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What is everyone's thoughts on the top 5 Power Conferences separating from the NCAA? What does is mean for the Big Sky Conference, and teams like Montana and Montana State that were planning to move up to the BCS? How will it affect recruiting in the FCS, when the bigger schools are eventually able to compensate the players more and more? I have not been a fan of the NCAA for many reasons, but I am not sure this is the right move as a whole and the FCS could end up suffering greatly.

Um...UM and MSU never "planned" to move to the B(C)$. The B(C)$ would never take them (despite a common timeline with some Pac-12 schools back in the Skyline era). They were courted for a time by the WAC, but they were smart enough to avoid that Titanic. The WAC isn't even close to the B(C)$....

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I would think this is the worst news for ODU, JMU(if anyone invites them to 1A), App. State and Georgia Southern. Those schools now enter no man's land. They will never have a chair at the big table and they also don't get to play for a championship. I guess maybe they eventually get a bowl number 32 invite and establish a rivalry with the MAC teams or the Sun Belt. All 4 of those schools were successful at FCS. Maybe they got bored with it(JMU has played the last 4 years like they are bored).

How will it affect recruiting in the FCS, when the bigger schools are eventually able to compensate the players more and more?

I don't think it'll affect recruiting in the FCS at all. FCS schools have NEVER had shots at players that the teams now comprising the Big 5 conferences wanted. Pretty much true with respect to FBS schools that aren't in the Big 5 either. If LSU wants someone they're not going to spurn LSU for ULL, Louisiana Tech, or Louisiana Monroe. If Alabama wants someone they're not going to spurn Alabama to go to UAB or Troy. If Ohio State wants someone they're not going to spurn Ohio State for Bowling Green or Toledo. So on and so forth.

JohnStOnge wrote:

How will it affect recruiting in the FCS, when the bigger schools are eventually able to compensate the players more and more?

I don't think it'll affect recruiting in the FCS at all. FCS schools have NEVER had shots at players that the teams now comprising the Big 5 conferences wanted. Pretty much true with respect to FBS schools that aren't in the Big 5 either. If LSU wants someone they're not going to spurn LSU for ULL, Louisiana Tech, or Louisiana Monroe. If Alabama wants someone they're not going to spurn Alabama to go to UAB or Troy. If Ohio State wants someone they're not going to spurn Ohio State for Bowling Green or Toledo. So on and so forth.

You don't think there there will be a trickle down effect? Are there kids that get offers from Power 5 schools that might have chosen Leftover 5 or FCS schools because a) the Power 5 school has a gaggle of 4-5 star athletes at their position and they want a chance to play and standout more? or b) the Power 5 school isn't a power and so there isn't that much difference between playing at Northern Illinois compared to Indiana? It's naive to think that it won't change some decisions now that the Power 5 school can offer more money.

UNI88 wrote:

JohnStOnge wrote:
I don't think it'll affect recruiting in the FCS at all. FCS schools have NEVER had shots at players that the teams now comprising the Big 5 conferences wanted. Pretty much true with respect to FBS schools that aren't in the Big 5 either. If LSU wants someone they're not going to spurn LSU for ULL, Louisiana Tech, or Louisiana Monroe. If Alabama wants someone they're not going to spurn Alabama to go to UAB or Troy. If Ohio State wants someone they're not going to spurn Ohio State for Bowling Green or Toledo. So on and so forth.

You don't think there there will be a trickle down effect? Are there kids that get offers from Power 5 schools that might have chosen Leftover 5 or FCS schools because a) the Power 5 school has a gaggle of 4-5 star athletes at their position and they want a chance to play and standout more? or b) the Power 5 school isn't a power and so there isn't that much difference between playing at Northern Illinois compared to Indiana? It's naive to think that it won't change some decisions now that the Power 5 school can offer more money.

This. Any additional recruits sucked up by the P5 will mean the G5 then dip down into the pool of recruits the FCS targets. It's not like the G5 will just stop recruiting "lesser" talent to fill their rosters.

Guys, there's not going to be a "trickle down" affecting FCS. Each FBS school has 85 scholarships. MAYBE it'll make the difference between Big 5 school getting recruit ranked 100 while non Big 5 FCS gets recruit 99 and visa versa. But neither of those recruits are going to sign with a FCS school regardless.

JohnStOnge wrote:Guys, there's not going to be a "trickle down" affecting FCS. Each FBS school has 85 scholarships. MAYBE it'll make the difference between Big 5 school getting recruit ranked 100 while non Big 5 FCS gets recruit 99 and visa versa. But neither of those recruits are going to sign with a FCS school regardless.

I disagree. I think before G5 and FCS schools had a shot had a kid that was worried about getting buried or slated to play another position on a P5 roster who might turn out to be diamond in the rough. That decision will be harder to make with the extra money they will be able to earn at a P5 school. It will also hurt transfers. A kid will have a harder time leaving a P5 school for a G5 or FCS school because of playing time if he is going to get less money. Kids will still do it but not as many.

TribePride wrote:I would think this is the worst news for ODU, JMU(if anyone invites them to 1A), App. State and Georgia Southern. Those schools now enter no man's land. They will never have a chair at the big table and they also don't get to play for a championship. I guess maybe they eventually get a bowl number 32 invite and establish a rivalry with the MAC teams or the Sun Belt. All 4 of those schools were successful at FCS. Maybe they got bored with it(JMU has played the last 4 years like they are bored).

I agree, I mean what to they have to play for? No playoffs, little funding, and maybe a chance at a chic-fil-a bowl or something, with hundreds of viewers tuning in. I am very glad Montana avoided that. One could argue that the FCS and its playoff system and competitiveness is better than these lower conference schools.

blackfeet_grizfan wrote:

TribePride wrote:I would think this is the worst news for ODU, JMU(if anyone invites them to 1A), App. State and Georgia Southern. Those schools now enter no man's land. They will never have a chair at the big table and they also don't get to play for a championship. I guess maybe they eventually get a bowl number 32 invite and establish a rivalry with the MAC teams or the Sun Belt. All 4 of those schools were successful at FCS. Maybe they got bored with it(JMU has played the last 4 years like they are bored).

I agree, I mean what to they have to play for? No playoffs, little funding, and maybe a chance at a chic-fil-a bowl or something, with hundreds of viewers tuning in. I am very glad Montana avoided that. One could argue that the FCS and its playoff system and competitiveness is better than these lower conference schools.

Hey now… if a late-December trip to Boise doesn't count as a worthwhile reward, then I don't know what does.

What I was trying to get at with these questions is this: I think with the Power 5 conferences being able to pay or compensate its players that it WILL affect recruiting at a lower level. Think of it this way. If a 4-5 star recruit is having academic problems or there is a ton of depth at his position at that certain school, why would he want to go to a lower level if he is receiving money or other compensation? It used to be about playing time, but now it might be about money. Thoughts?

It will also hurt transfers. A kid will have a harder time leaving a P5 school for a G5 or FCS school because of playing time if he is going to get less money. Kids will still do it but not as many.

That angle is plausible.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:

blackfeet_grizfan wrote:
I agree, I mean what to they have to play for? No playoffs, little funding, and maybe a chance at a chic-fil-a bowl or something, with hundreds of viewers tuning in. I am very glad Montana avoided that. One could argue that the FCS and its playoff system and competitiveness is better than these lower conference schools.

Hey now… if a late-December trip to Boise doesn't count as a worthwhile reward, then I don't know what does.

I dig your style...