Random stuff 2025

[coloradocat]

Sagarin ratings are out and they are about as accurate as you would expect when ranking teams purely on math:

46 SDSU
56 NDSU
66 MSU
94 USD
95 griz
107 Davis
112 IWU
113 Idaho
118 UND
121 SIU

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm

[AFCAT]

For all you experts out there. You'll probably have to get up early though.

[SonomaCat]

Sagarin ratings are out and they are about as accurate as you would expect when ranking teams purely on math:

46 SDSU
56 NDSU
66 MSU
94 USD
95 griz
107 Davis
112 IWU
113 Idaho
118 UND
121 SIU

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm

So after the first 2 games, we will likely have the top ranked (or close) Sagarin SOS in the country to date.

[TomCat88]

Three catch’s, four targets for 52 yards.

[luckyirishguy25]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

[Catsrgrood]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

[coloradocat]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

[AFCAT]

[AFCAT]

Something new this year.

[MSU01]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

They're already pretty much doing this...Wyoming in 2021, New Mexico in 2024, and Nevada in 2026. Beating UNM last year sure helps to show that MSU can compete at that level.

[coloradocat]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

They're already pretty much doing this...Wyoming in 2021, New Mexico in 2024, and Nevada in 2026. Beating UNM last year sure helps to show that MSU can compete at that level.

I was wondering if there is a concerted effort, similar to what I described, or if they were just the games they happened to be able to get scheduled.

I've been thinking lately that a conversation with Leon about how non-conference scheduling works would be interesting. Would have been good offseason content for Colter or Grace, etc. Does he reach to FBS teams for scheduling or do they generally initiate? Does he reach out to FCS bottom feeders or do they call around looking for teams that might pay the most? Do both sides just call everyone hoping to find a match? How different is football compared to basketball?

[JoeCatsJoe]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

They're already pretty much doing this...Wyoming in 2021, New Mexico in 2024, and Nevada in 2026. Beating UNM last year sure helps to show that MSU can compete at that level.

The Wyoming game was very competitive as well. We may be favored to beat our old head coach next year as well.

[Prodigal Cat]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

I agree with everything here except the money part. We got paid $360,000 to play UNM. Cats easily get 20,000 to the first home games so a VERY conservative number at $40 per ticket is $800,000 and that doesn't factor in sponsorships, TV, and everything else. There are cost to putting on a game but there are costs to sending a team on the road as well. I think Leon schedules MWC games because they are a good test and give the Bobcats exposure but they are probably a net loss in $$ all things considered. The numbers are even more skewed for the griz getting 25K fans so it's one of the reason they almost never play MWC games.

[coloradocat]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

I agree with everything here except the money part. We got paid $360,000 to play UNM. Cats easily get 20,000 to the first home games so a VERY conservative number at $40 per ticket is $800,000 and that doesn't factor in sponsorships, TV, and everything else. There are cost to putting on a game but there are costs to sending a team on the road as well. I think Leon schedules MWC games because they are a good test and give the Bobcats exposure but they are probably a net loss in $$ all things considered. The numbers are even more skewed for the griz getting 25K fans so it's one of the reason they almost never play MWC games.

Yeah, I didn't think too hard on the money. Just assumed it was better. I wonder how much Boise State would pay (even though they won't be MWC by the time we would play them)?

[Prodigal Cat]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

I agree with everything here except the money part. We got paid $360,000 to play UNM. Cats easily get 20,000 to the first home games so a VERY conservative number at $40 per ticket is $800,000 and that doesn't factor in sponsorships, TV, and everything else. There are cost to putting on a game but there are costs to sending a team on the road as well. I think Leon schedules MWC games because they are a good test and give the Bobcats exposure but they are probably a net loss in $$ all things considered. The numbers are even more skewed for the griz getting 25K fans so it's one of the reason they almost never play MWC games.

Yeah, I didn't think too hard on the money. Just assumed it was better. I wonder how much Boise State would pay (even though they won't be MWC by the time we would play them)?

I haven't seen the number for next week game but the Cats got $680,000 to play Oregon State.

[coloradocat]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

I agree with everything here except the money part. We got paid $360,000 to play UNM. Cats easily get 20,000 to the first home games so a VERY conservative number at $40 per ticket is $800,000 and that doesn't factor in sponsorships, TV, and everything else. There are cost to putting on a game but there are costs to sending a team on the road as well. I think Leon schedules MWC games because they are a good test and give the Bobcats exposure but they are probably a net loss in $$ all things considered. The numbers are even more skewed for the griz getting 25K fans so it's one of the reason they almost never play MWC games.

Yeah, I didn't think too hard on the money. Just assumed it was better. I wonder how much Boise State would pay (even though they won't be MWC by the time we would play them)?

I haven't seen the number for next week game but the Cats got $680,000 to play Oregon State.

