baggerveej said:

for coach Odom to speak directly to the Sluka issue and set the record straight. imo, that’s what leadership and smart PR calls for in these moments when accusations are flying around.

Hard to criticize anything the man has done so far as coach but this is problematic for me. we are getting crushed in the media and makes me wonder if an assistant coach did make a promise we couldn’t keep.

He’s gotta speak up and get his message out in this situation - carefully crafted department, NIL collective and university statements just don’t cut it

Click to expand...

CEERebel said:

I have no idea how the AD has their debt structured or how that debt played a part in the negotiations with the TEMU12. However, it does appear to be clear that there's a likely combination of factors involving debt/cash on hand that played a big roll into UNLVs decision to stay in the MWC.

The goal, IMO, is UNLV having the ability to keep Odom past this season. It's going to take a significant increase in pay, not only to him, but his assistants and the department in general to keep them around. I'm guessing that it would be VERY difficult for UNLV to pay the exit fee, potentially take less from a future media rights deal AND pay Odom and staff to remain on board. The obvious choice is you do everything in your power to put yourself in the best position possible to keep CBO and staff happy. Afterall, they're the sole reason UNLV has any relevance and sway in this clusterf**k. I would rather remain in the MWC, flush with some cash (hopefully without a commitment past 2026), CBO and Co. still at the helm maintaining national relevance and consistently in reach of the CFP than paying an exorbitant amount of money to join the MWC 2.0, not having cash on hand to pay Odom and falling back down the bottom of the barrel in the TEMU12. Say goodbye to any hopes at all to the potential (longshot?) of being able to hop into a P5.

In the end, what would be better for future expansion? UNLV, while in a lower conference than the TEMU12, maintaining relevance in the only sport that truly matters when it comes to future realignment or becoming irrelevant in the TEMU12 and pitching "Hey, we have the 'potential' to be a great market for future expansion".

Click to expand...

ckfitz said:

There's a wholesale shop in Lebanon that's selling them real cheap.

Click to expand...

unlv7163 said:

I understand that, not arguing otherwise. There just isn’t much precedent that the current MWC is better, and therefore allows more room for error, than any other conference. When was the last time a MW went to a BCS bowl? Been well over a decade. And the 2 current teams that do have an appearance (Boise and Hawaii) were members of the WAC when they went. Why? Because our conference always has 2-3 losses while the smaller conferences have an unbeaten team that goes. The same will continue to hold true in my opinion.

Click to expand...

LVRebel2000 said:

That's not true. Look at the most recent departures of the schools that left the AAC and into the Big 12.

The AAC agreement said you have to give 27 months notice and pay $10 million. Since they were less than the 27 months, it became a negotiated deal.

SMU paid $24 million.
Houston, Cinci and UCF each paid $18 million.

Click to expand...

reagan21 said:

Those are schools not flush with cash. We're talking about the PacSuns who poached, at least 4 teams, under the shadow of "we will pay your exit fees." PacSuns are flush with cold hard cash.

I have clients who want to get and are entitled to $2M but the reality is the Defendant only has $600k...so that's what we settle on. Not the same situation with those schools and their reduction of exit fees. Get that money...

I WILL SAY THIS!!!!!!!

It would be wise for the MWC to accept a reduced amount now than wait until 7/1/26. Tell them, you can pay us $17 each in 2026 ORRRRRRR $11M now. I bet this is happening as we speak.

Click to expand...

dcut03 said:

Boise and Fresno are still in play for that playoff spot (ESPN still lists Boise as the Favorite) for that playoff spot. The MW is strong enough, eat least at the top, that a conference loss against a strong opponent does not eliminate them.
The new PAC is in the same boat, stronger at the top, and really significantly stronger from top to bottom than any other conference, by a long shot.

Click to expand...

Bullmastiff 1 said:

I can't imagine a reverse merger is on the table at this point.

There is way too much bad blood now. And it's only going to get worse.

Click to expand...

unlv7163 said:

I think you mostly have to go undefeated regardless. Maybe a stronger 1 loss team gets in over an unbeaten Sun Belt team, but not sure a 2 loss team does. Really depends on what each resume looks like. To me you just have to make sure the non conference slate is strong. Can’t schedule Utah Tech anymore because you’re going to have enough of those already in conference. I just don’t think a PAC team would AUTOMATICALLY get in over a MW team with similar records. It will help them a little, but I don’t think it’s nearly as much as you think it will. The committee is full of P4 members. Don’t think they really spend a ton of time worrying about which G5 team gives the #5 seed a warmup game.

Click to expand...

Bullmastiff 1 said:

That's how I look at this whole thing.

