With all the P5 football schools going to conference-only play, many G5 and FCS schools will not be getting payday games. Many non-P5 budgets will be bleeding red. Glad Mason didn't go down the football path
I agree, although I doubt that ODU regrets its decision -
https://www.wtkr.com/sports/odu-football-to-face-gamecocks-in-2024-at-south-carolina:
"NORFOLK, Va. (ODUSports.com) - The Old Dominion University and University of South Carolina football programs will meet for the first time ever on Aug. 31, 2024, ODU Senior Associate Athletic Director Bruce Stewart confirmed Friday.
A member of the Southeastern Conference, generally ranked as the nation's best football conference, South Carolina will pay ODU a $1.5 million guarantee to play in Columbia's Williams-Brice Stadium. It will be the largest payout ODU has ever received.
ODU received $1.32 million for playing at Liberty in 2018.
The game strengthens an already attractive 2024 schedule for the Monarchs, who host Virginia Tech and East Carolina. A fourth non-conference game likely will be played at home against a Football Championship Subdivision team.
ODU began playing football in 2009 and quickly became the best startup program in FCS history. The Monarchs finished in the FCS Top Ten in 2011 and 2012 before making the transition to FBS over the next two seasons.
The Monarchs went to their first bowl game in 2016, beating Eastern Michigan in the Bahamas Bowl, and finished 10-3.
ODU recently hired former Penn State offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne as head coach. Rahne has the nation's youngest FBS coaching staff and recently had ODU's best recruiting class ever, according to the 247Sports recruiting Web site."
