MAC and ESPN Protect Football Rivalries

Following up on @TonyPaul1984's report...
ESPN has agreed to "protect" four MAC rivalries: Toledo-BG, Akron-Kent, Miami-Ohio, and CMU-WMU.
Rivalry games will rotate in and out of weeknight MACtion, two years on, two years off (on a Saturday). https://t.co/x3KSarUZG9

— Dave Briggs (@DBriggsBlade) August 12, 2023

 Good news from the MAC on the issue of football rivalries. 

Not the absolute best news, but good news.  As the FBS' last true geographic conference, and the most stable conference, the MAC has worked a deal to get some sanity to rivalry games.

I get it.  It would be better to have ALL of them in October on a Saturday.  But we will take what we can get.

So, starting next year, BG and UT will run one rotation on Saturday before running back into #maction.  We think.  Who knows what will exist three years from now...but that's the plan.

For my money, this is what will eventually be missed in college football.  If you destroy rivalries--I'm looking at you Bedlam, "Civil" War.  The ongoing storylines are part of our identity as fans...weaken that and you break a bond you might not re-forge.

Bryan Blair says as much in the story.

Anyway, a moment to be proud of the MAC--for that, and for being the last representation of what an athletic conference is supposed to be.

Longest trips in FBS leagues (2024):
MAC: 593 miles (Buffalo to DeKalb, Ill.)
SEC: 1038
MWC: 1340
ACC: 1417
Sun Belt: 1522
AAC: 1742
CUSA: 1979
Big 12: 2320
Big Ten: 2900 (Piscataway to Eugene)
Rutgers now roughly as close to Ireland as it is to Oregonhttps://t.co/UuMJyeERnd

— Dave Briggs (@DBriggsBlade) August 12, 2023