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Topic: How Can Ohio U. best position itself and improve the program long term?
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chad from Virginia
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Posted: 8/1/2026 9:41 AM
Bigger is not always better. There are a lot of examples where decreasing seats improve the fan experience and increase demand. I'm not suggesting OU decrease seats by any stretch. Rather I think 25 to 30k would be ideal, along with improved seating.

With regard to the MAC. I also like the MAC but the reality is it may be unstable and could face defections. Where would OU be in a MAC without Toledo and Miami, for example. Ohio U. needs to position itself as the most attractive program in the MAC in the event there are continued conference realignments. One aspect of that is the branding I mentioned previously.

How many of you or others refer to the school as "OU"? Few people outside of the state recognize OU as Ohio University. Emphasize Ohio's University. In fact, "The Original Ohio University." Ohio U. has a very unique place in the founding of the state and it should play that up.

Lastly, look statewide for sponsorship. Again, "Ohio" University.
Last Edited: 8/1/2026 9:42:37 AM by chad from Virginia
LuckySparrow
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Posted: 8/1/2026 10:23 AM
Keep winning.
What a day at the Convo.....Wow!
Athens
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Posted: 8/1/2026 4:25 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
1) Yes, OU needs to consider leaving the MAC for another conference. At this point, it doesn't matter to me. PAC-12 as a football-only member? Sun Belt as a full member? Sign me up for either one.

The MAC is a sinking ship and will sink if it doesn't change how it operates.
Been discussed on many threads, but I'll do it again. I don't agree with this thinking. The MAC is a sinking ship? The PAC-12 is a literal sunken ship. Why should Ohio join the PACIFIC conference? Because it has the same name as a conference that used to be good?

Why is it better to be in a conference with random teams all over the country that might be just slightly better than the average MAC team? Is that Ohio & Troy rivalry going to light a fire under both fan bases and the general masses as they fight for Pacific dominance? We aren't a power conference team...what is happening at the top of college football with the playoffs, B10, SEC, etc. is completely irrelevant to us. And that's OK.

Sac State & Umass money grab aside, the MAC is a refreshing throwback to that most college football fans still yearn for - Likeminded Universities in a small geographic area with rivalries that have both history and natural geographic connections. The MAC and its' members should lean into and embrace it. Is it perfect? No. But it sure is a hell of a lot better than an assembly of random teams all over the country crammed into a skeleton of a dead conference.
How does this perspective look in light of the Protect College Sports Act legislation? One of the sections deals with TV rights pooling becoming allowable. A change was made to make pooling of rights voluntary.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/31/sec-big-ten-agre...

The future could be the G6 conferences all going in on a pooled TV contract with a money split based on appearance. Scheduling could all be assigned geographically so some of these conference arrangements like NIU in the Mountain West might not be allowable in a different setup. Then it wouldn't make sense to try and move anywhere.
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
Athens
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Posted: 8/1/2026 4:58 PM
ExCat21 wrote:expand_more
Move to the PAC-10 and surplant the teams in those conferences.Have a good 10 year run and then wait for Big 12. Must upgrade stadium by 15K-20K seating.

That's what I'm doing in the video game. Better recruits, bigger games.

But also need Miami, Toledo with either BG/Buffalo to join to make a PAC-10 East division.
Actually, STV has a source saying PAC-12 is looking at Ohio as a Football-Only memeber. Source also said Toledo but I agree others could also make sense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJRsPucmYtE&t=1s

At the moment the PAC-12 pulls in roughly 125 million of revenue annualy as its confgured. Someday the could expand to 16-18 members and pull down 300-400 million which still pales compared to 700 million the Big XII or over 1 billion in the ACC but would make its self the clear #5 conference should that happen. MAC additions could bring value to the TV contract by adding eastern time zone exposure to the PAC-12 similar to Northern Illinois bringing the central time zone over to the MWC.