Your $800K estimate also doesn't include any costs. I wonder where the break even point is. It's gotta be higher than $360K and we just took that game as a test. Maybe $500K?

I'd still say it's worth playing UNM for $360k, and "losing" money, vs paying Central Washington or Ferris State $100K for a win that doesn't count towards the playoffs. .

Outside of the money I'd be interested to hear more background on the OOC schedule development. How often does Leon say no (and why besides $$)? How hard is it to fill out the schedule (besides when teams back out)? Do we have a somewhat fixed geographic footprint that we'll play in (ie. we would say no to someone like West Virginia)?

[MSU01]

I haven't seen the number for next week game but the Cats got $680,000 to play Oregon State.

Unless something has changed since the Oregon game was scheduled back in 2019, this one's also a $680,000 payout.

https://fbschedules.com/montana-state-t ... n-in-2025/

[Prodigal Cat]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

I agree with everything here except the money part. We got paid $360,000 to play UNM. Cats easily get 20,000 to the first home games so a VERY conservative number at $40 per ticket is $800,000 and that doesn't factor in sponsorships, TV, and everything else. There are cost to putting on a game but there are costs to sending a team on the road as well. I think Leon schedules MWC games because they are a good test and give the Bobcats exposure but they are probably a net loss in $$ all things considered. The numbers are even more skewed for the griz getting 25K fans so it's one of the reason they almost never play MWC games.

Yeah, I didn't think too hard on the money. Just assumed it was better. I wonder how much Boise State would pay (even though they won't be MWC by the time we would play them)?

I haven't seen the number for next week game but the Cats got $680,000 to play Oregon State.

Your $800K estimate also doesn't include any costs. I wonder where the break even point is. It's gotta be higher than $360K and we just took that game as a test. Maybe $500K?

I'd still say it's worth playing UNM for $360k, and "losing" money, vs paying Central Washington or Ferris State $100K for a win that doesn't count towards the playoffs. .

Outside of the money I'd be interested to hear more background on the OOC schedule development. How often does Leon say no (and why besides $$)? How hard is it to fill out the schedule (besides when teams back out)? Do we have a somewhat fixed geographic footprint that we'll play in (ie. we would say no to someone like West Virginia)?

I kinda alluded to it. Yes putting on a game has substantial costs but so is flying, feeding, and housing 100 people on the road. Not near as much as putting on a game but not an insignificant amount either.

I'd actually like to hear Leon talk candidly about these numbers. How much does playing Wyoming, UNM and Nevada cost instead of paying Utah tech, and Pioneer type team to come and play. Maybe it's a very small net profit but your forgoing a win to play a game you really should lose. I might be in the minority but I'd much rather watch the game we had in Laramie even though in a loss a few years ago than beating Morehead St 50-7.

I want to play peer institutions, not beat up on tiny schools or non scholly teams. One of those games is fine but playing mercyhurst and SD back to back... yawn. I understand the Mercyhurst game was kinda a bullet to the head situation but we seem to have a couple of these every year. We should be playing a Dakota (or MVFC team at least) dang near every year. Why do we never see a SoCon team in Bozeman like um had with WCU last season? I'd get excited about a home and home with Furman or Samford.

[BelligerentBobcat]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

They're already pretty much doing this...Wyoming in 2021, New Mexico in 2024, and Nevada in 2026. Beating UNM last year sure helps to show that MSU can compete at that level.

The Wyoming game was very competitive as well. We may be favored to beat our old head coach next year as well.

We should beat Nevada.

[coloradocat]

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... -to-league

Basically what a lot of people have been saying/asking for/predicting for a while. Interesting to see an AD directly say that.

The Power 4 separates and does their own thing.

The rest of the FBS is joined by maybe the top 10ish in the FCS and are all in the 2nd tier of college football with their own playoffs, etc.

Then the FCS becomes the 3rd tier of college football.

I know this always stirs up debate, but this is the only scenario I’d personally be interested in moving up, something that provides at least a theoretical shot at making a playoff run and sometime winning a national championship.

Moving up as it currently stands wouldn’t provide that opportunity. It would provide money with a bowl appearance/tv deal but no realistic shot at a playoff/title run.

Since there seems to be an appetite within the MWC to add us it would be great if we could schedule a non-conf game every other year with various teams in the conference. We'd get some more money, a competitive game and build the relationship for when the environment to move up is better. We could even do a package deal with the griz where we alternate years so every year for the next 6 or so someone in the MWC is playing a team from Montana. The two schools have to work together to move up anyway so they should be able to work together to negotiate something like this.

They're already pretty much doing this...Wyoming in 2021, New Mexico in 2024, and Nevada in 2026. Beating UNM last year sure helps to show that MSU can compete at that level.

The Wyoming game was very competitive as well. We may be favored to beat our old head coach next year as well.

We should beat Nevada.

We should probably beat any unranked G5 team, or at least any not on the "also receiving votes" list. Nevada shouldn't be a problem.