Eastern Kentucky University Athletics is expecting to announce what it calls "good news" in the coming months. That would be official word that the football Colonels are moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Instead of trying to play catch up in an existing FBS league, EKU Athletics Director Matt Roan said there are advantages to making a jump with schools like Central Arkansas, Austin Peay, North Alabama and five WAC teams.
“I think that’s one more reason we’re excited about this model is that we do it together and that will hopefully allow for where you are as an FCS member, hopefully, you can be equally as successful, if not more successful as an FBS member,” said Roan.
With an FBS affiliation, Roan said it could certainly open the door to other schools like Western, Marshall, or Appalachian State coming to Richmond. And the AD noted that could mean an economic shot in the arm for the community and the accompanying fan base.
Roan said there are revenue benefits when playing other FBS schools. He cites a game with UK as an example.
“To play the University of Kentucky as an FCS institution it’s about a half a million dollar payday. To play the University of Kentucky as an FBS institution, it’s about a one and a half million dollar payday,” said Roan.
Roan said it’s difficult to state a timeline for the move. He noted the upcoming football season will likely still be an FCS football season, but it could be a transition time. The academic requirements for the student-athletes would not change and Roan said there is not expected to be any additional missed class time.
Listen to an extended interview with EKU AD Matt Roan:
