UMass may join the MAC in the near future.
UMass plans to upgrade its football program to Football Bowl Subdivision status, and according to an article in The Boston Herald, UMass would take its program, currently in the Football Championship Subdivision, to the Mid-American Conference.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a MAC spokesman would say only that the conference is “exploring” the possibility of adding the Minutemen for football.
UMass would play a “provisional” FBS schedule in 2011 and ’12, and make the full jump to FBS status in ’13.
An upgrade would also help UMass develop a natural in-state rivalry with Boston College. The schools have played each other in football only twice since 1982.
While the Minutemen would be competing with Boston College for the loyalties of Greater Boston sports fans if they were to play home games at Gillette Stadium, it’s possible that a UMass presence in the market would bring about a renaissance in college football in the area.