Welcome to the faculty soccer offseason.
Loads has modified within the Group of 5 since our final mailbag, from extra convention realignment to roster motion, so let’s get into it.
The place does the Pac get its eighth member? Did UNLV completely shut the door or are they nonetheless taking part in chess?
Nick C.
The query across the Pac-12’s rebuilding course of begins with this: Do you do the TV deal first after which increase, or finalize growth after which do the TV deal? Or are you able to do them concurrently? AAC targets like Memphis, Tulane, USF and UTSA turned down the Pac-12 within the fall as a result of it didn’t have tangible TV numbers. As a way to return to them, the league would wish these particulars. The Pac-12 wants not solely a TV deal for 2026 and past but in addition a 2025 broadcast house for Oregon State and Washington State. It’s potential the TV offers might be introduced collectively, or they may not. All the foremost broadcasters are at the very least within the dialog for the bigger bundle, together with TNT Sports activities, as somebody acquainted with the method informed me. Attending to 9 football-playing members (which might require including two extra colleges) might be the best variety of groups for soccer scheduling functions.
However what about UNLV, which Pac-12 skilled John Canzano floated just lately? The Athletic obtained the Mountain West Grant of Rights, which binds these colleges (together with UNLV and Nevada) into 2032. The “time period” for the settlement doesn’t start till July 1, 2026, however the “efficient date” was the date it was signed final yr. Colleges can solely get out of the deal in the event that they go away for a Energy 4 convention.
Which is why Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez launched an announcement two weeks in the past in response to the UNLV rumor, saying partly, “(T)he seven member establishments who’re the inspiration of the Mountain West have absolutely dedicated to the way forward for the Convention. Every member has cemented that dedication by executing a Grant of Rights Settlement, efficient July 1, 2026, by means of June 30, 2032. … The Mountain West is assured in its authorized place and strategic plan to handle the continued litigation with each the Pac-12 and a number of other member establishments who’ve publicly expressed their intent to depart the Convention.”
That final level is essential. The Mountain West is at present being sued by the Pac-12 and a few of the outgoing Mountain West colleges over the exit and poaching charges, which complete virtually $150 million. Of that cash, the primary $61 million will probably be break up amongst present Mountain West members, of which 24.5 % every will go to UNLV and Air Drive, as specified by the contract. In complete, $100 million is already assigned within the grant of rights for the seven MW colleges who stayed. The convention can even use its “finest efforts” to maintain TV payouts at $3.5 million for those self same colleges.
The contract additionally states that any provision that turns into invalid or unenforceable gained’t invalidate the settlement. Does that imply UNLV can’t get out of the deal if the Mountain West doesn’t recoup all of that cash? I feel so? However I’m not a lawyer, and guidelines don’t appear to matter anymore. The Mountain West has additionally promised to maneuver its headquarters to Las Vegas and its basketball tournaments to UNLV. There may be quite a lot of long-term dedication right here.
Assuming the Pac-12 can’t get every other Mountain West colleges, I think about it’ll make one other swing on the AAC, particularly Memphis and Tulane. After that, possibly Texas State. It’s the identical pool that was mentioned within the fall. If the league runs out of choices, I wouldn’t rule out Sacramento State as a singular add in order to not dilute the remainder of the pie an excessive amount of. I plan to dig into this extra within the coming weeks.
Is it time for the North Dakota State Bison to maneuver as much as the large league and discover a Group of 5 convention match?
Lance M.
That is simply my opinion: I don’t assume they need to and I don’t assume they’ll. I went deep on this subject a number of years in the past after James Madison moved as much as the Soccer Bowl Subdivision. There isn’t a actual geographic match among the many FBS conferences. The AAC was the choice of then-head coach Matt Entz on the time, however faculty sports activities have modified even since then, to the purpose the place I don’t assume any positives would outweigh the negatives.
The FBS haves are getting additional and farther from the have-nots, and the power for colleges to share income with gamers immediately as soon as the settlement of the Home v. NCAA lawsuit is accepted will solely develop that hole. North Dakota State can’t compete with Energy 4 colleges on the monetary entrance. Is it price becoming a member of a G5 league with no ties or rivalries solely for the hope of creating the Faculty Soccer Playoff? Transferring to the FBS is dear throughout the board for an athletic division.
NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen stated just lately that the Bison should not anticipated to choose into the Home settlement, and I perceive his argument. The roster cap of 105 gamers would lead to round 65 spots getting lower, Larsen stated. These are spots crammed by gamers that pay wanted tuition to the college. Colleges paying gamers immediately means colleges needing to search out more cash to spend. (Montana and Montana State have stated they’ll choose in.)