As to other conferences the SBC is a lateral move. The MAC has a challenge with them in basketball if that tells you anything. AC already has 7 teams (Army, Temple, Navy ECU, Charlotte, USF, FAU) in the eastern time zone. Ohio wouldn't add enough to the media deal in this situation and the conference payout isn't high enough to make up for the increased travel expenses. A lot will depend of course on how the PAC-12 and AC performs over the next 5 years to find out who will be able to increase the contracts larger.
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
Last Edited: 8/1/2026 4:59:59 PM by Athens
Athens
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Posted: 8/1/2026 5:13 PM
Osufalcon wrote:expand_more
"Must upgrade stadium by 15K-20K seating." Agree ExCat on upgrading the stadium. Peden Stadium needs new restrooms along with improving the visiting locker, and a few other upgrades.
Visitors can keep the same old dull locker rooms. Hahaha haha!

I really hope one day we can see 10K extra seats. Imagine Peden at around 40K. Bring in some lower tier B12 and B10 teams and Peden is rocking!
You really don't even need to expand it to 40K to see benefits. Oregon State decreased from 40K to 35K and it looks awesome. Peden really just needs to be modernized more than anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnKmBtMEu2s
Totally agree with this. Expansion is great if you have a demand. Ohio U doesn’t have a demand for that. A full house looks much better than seeing 6-8 thousand empty sets. Peden Stadium is the right size but needs to be modernized. It’s a great atmosphere when nearly full.
The way to go is add more premium seats. 50% of all revenue at a stadium is derivied from premium seats. In the pros the stadard they are using is 25% capacity for premium seats. When I last counted Peden was at 15.6% premium seating. An additional 2500 premium seats would push that percentage in Peden to 24.9% to create a modernized capacity.
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 8/1/2026 11:07 PM
There is something downright weird about the originator of this thread saying that we should build off the fact that we are the “Original Ohio University,” and then insist on calling us “Ohio U” and not “Ohio,” which reinforces just the opposite image.
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chad from Virginia
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Posted: 8/2/2026 8:22 AM
It was not my intent of saying Ohio U. even though I put it in qoutations and did not spell out University. Building on the "Ohio brand was and is the point I was trying to make.
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 8/2/2026 9:51 AM
StevenTimothyVitte wrote:expand_more
1) Yes, OU needs to consider leaving the MAC for another conference. At this point, it doesn't matter to me. PAC-12 as a football-only member? Sun Belt as a full member? Sign me up for either one.

The MAC is a sinking ship and will sink if it doesn't change how it operates.
Been discussed on many threads, but I'll do it again. I don't agree with this thinking. The MAC is a sinking ship? The PAC-12 is a literal sunken ship. Why should Ohio join the PACIFIC conference? Because it has the same name as a conference that used to be good?

Why is it better to be in a conference with random teams all over the country that might be just slightly better than the average MAC team? Is that Ohio & Troy rivalry going to light a fire under both fan bases and the general masses as they fight for Pacific dominance? We aren't a power conference team...what is happening at the top of college football with the playoffs, B10, SEC, etc. is completely irrelevant to us. And that's OK.

Sac State & Umass money grab aside, the MAC is a refreshing throwback to that most college football fans still yearn for - Likeminded Universities in a small geographic area with rivalries that have both history and natural geographic connections. The MAC and its' members should lean into and embrace it. Is it perfect? No. But it sure is a hell of a lot better than an assembly of random teams all over the country crammed into a skeleton of a dead conference.
It's a refreshing throwback, but it doesn't pay the bills. Economically with the MAC, it will never improve. Not with what's been happening in recent years.

You can disagree with the thinking all you want, which is fine, but reality has to set in at some point. If you want Ohio to stay competitive, staying in the MAC forever isn't the answer. Unless you like the idea of dropping down to the FCS and dealing with it.

Everyone else in the FBS are changing for a reason. Whether we call it dumb for them to do so, it doesn't matter. They're doing it anyway.

I won't be surprised if we all come back here a few years from now, after OU announces a move to another conference, and some here will be shocked that we did this. I won't be one of those people.
The argument I am making is in the long run, the desperate cobbling together of teams from all over the country who were left out in the cold will not be appealing to students, alumni, and all TV viewers...which ultimately results in long term failure. The vast majority of the changes made to this point are national programs. Like it or not, we are a regional program. The Big Ten can span from the Atlantic to Pacific and get viewers...at a certain point, that setup loses its appeal.
Andrew Ruck
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Bobcat1996
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Posted: 8/2/2026 6:12 PM
Athens wrote:expand_more
Move to the PAC-10 and surplant the teams in those conferences.Have a good 10 year run and then wait for Big 12. Must upgrade stadium by 15K-20K seating.

