To defeat the portal NDSU will have to enter the FBS financial landscape while in the FCS.
SDSU was devasted by the portal, coaching staff and players poached. That same fate awaits NDSU if the money isn’t there for defense.
Nobody gains from sticking around out of loyalty. Of course there has to be change and growth but to avoid being devastated the bar has to be raised on the ability to compete with the FBS financially.
As the division grows and gains power its stature will also rise. It could and should be an NFL/AFL situation. FCS is a division 1 football league. There should be a slight cost difference because of a few less scholarships. It shouldn’t be the low cost budget division.
Because it no longer is a low cost budget division at least at the top our businesses leaders should be jacking the price of the play-offs, tv games in general and of course the Natty. If the successful teams have to compete with the FBS financially to survive the media must up their financial stake in the FCS as well.
It’s an entirely new national market for them to invest and profit from. Don’t forget the Ivy League. They will certainly boost playoff interest back east. In order to better reward the FCS the media will have to promote the FCS, increasing the audience so they can afford the FCS games.
The tv numbers will be interesting
Constant poaching of talent from the FCS is solid proof for a fan making an argument of growing parity with the FBS. WSU is an FCS program. They bought SDSUs outfit and SDSU didn’t get a thing.