It made sense for James Madison to maneuver up as a result of the Solar Belt provided outdated and new regional rivalries and journey wasn’t impacted. New FBS arrival Missouri State suits geographically in Convention USA, although Delaware doesn’t.
Whereas there was concern lately over fatigue and ticket gross sales amid North Dakota State’s run of 10 nationwide titles in 14 years, I don’t assume there’s actually an FBS repair for that anymore because the divide inside the FBS grows. Exterior of the very high of school soccer, lots of people wish to transfer again to a regional mannequin by which they play towards they friends. NDSU already has that.
The Pac-12 is again, type of. Which G6 convention will get the auto-bid subsequent yr, PAC, MWC or AAC?
Jesse Ok.
The league will nonetheless be a Pac-2 subsequent yr and never eligible for one of many automated bids given to the very best ranked convention champions. Its realignment additions arrive in 2026. However 2025 and the Group of 5, I can let you know now my early choose for the auto-bid is Boise State once more, in order that’ll be the Mountain West. Sure, the Broncos have to interchange the legendary Ashton Jeanty at working again and high receiver Cam Camper, however they convey virtually everybody else again.
Keep in mind the identify Sire Gaines. As a real freshman working again, Gaines had 110 yards within the opener towards Georgia Southern and averaged 7.8 yards on 20 carries earlier than struggling a season-ending harm within the season’s third sport. So long as that harm doesn’t linger, I feel Gaines goes to be the subsequent stud Boise State working again.
Do you assume the Group of 5 will probably be included within the playoff after subsequent yr?
Mark N.
Sure. No matter how huge the sphere is or what number of auto-bids the Energy 4 get, the TV settlement all of the leagues and Notre Dame signed final yr incorporates protections for the highest 5 convention champions as soon as once more, as The Athletic has reported. Although the Group of 5 could turn into a “Group of 6” as soon as the Pac-X finishes increasing.
The place is a program like Tulane headed? They’ve been on an upswing for various years, however now appear to be they’re going to be a farm staff for Energy 4 colleges. It appears tough to construct a program like this and keep any type of momentum. The present NIL panorama appears to work towards them. What’s the long run for a program like this?
Jon G.
Tulane remains to be in a greater spot than most. It’s merely going to be actually exhausting for Group of 5 groups to maintain their finest gamers. Those that may thrive are those that discover the replacements. Tulane, with top-of-the-line NIL operations within the G5, is doing that.
Shedding quarterback Darian Mensah to Duke and working again Makhi Hughes to Oregon is clearly exhausting to swallow, however holding on to go coach Jon Sumrall was enormous, and the Inexperienced Wave added greater than two dozen incoming transfers, together with Ball State quarterback Kadin Semonza, the MAC freshman of the yr, and two different quarterbacks. (Sure, TJ Finley remains to be taking part in faculty soccer, and he’s with the Inexperienced Wave now.)
Tulane misplaced coach Willie Fritz and employed away the perfect coach within the Solar Belt. It misplaced Mensah and grabbed top-of-the-line quarterbacks within the MAC. The Inexperienced Wave are nonetheless capable of pull from beneath them, and displaying their dedication to investing in methods to maintain profitable.
What are the best stadiums within the Group of 5?
Gary M.
I’ve definitely not been to each one, however listed here are a few of my favorites I’ve visited or the place I wish to get to.
Kidd Brewer Stadium (Appalachian State) — I’d put this view up with any within the nation. Up within the mountains, one finish zone actually goes right into a forest. I visited in 2019, and it was App State’s solely loss that season, so I’m sorry for that.
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and Michie Stadium (Navy and Military) — Each service academies’ house websites are in contrast to the rest within the NFL or main faculty soccer. I’ve been to Navy, however not for a sport.
Albertsons Stadium (Boise State) — The blue turf is iconic, and Boise State followers fill it each week.
Solar Bowl (UTEP) — I’ve by no means lined a sport right here, however the truth that a serious bowl sport remains to be performed right here tells you ways particular it’s. One other lovely view.
Glass Bowl (Toledo) — I first visited this stadium in highschool. It’s place to observe a sport, and what different stadium has an precise rocket angled to land on the rival’s stadium?
Reminder that Toledo’s stadium options an precise rocket that’s angled to land at Bowling Inexperienced’s 50-yard line.
Your rivalry might by no means. pic.twitter.com/WuG4KURHX4
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) November 15, 2023
(Photograph: Greg Fiume / Getty Pictures)
