I also expect NDSU to be better than middle of the pack. I’m surprised they didn’t bring in a bigger recruiting class this year although I’m not sure how their losses compares with MW schools that brought in more players..
If we’re spending a few years getting ready to move, one aspect of that is building FBS level depth, so I hope the Big Sky removes the scholarship limit. Last year showed lack depth, when they didn’t have enough players to make up the usual travel or playoff squads.

Opting in allows but doesn’t mandate revenue sharing. It limits roster size to a max of 105 players. It allows scholarships for up to 105 players unless precluded by the conference.( the big sky retains 63 full scholarship limit). It brings NIL in house, administered through the athletic department.
For Davis it’s largely irrelevant, until they have plans and the funds to do revenue sharing, or the Big Sky drops the scholarship limit.

I sense that people in the Sacramento region think Sac State rivalry is important, and those from out of the region don’t put much value on it.
Much has been said about Sacramento being the largest metro area without a FBS football team, but it would be one of the smallest with two if that eventuates. The two schools are competitors for the biggest slice of a relatively finite pie. That explains the interest in Sacs trajectory.

The Nevada Reno Football page on Wikipedia lists Davis as one of their rivals. It would be great to get that going again, on a regular basis.

If the game is in sac and not a home and home series then Sac would already owe the $300k. So the bet would have to be double or nothing.

My point is only one FBS opponent. More than one compromises chances to make the playoffs. I'd rather have a schedule that has Sac or San Jose than UCLA or Washingron. I wouldn't play Sac to do them a favor, they are a competitor for the market, not a partner.

The novelty might be mitigated by his participation in QB development training and camps which I know he participated in or or 7x7 tournaments which I suppose he did..
He was a freshman and sophomore at a higher level school, La Costa Canyon, where he played but i don't think on varsity..

Remember that Sac is to be a football only member of the MAC, their other sports are in the Big West

Perhaps the fact that Sac is FBS makes a game with them more attractive for Davis. The way these games have historically been evaluated is a win earns more credit than an FCS game, and a loss is ignored. I'd do it, but only if it was the only FBS game on that years schedule.

What new revenue is Sac going to get?..Reportedly they get no share of the TV revenue, for several years. They are joining a conference that is only marginally tougher than the Big Sky, and teams have limited name recognition here, so ticket sales aren't likely to dramatically increase, and they are paying for opposing team travel. It was a puzzle how they were obtaining the cash to cover the NIL money they were disbursing, now that will need to increase. I don't think the consulting firm wrote their report based on the terms of the agreement they reached with the MAC. What they bought for 20+ million is an FBS label. A label is a marker for something, not the thing itself.

It will be interesting to see if SAC being FBS actually will result in “corporate money” and increased attendance. It sure increases costs.
I wonder how many people in Sacramento could match the MAC schools with their state, or know anyone who ever went to one of these schools. Long time Davis fans know a couple of them from D2 days. Sac will have trouble selling itself as the attraction after last seasons hype turned out not to be fulfilled.
I think Sac may win a few games because the lower half of the MAC conference is not tougher than FCS competition.

Sacramento is spending 17 million dollars just in fees to join a conference largely streamed on ESPN+ with teams all in the Eastern or Central time zones that on average are little more than a field goal better than Big Sky teams.
On the plus side they get rid of the FCS label. That middle initial is costly.

Players have a window to transfer after coaching changes.. 15 day window beginning five days after new coach announced.

Is this Jake Locker related to the former NFL QB Jake Locker? Not his son. Jake Locker sons are named Cooper, Colt, and Cade and they live in Washington state.

. Locker transferred as a junior in the midst of the season (after four games), then tore an ACL in week 1 of his senior campaign. Played at a low level San Diego school, All of which can make him overlooked.
As seems to be the norm, he’s had a lot of high level private coaching
https://thecoastnews.com/maranathas-top-qb-jake-locker-aims-to-turn-heads-in-final-season/

I can’t believe that the fan base is so narrow that they can’t draw fom the large city 21 miles away, a city in which they are the second largest employer. If they have to draw just from Solano and Yolo, they aren’t going to succeed.

Fans are over the novelty of playing major schools in games that are mostly non competitive. I wonder how many Davis fans who attended the recennt Washington game or the Oregon State game want to repeat that experience. The NCAA and the courts have made football much more costly which makes those games necessary, whereas we should be scheduling Mountain West schools, which would really provide a measuring stick of “readiness” to move up.

You have hit on the reason the new rules limit roster size and not scholarship number; NIL and revenue sharing make scholarship limit unenforceable, because players can be otherwise paid.
I know that people use NIL as shorthand for other ways of compensating players, but revenue sharing is going to be the bulk of it. When teams sign on to the settlement they can directly pay players in house via revenue sharing, whereas NIL deals also move in house but have to have a business case.

i think they stop counting at five years at which time a player is supposed to be at least 80% there.

There is no longer a subdivision difference in number of scholarships. Missouri Valley Football teams can have 105, as can several other FCS conferences. The Big Sky chose to retain the 63 limit. I doubt that lasts past a few losses to Missouri Valley teams in the playoffs.

When the roster is finalized just count names. It has been over 105 by a few but once they sign onto the settlement which they said they intend to do it can be no more than 105.