less than what it could be with UMass and potentially what it already is with WKU if it leaves.

[Bluewyn Gold]

Yes, but jd says that has been upped to $3 million. Inflation is hitting everywhere.

CUSA's exit fee WAS $3M but the trio I mentioned settled for nearly half of that amount. See the link I provided. Not sure how firm the former $3M exit fee is at this point, especially with the grant of rights agreement guarantee now implemented by the conference.

Does anyone have a link or verification that CUSA's exit fee is still $3M on TOP of the GOR penalty?

Completely agree with '79 that losing WKU would not be great for CUSA and missing out on UMass is specifically not good for UD. I still prefer CUSA to the MAC and CUSA to the Coastal by a country mile.

If WKU does depart, I wonder if CUSA wouldn't go on a full court press to rope in current FCS rumored schools of interest like Missouri St., Eastern Kentucky, Tarleton St., etc.?
https://www.news-leader.com/story/sport ... 749100007/

[Caribbean Hen]

Yes, but jd says that has been upped to $3 million. Inflation is hitting everywhere.

If WKU does depart, I wonder if CUSA wouldn't go on a full court press to rope in current FCS rumored schools of interest like Missouri St., Eastern Kentucky, Tarleton St., etc.?
https://www.news-leader.com/story/sport ... 749100007/

NC A&T rumored to be looking at FBS with CUSA as a destination as well ….. There goes the neighborhood again

[tenn hen]

There is only one positive I can take from the probable, unfortunate loss of WKU. If CUSA is smaller, it allows UD to schedule more OOC games. This would allow us to play much stronger competition and increase interest from fans and recruits who would love the exposure. Scheduling UP is the answer though we might take our lumps for a while. That's how you build a program, and I still believe we need a more experience pair of HCs(who have name appeal) to move us along.

just viewed Caribe's post- OMG- please not deja vu. maybe Hampton will move up as well

[Bluewyn Gold]

I seriously doubt NC A&T has the resources to compete in CUSA. It's highly questionable whether or not they can do so even in the Coastal.

I love the idea of competing against HBCUs, but wouldn't Southern, Jackson St., Grambling, or FAMU be better able to compete at the FBS level?