The Massachusetts football team may be heading to the Mid-American Conference next season, which would put it right in the thick of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
This news comes off the heels of a Maroon and White season that saw the Minutemen not only come close to a victory over FBS powerhouse Michigan, but also compete on a high-profile field in Gillette Stadium.
UMass would join several big-name schools in the MAC, according to reports. The Minutemen would play alongside Temple, Ohio, Northern Illinois and Bowling Green in their divisions, with larger schools like Michigan, Oklahoma State, USC, Oregon and longtime school rival Connecticut not too far away.
The inclusion into the FBS would not happen until 2013, with the next two years being devoted to the Minutemen playing a provisional FBS schedule.
Part of this changed schedule would invoke further changes for the UMass side, which failed to make the Colonial Athletic Association playoffs. The Minutemen could compete at Gillette Stadium while the current one is renovated to fit 30,000 seats. UMass played its first game at Gillette this year in its 39-13 loss to New Hampshire.
A UMass source said nothing has been decided, but the program is open to possible moves in the future. However, the source also stressed that there is no offer on the table at the moment.
Herb Scribner can be reached at [email protected].
Kyle • Dec 2, 2010 at 7:57 am
once maine and uri leave the caa, the travel costs would be higher in the caa. the mac’s tv contract would give each team $600,000 that the caa doesn’t have. there’s also higher revenue from bowl participation that comes from the conference, and the possibility for revenue from bigger name ooc opponents that could come to gillette or, eventually, an updated on-campus stadium.
Ohio Joe • Dec 1, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Temple, Ohio, Northern Illinois, and Bowling Green are “big-name”? Interesting theory.
Norman • Dec 1, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Despite being a huge college football fan and a fan of UMass, I believe it would be a huge mistake to join the MAC. Trust me, there are no “big name” schools in the conference. UMass is in a great conference playing against some traditional rivals and travel costs in their league are far less than they would be in the MAC. They’ll never attract enough fans or a big enough radio and TV contract to make a move to the FBS work financially, even playing some games in Foxborough. If the school can justify the cost while programs and staff are being eliminated, then go for it, but make it the Big East with UConn, not the MAC with Northern Illinois.
Tyler • Dec 1, 2010 at 10:59 am
I read in the Herald that this move would force the team to play more home games at Gillette unless they upgrade McGuirk. Honestly, I’d rather see them play at the school than have to travel to Foxboro. Sure its a great move for getting alumni in the Boston area to games but unless you bus students, no one is going to those games. Let’s wait until we know we can upgrade our own stadium then talk about moving up.
Kyle • Dec 1, 2010 at 9:38 am
the ncaa no longer requires teams to have a 30,000 seat stadium. the requirement is to have an average attendance of at least 15,000 once every 2 years.