11/2: I WENT AHEAD AND ADDED ‘WKU HILLTOPPERS’ AND ‘MTSU BLUE RAIDERS’ TABS TO THE BLOG

The Mid-American Conference is “likely” to add Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee, reported Brett McMurphy of Action Network.

The Mid-American Conference is “likely” to add Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee, perhaps by the end of this week, pending approval by the MAC presidents, sources told The Action Network.

The addition of Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee would give the MAC 14 schools.

The move would also serve as the latest blow to Conference USA, which will have recently lost 11 of its 14 members.

In the past two weeks, six C-USA schools — Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA — left for the American and three schools — Marshall, ODU and Southern Miss — left for the Sun Belt.

Ultimately, the MAC’s decision will be based on financial implications, sources said.Ultimately, the MAC’s decision will be based on financial implications, sources said.

“This isn’t a transformational move, but right now conference realignment boils down to ‘survive and advance,’ ” an industry source said. “The MAC can’t make this move if all of its members are taking a haircut [receiving less media rights revenue than they do currently].”

MAC to be Among 6 Conferences With At Least 14 Members

This will be the latest change for the MAC, which has lost four football members in the past 20 years. In 2005, full-member Marshall left the league. Also, three football-only members played their final seasons in the MAC in that span: UCF (2005), Temple (2012) and UMass (2016).

The moves of Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee are expected by the 2023 season, sources said.

“You can’t add someone and not be kept [financially] whole,” a source said. “This is more a long-term play for the MAC, than a short-term play.”

In 2023, the MAC will be among six conferences with at least 14 members, along with the American, ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Sun Belt.

Brett McMurphy (The Action Network)

Not a fan of the scenario we’re all caught in. It’s still a little way’s out from being finalized and whatnot, but it’s time to embrace (or whatever) WKU and MTSU as MAC schools. We’re living in very interesting times.