That's what I'm doing in the video game. Better recruits, bigger games.

But also need Miami, Toledo with either BG/Buffalo to join to make a PAC-10 East division.
Actually, STV has a source saying PAC-12 is looking at Ohio as a Football-Only memeber. Source also said Toledo but I agree others could also make sense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJRsPucmYtE&t=1s

At the moment the PAC-12 pulls in roughly 125 million of revenue annualy as its confgured. Someday the could expand to 16-18 members and pull down 300-400 million which still pales compared to 700 million the Big XII or over 1 billion in the ACC but would make its self the clear #5 conference should that happen. MAC additions could bring value to the TV contract by adding eastern time zone exposure to the PAC-12 similar to Northern Illinois bringing the central time zone over to the MWC.

As to other conferences the SBC is a lateral move. The MAC has a challenge with them in basketball if that tells you anything. AC already has 7 teams (Army, Temple, Navy ECU, Charlotte, USF, FAU) in the eastern time zone. Ohio wouldn't add enough to the media deal in this situation and the conference payout isn't high enough to make up for the increased travel expenses. A lot will depend of course on how the PAC-12 and AC performs over the next 5 years to find out who will be able to increase the contracts larger.
The Sun Belt Conference is a better football league than the MAC. Not sure about basketball, but guessing the last two SBC and MAC challenges were a wash?? As for baseball and softball, the Sun Belt has the edge.
Bobcat1996
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Posted: 8/2/2026 6:20 PM
I’m not suggesting the Bobcats join the SBC, but that conference would be a step up in many sports including football, softball, baseball and volleyball.
Athens
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Posted: 8/2/2026 8:31 PM
Bobcat1996 wrote:expand_more
I’m not suggesting the Bobcats join the SBC, but that conference would be a step up in many sports including football, softball, baseball and volleyball.
The question is will it help Ohio get into the playoff because that is a nice bonus revenue source. Tulane was able to bag 6.1 million from its first round appearance last year. SBC has been slightly better than the MAC in football the past decade but the conference media deal is in the same range of the MAC. Academics are a downgrade from the MAC. Another problem is the SBC already has 14 teams in it so lacking the room/potential. PAC-12 is strong enough top to bottom for it to make a difference in competing for the playoff and has greater media money. Football only to start but eventually could be all sports when the PAC-12 expands.

That said the MAC is on the way up with NIL spending helping the top programs increase separation. I am on the fence about going anywhere else and give up the MAC but something like the PAC or MWC with other MAC schools might be worth exploring. The question as to whether a confeence move can help the program I'd say is somewhat inconclusive. Stand Up for Ohio Football campaign definitely will help the program more than anything else.
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
Bobcat1996
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Posted: 8/3/2026 8:41 AM
James Madison University is a member of the Sun Belt Conference and they played in the 12 team playoff last season.
MiamiBlowsChunks
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Posted: 8/3/2026 2:29 PM
Bobcat1996 wrote:expand_more
Move to the PAC-10 and surplant the teams in those conferences.Have a good 10 year run and then wait for Big 12. Must upgrade stadium by 15K-20K seating.

That's what I'm doing in the video game. Better recruits, bigger games.

But also need Miami, Toledo with either BG/Buffalo to join to make a PAC-10 East division.
Actually, STV has a source saying PAC-12 is looking at Ohio as a Football-Only memeber. Source also said Toledo but I agree others could also make sense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJRsPucmYtE&t=1s

At the moment the PAC-12 pulls in roughly 125 million of revenue annualy as its confgured. Someday the could expand to 16-18 members and pull down 300-400 million which still pales compared to 700 million the Big XII or over 1 billion in the ACC but would make its self the clear #5 conference should that happen. MAC additions could bring value to the TV contract by adding eastern time zone exposure to the PAC-12 similar to Northern Illinois bringing the central time zone over to the MWC.