UNLV will have to go 12-0 to be in the CFP mix unless Gloria can replace what MWC lost with near equal replacements.

A MWC team can afford a loss now because there are 4 teams hovering around the top 25.

That likely will not be the case going forward.

It's the 2031 one thing I'm worried about.

Click to expand...

LVRebel2000 said:

You should always get your beepers from JJ, The King of beepers. He wouldn't lead you astray

Click to expand...

unlv7163 said:

Not sure many of the others had much of choice. Schools the PAC would want are going to cash in and the others need to be in a conference and probably couldn’t afford the exit fees anyway. Also guessing that until the matter is resolved, the PAC isn’t going to approach any more MW schools for fear of higher penalties. Only thing that would save this mess is to do the reverse merger thing, but may be too far past that now.

Click to expand...

76RunninRebel said:

Man I hope this works out and by no later that 2031 (hopefully sooner) we are in the Big 12! If not we have without question taken a big step back no matter how you want to spin it! I mean if you were to tell me before all this crap happened "Hey we're going to be in a new conference without Boise, SDSU, Fresno, CSU, and Utah St and replace them with Texas St and UTEP I would said are you ****ing crazy! That big Money you are getting is only good for the short term! Your now in a conference that will always be behind the PAC and AAC for that group of 5 playoff spot! For Basketball you are looking at being a 1 maybe 2 if we're lucky bid conference for the tournament!

Click to expand...

LVRebel2000 said:

At this point, nothing is final. Until all 7 remaining MWC schools sign whatever the "binding agreement" is, that also stipulates that UNLV & AFA will get 25-30 million, then nothing is set in stone.

My big question is, what happens if all 7 schools don't want to sign it?

Click to expand...

saulpaul21 said:

Agree. But a merger now could stop the bleeding on both sides. Both sides are losing by a conference split.

Lawyers of course do not want a merge as they will get rich off this peeing match.

Click to expand...

Masked_rebel said:

This is very true... Utah was rounding also into a very top tier football program at the same time and understood the game... If you lose one game in a non-power conference back then even to a team like Boise, you lost all shot at playing in a BCS bowl. The system was very different now. Also Boise benefitted tremendously in reputation by beating up members of the WAC.. 51-3 over a 5 year period.. You dont think UNLV would benefit from going 51-3 over 5 years with multiple conference championships?

Click to expand...

76RunninRebel said:

I remember reading somewhere that in order for UNLV and Air Force to get that big money (it was said to be 10 million at that time now 25-30 million) they had to sign to a 7 year deal (first 2 years to finish off the current tv deal then 5 years with the future tv deal)! UNLV better have a out clause with no penalties if they leave for a "power 4" conference!

Click to expand...

Bullmastiff 1 said:

I don't know.

Chaos.

Click to expand...

Bullmastiff 1 said:

Chin up buckaroo...

There are some pretty smart folks on this board that think this was the right play.

You and I seem to be in the other camp.

And I hate to break it to you but outside of @bcvegaspt I might be the biggest IDIOT on these boards.

Click to expand...

76RunninRebel said:

I remember reading somewhere that in order for UNLV and Air Force to get that big money (it was said to be 10 million at that time now 25-30 million) they had to sign to a 7 year deal (first 2 years to finish off the current tv deal then 5 years with the future tv deal)! UNLV better have a out clause with no penalties if they leave for a "power 4" conference!

Click to expand...

Widening Gap Between Haves and Have-Nots​

• Media Rights Revenue: The Big Ten and SEC are projected to make nearly $2 billion combined annually in media rights deals starting in 2024. This dwarfs what other conferences can generate.
• Playoff Access: There are discussions about the Big Ten and SEC pushing for guaranteed playoff spots and top seeds for their members. This would make it much harder for teams outside these conferences to compete for national championships.
• Recruiting Advantage: The prestige and exposure of being in the top conference would likely draw even more top recruits to Big Ten and SEC schools.

Impacts on Other Conferences​

Power 5 Conferences​

• Conference Realignment: There could be a scramble among top programs in these conferences to try to join the Big Ten or SEC. This could lead to further destabilization.
• Reduced Revenue: With less valuable media rights and potentially reduced playoff access, these conferences would see their revenues decline significantly compared to the super conference.

Group of 5 and FCS​

• Widening Resource Gap: The financial disparity between these schools and the super conference members would become even more extreme.
• Reduced Relevance: With media attention focused on the super conference, it may become harder for these programs to attract fans and recruits.

Potential New Structure​

1. Super Conference Tier: Big Ten and SEC forming the elite level
2. Second Tier: Remaining Power 5 and top Group of 5 programs
3. Lower Tiers: Remaining FBS and FCS programs

Conclusion​