MWC Expansion

[Master Capper]

Just read an interesting article about the MWC wanting to expand soon. They have been told by the BCS that if the conference remains a 9 team league they have very little chance of gaining an automatic bid for the conference champion to a BCS bowl. It is being bantered that they will expand to 12 teams broke into divisions of 6 teams so they then can add revenue with a conference championship. The teams that have been contacted include Boise, Fresno, Reno, Houston, and UTEP. Boise would no doubt jump at the chance to move to the MWC. What is interesting if the MWC would take three teams is the domino effect that it would have on the WAC and Conf USA. I dont know how the WAC would be able to replace two teams unless they get a couple of Big Sky teams to move up to 1A. Conf USA would have to look to either the Sunbelt, MAC, or steal LATech out of WAC, but they know Memphis is openly trying to leave the Conf USA.

 

[winagainjoe]

I know UTEP would jump at the chance to be in it. They've had MWC envy since the conference started and miss having rivals BYU and New Mexico from the old wac days. Interesting. Too bad Craig Thompson can't go back to ESPN and those Thursday night games. Starting that MTN network was the wost decision at the time. Maybe this could help!

 

[joefrog91]

I know UTEP would jump at the chance to be in it. They've had MWC envy since the conference started and miss having rivals BYU and New Mexico from the old wac days. Interesting. Too bad Craig Thompson can't go back to ESPN and those Thursday night games. Starting that MTN network was the wost decision at the time. Maybe this could help!

The MWC left ESPN because of the Mon thru Thur night games. I agree the current tv deal is less than ideal, but ESPN was never going to give the MWC prime Saturday time-slots. The TCU game against Clemson was supposed to be an ESPN game and they showed it on ESPN 360 online. So, that just shows you how much ESPN cares about the MWC.

From what I've heard, if the MWC is not guaranteed an automatic bid by expanding then it won't be in any hurry to expand. Boise St would be invited for sure. The other teams I've heard about are Nevada and Fresno St. Houston and UTEP would be interesting additions as well.