As to other conferences the SBC is a lateral move. The MAC has a challenge with them in basketball if that tells you anything. AC already has 7 teams (Army, Temple, Navy ECU, Charlotte, USF, FAU) in the eastern time zone. Ohio wouldn't add enough to the media deal in this situation and the conference payout isn't high enough to make up for the increased travel expenses. A lot will depend of course on how the PAC-12 and AC performs over the next 5 years to find out who will be able to increase the contracts larger.
The Sun Belt Conference is a better football league than the MAC. Not sure about basketball, but guessing the last two SBC and MAC challenges were a wash?? As for baseball and softball, the Sun Belt has the edge.
It sure is better and Ohio can't compete in that league. They'd got crushed in the spring sports and then all costs go up for Olympic sports, just to finish last or close to it across the board.

As far as mbb and football, would become an also ran. The Metropolis of Athens cannot supply NIL dollars and other stuff to compete with those nicer schools and areas.
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Kinggeorge4
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Posted: 8/5/2026 7:54 AM
ExCat21 wrote:expand_more
"Must upgrade stadium by 15K-20K seating." Agree ExCat on upgrading the stadium. Peden Stadium needs new restrooms along with improving the visiting locker, and a few other upgrades.
Visitors can keep the same old dull locker rooms. Hahaha haha!

I really hope one day we can see 10K extra seats. Imagine Peden at around 40K. Bring in some lower tier B12 and B10 teams and Peden is rocking!
I wouldn't mind seeing a bump of 10k. But we need to upgrade restrooms, concessions and seating. I do not see us needing more than 10k (if we need that). I would hope the bump up could get us some high school playoff games too.
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shabamon
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Posted: 8/5/2026 9:24 AM
Bobcat1996 wrote:expand_more
James Madison University is a member of the Sun Belt Conference and they played in the 12 team playoff last season.
2016 Western, 2012 NIU, and 2003 Miami would have been in a 12 team playoff if those years had one. 2008 Ball State too if they hadn't blown the title game. Stars align for these programs once in a while. It doesn't mean the entire conference is good.
ou79
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Posted: 8/5/2026 3:02 PM
Tear down the east side stands and rebuild new with upper deck and luxury accommodations and expand overall capacity of Peden to 35,000-40,000. Also do upgrades to all remaining restrooms and concession stands in the stadium.
ExCat21
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Posted: 8/5/2026 8:36 PM
Osufalcon wrote:expand_more
"Must upgrade stadium by 15K-20K seating." Agree ExCat on upgrading the stadium. Peden Stadium needs new restrooms along with improving the visiting locker, and a few other upgrades.
Visitors can keep the same old dull locker rooms. Hahaha haha!

I really hope one day we can see 10K extra seats. Imagine Peden at around 40K. Bring in some lower tier B12 and B10 teams and Peden is rocking!
You really don't even need to expand it to 40K to see benefits. Oregon State decreased from 40K to 35K and it looks awesome. Peden really just needs to be modernized more than anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnKmBtMEu2s
Totally agree with this. Expansion is great if you have a demand. Ohio U doesn’t have a demand for that. A full house looks much better than seeing 6-8 thousand empty sets. Peden Stadium is the right size but needs to be modernized. It’s a great atmosphere when nearly full.

Understandable. But if we want those desirable TV games against other P4 teams at home, those extra seats can be filled by the visitor too. If there is a next round of alignment, 40K+ seating looks better in the decision-making process. And remember Oregon State is a G6 school, so it would be nice to say a MAC school has more seating than a former P4 school.

I agree with modernizing Peden but I would like to keep some of the old history in parts where it can be saved. Good convo!
Bobcat1996
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Posted: 8/6/2026 2:37 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
James Madison University is a member of the Sun Belt Conference and they played in the 12 team playoff last season.
2016 Western, 2012 NIU, and 2003 Miami would have been in a 12 team playoff if those years had one. 2008 Ball State too if they hadn't blown the title game. Stars align for these programs once in a while. It doesn't mean the entire conference is good.
The MAC schools you mentioned above starting with the 2016 WMU squad, were all basically before the new NIL took over college football. It is a different animal nowadays. Also, Phil Steele who many college football experts and analysts trust rates the football conferences at the end of every season for his upcoming next summer publication. Final Conference results for 2022 season had the Sun Belt 8th and MAC 10th. Final 2023 rankings had the Sun Belt 6th and the MAC 9th. Final rankings for 2024 season had the Sun Belt 8th and MAC 10th. Final Conference results for the 2025 season had the Sun Belt 8th, MAC 9th and CUSA 10th. By those figures the Sun Belt Conference is better than the MAC.
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