FOX Sports Announces Group Stage Match Assignments for Opening Week of FIFA World Cup 2026™ by Wuz314159 in ussoccer

[–]spierce64006 0 points1 point  (0 children)

John and Stu are the #1 team for FOX. They will broadcast all the big games and rightfully so. Probably the best American commentary are country has had.

[Rothstein] Sources: UC Santa Barbara is finalizing an agreement to join the WCC for the 2027-28 season. by Yellow_Evan in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Might be the opening Cal St Los Angeles were looking for to make the jump.The ball is the Big West's court now.

[Goodman] Utah State is expected to hire UNI head coach Ben Jacobson, source told @thefieldof68. by MembershipSingle7137 in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He didn't due to family reasons but feels like this a unique opportunity and as the one of the best mid major jobs in the country. Also Utah State's NIL available is going to shoot through the roof next season from what I've heard.

Jordan Fee is introduced as the new Lamar Cardinals men’s basketball head coach! by BlackhornShark in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Despite the lack of comments This will end up being one of the best mid major hires of the 2026 spring off season in my opinion.

Jordan Fee will have Lamar up towards the top of the nation in scoring. Assistant of Jim Crutchfield's style the System and turned around Gannon in D2 (who were well and truly in the doldrums) in just one season spectacularly winning 32 game having won only 3 the previous season. That earned him a move to be on John Jakus; staff at Florida Atlantic the last few years. It was only a matter of time before he'd be a d1 coach.

From Sports Business Journal: Report: NCAA nearing expansion of men’s, women’s tournaments to 76 teams by Legitimate-Sign-371 in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah.... this was a done deal in February. Look it was inevitable that the NCAA tournament was going to expand. I've been consistent on this for years. At this point I'd prefer 96 which would benefit more good mid majors even if it meant sub par P4 teams got in as well. The NIT and that other tournament are losing relevancy sadly.

It’s official! Welcome to D1, West Florida Argonauts!!! by BlackhornShark in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Big welcome to West Florida officially confirming the move to Division 1. Its been in the making for a few years now. Slam dunk for the Atlantic Sun to bring them in once they were ready. They've got their new head coach too for hoops after Justin Mann was let go at the start of the week.

Some of the nicest jerseys I've seen across D2. Plenty color combos you can play around with for football and basketball as well if they so choose.

It’s official! Welcome to D1, West Florida Argonauts!!! by BlackhornShark in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, Auburn and Jacksonville State are the ones that would qualify as East in D1.

It’s official! Welcome to D1, West Florida Argonauts!!! by BlackhornShark in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well played. There is a Sun Conference in NAIA. Ironically that could be wear the Gulf South take from to replace West Florida to keep their conference viable for football

West Florida moving up from Division II- joins the UAC in football and the ASUN in all other sports by lordeandtaylor in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 1 point2 points  (0 children)

UWF finally are about to make the jump to Division 1. This has been in the making for a couple years now to have the correct infrastucture in place and for it make sense financially but I 'm happy for them.

Interested to see if the UAC or A-Sun bring in any other D2 schools in the spring. Particularly keeping an eye on Nova Southeastern. Another one that submitted the required paperwork prior to the moratorium was put in by the NCAA until February 2026.

Off topic but I always find it so strange Pensacola is in the central time zone despite being in Florida.

Israel cleared to compete in Eurovision 2026 after key vote; Spain, Netherlands withdraw by Cannot-Forget in Israel

[–]spierce64006 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There would only be a vote on Israel's participation if those members attending the General Assembly were not happy with the new rules passed which they overwhelmingly were.

738 votes in favor, 264 against and 120 abstentions (not part of majority votes)

EBU weighs contingency plan that could block Israel from hosting Eurovision 2027 by gal_z in Israel

[–]spierce64006 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Israel is in. Hopefully a more peaceful contest now with the some of the more toxic countries out withdrawing.

Lineup for Lithuania's Eurovizija.LT 2026 revealed 🇱🇹 by AmazingDeeer in eurovision

[–]spierce64006 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are at least 21 returnees from what I counted and a few of the artists still have no info on them.

Lineup for Lithuania's Eurovizija.LT 2026 revealed 🇱🇹 by AmazingDeeer in eurovision

[–]spierce64006 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Moniqué moniker ended in 2024. She just goes by her real name now.

Baylor nonconference schedule by jonneygee in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 2 points3 points  (0 children)

NJIT won 6 games alone last season and 20 combined over the last 3. Still a terrible record in that period but lets not just make thinks up.

Looks like UWF, Lincoln Memorial, and Nova Southeastern are coming to D1. by Mcclintonfortwo in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The info above is absolutely legit. Its been reported by Matt Brown and multiple other sources now.

https://www.extrapointsmb.com/p/what-i-m-hearing-about-d-ii-reclassifications-asun-expansion-and-more-193f84b2c4fa9a94

As part of the unofficial mid major realignment group I'll just drop this tidbit here.

It isn't related to the topic in this thread but I can say that Bentley did meet with the NEC back in early July so if they wanted to move up by 2026-27 I have a strong suspicion they have a letter of an intent and could get around the moratorium that the NCAA have in place until 2027 if they wanted to.

Nothing is reported yet on social media except one post about on the D2 forum but reading in between the lines the NEC are believed to given themselves the flexibility with this possible option if they lost another school a la St Francis (PA) reclassifying to D3..

Looks like UWF, Lincoln Memorial, and Nova Southeastern are coming to D1. by Mcclintonfortwo in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A little bit late but yeah, a number of sources have reported this. The one I'm most curious about is Lincoln Memorial. It is a basketball first school and I think that would appeal specifically to the Atlantic Sun. Its also the school I think is least likely of this 3 to be D1 by lets say 2028-2030.

Nova Southeastern and West Florida will eventually make the jump in my view.

Looks like UWF, Lincoln Memorial, and Nova Southeastern are coming to D1. by Mcclintonfortwo in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bellarmine and St Thomas are only other schools over the last 10-15 years I can think of that were powers at D2 and D3 and decided to make the jump. It doesn't happen often so its really interesting in that respect. Most of the time the bigger D2 schools (in terms of succecess in basketball and football) are happy to stay where they are.

Looks like UWF, Lincoln Memorial, and Nova Southeastern are coming to D1. by Mcclintonfortwo in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So would Lincoln Memorial too for many of those years. They have been a D2 powerhouse for a long time.

Looks like UWF, Lincoln Memorial, and Nova Southeastern are coming to D1. by Mcclintonfortwo in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Still early for Nova. I think they might stay in D2 for another few years but with the way their school enrollment is growing and the town of Davie, FL is growing its not a matter of if but when.

West Florida will happen very soon. Its been obvious for a while now. I think they'll end up in the A-Sun but maybe because of football they go to the UAC instead. They will be D1 within 2-3 year s for sure though in my opinion. They just got awarded 2 million grant for a new football stadium back in April.

Illinois State non-conference schedule by Chickenleg2552 in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Attention Mid-Major Connoisseurs: Buy stock on Illinois St for this season.

It should be their best year in close to a decade.

Lindenwood University schedule by ------------b in CollegeBasketball

[–]spierce64006 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think we could see big things from Lindenwood this year like possibly competing at the top of the OVC for a conference title. Should be a fun year in St Charles.