RE: The deal being reported on
It's been rumored for a while, but it's nice to see some actual structure being reported and it seems like both sides are operating in good faith.
The deal itself honestly makes the most sense. The MWC was never going to just give up OoC scheduling and risk the conference splintering for absolutely nothing in return.
As much as we always joke about shedding dead weight, and as much as we (like any other conference) have a couple of holier-than-thou top dogs...the MWC as a whole wants to stay together and will make every reasonable effort to protect its little guys (especially founding members, and especially those involved in long-term rivalries).
We've also been knocking it out of the park with OoC scheduling and don't want to give that up without major financial incentive.
It's also in everyone's best interest (both the PAC-2 and the MWC) to retain/join the resources and brand of the "PAC".
There's some factors involved that still pose a risk for schools like UH, SJSU, USU, and UNR...non-founding members with historically little success and on the lower end of endowments, revenue, TV ratings, etc. If the financial penalty is low enough and a future TV deal is lucrative enough, the PAC-2 may still try to flex and buy several schools out, and/or the required 75% majority of the MWC may still vote to split. But the MWC is, for now, making a reasonable effort to protect itself from the same sh*t happening to them that just happened to the PAC-12....and the PAC-2 seem to be operating in gooth faith in an attempt to not be hypocritical.
Personally, I don't give a shit what name we end up under; I'd just like to see the conference stay intact and WSU/OSU would be great additions. I understand how sh*tty it is for the PAC-2 from multiple angles, but them's the cards dealt. We all might as well just make the best of it without dicking each other over.
Also, unlike you doomsdayers, I don't believe Wyoming was ever in major danger of being left out in a majority MWC split. We're a founding member (which has been a point of emphasis at times for the MWC in these talks). We're upper half to 2/3 of the conference in endowment (#1 afaik), gross revenue, bowls, TV ratings, on-field performance, attendance, academic rankings....the list goes on. And we're historically attached at the hip to CSU and AFA.
Concern wasn't completely unwarranted, but it's certainly overblown by pessimists. There are 4-5 other teams that would be left behind before us, based on numerous metrics.
