In Depth Look: Chicago State’s New Member Agreement to Join the NEC
Recently, we were able to obtain a copy of the New Member Agreement between Chicago State and the NEC. This document is from way back in Deccember of 2023 when the Cougars agreed to join. So it’s old news, I suppose.
But just because it’s old news doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not worthwhile to talk about. For one thing, I haven’t previously seen the nitty gritty details of the contract discussed. And for another, we’ve obviously been talking a little bit about the prospects of Chi State going from the NEC to the OVC. Our opinion? Not happening.
Our opinion isn’t based purely on conjecture. Some of it is from a deep read of this very contract, and so let’s talk about the in depth details that are worth knowing about the terms between the NEC and Chicago State.
Membership Terms
This looks to be pretty standard stuff. Chi State agrees to provide the documentation that proves it is meeting conference obligations, will put all of their teams in the NEC for sports sponsored by the league, and will actually meet obligations. This is in the Conference Code, which I do not have a copy of.
Intellectual Property
This section is an agreement that Chicago State and the NEC will mutually announce that Chicago State is joining the NEC. Additionally, the NEC can use Chicago State’s name, logos, and brand identities without paying a fee.
Representations and Warranties
An interesting note in this section is that outstanding obligations to the former conference is a requirement here. I was unaware that this was something that would be necessary- in the days of big exit fees, it would seem to me that sometimes a large fee might take some time to repay. It does also mention the importance of the school being able to meet the transition obligations, which I suspect is in reference to the transition from Division II to Division I, but I can’t confirm this.
Sorry. I’m not a lawyer.
It also requires that the president of a university is able to enter into the agreement, Chicago State is an associate member in any other conference in good standing, and that there is no agreement preventing Chicago State from meeting obligations.
Payments
We’ve all been waiting for this. Payments are the juicy part, after all.
Unfortunately, this is one of the sections that is somewhat censored. But there’s still some good information here. Remember, most of this contract- if not all- is likely very similar to the ones any new addition would have signed.
The NEC will reimburse either half or a blacked out flat fee of any associate membership exit fees. (I had long been told that the NEC was willing to reimburse RMU to get them to leave the OVC-Big South, and this seemingly confirms that). It appears this is considered the Signing Bonus.
If, however, Chicago State leaves within 10 years of joining, it will have to pay back said signing bonus. This is in addition to fees for entering the conference (blacked out) and an exit fee. There are two fees outlined: one for within the first four years in the conference, and one within the first ten years. These are blacked out, but we can assume the four year fee is higher.
Chicago State pays annual dues to be in the conference, and there is a separate additional football dues. Chicago State gets revenue distribution as outlined by the NCAA.
Given the known fees, can Chicago State really leave for the OVC? I guess it depends on what’s blacked out.
Termination
Chicago State has the right to leave the conference as outlined by the Conference Bylaws (we don’t have a copy of this). They’ll pay the termination fees as outlined (the NEC will not recoup expenses unless the association is long term) and the fee is not considered a penalty, which I suspect is a legal consideration of some kind. If the Entry Fee is not yet paid off, it is due immediately upon termination of membership.
Miscellaneous
This agreement takes place in New Jersey and any lawsuits must be heard there. This (along with the Conference Code) embodies the entire understanding between the NEC and Chicago State. The agreement is binding, even if there is leadership changes. A signed facsimile is still binding. There’s a clause about defending the conference in the event of a withdrawal from another league, but this does not apply to Chicago State.
Exhibit A
If Chicago State discontinue a sport sponsored by the conference, a financial penalty is assessed. Chicago State needs to reach average operating budgets for all conference sports by 2026-27. Chicago State agrees to get the Front Row equipment, an instant replay system, and at least 3 LED scorers tables for the basketball court.
Again, I am not a lawyer, but that’s the contract as I understand it.
Could Chicago State Join the OVC?
A question has come up several times with the possible impending (or, by the time you read this, present) OVC exodus. Could Chicago State move to the league to replace them? It’s more complicated than you might think.
There’s a lot of smoke coming that the OVC is losing up to 3 members to the UAC. I’m unable to independently confirm any of these reports- not surprising, since, you know, I’m not exactly plugged in anywhere outside of the Northeast.
But while Chicago State ist he geographic outlier in the NEC, it fits exactly in the OVC’s footprint. With the conference apparently on the brink of being raided, the question has been raised:
Is the OVC fighting for survival? If so, how does it survive?
Fans have constructed many realignment scenarios (that’s what you do when you watch college sports in 2025) and plenty of them involve the Cougars. We’ll take a bit of a closer look to see how tenable the idea is.
Financials
Per documents obtained by NECBlitz, there is an undisclosed financial penalty for leaving the league. It’s in two tiers, with a school paying more money to leave in the first 4 years and a smaller penalty if they stay 4 years but leave within the first 10 yearas. While the exact financial numbers are not known, it appears clear that there is a mechanism in place to keep programs in the Northeast Conference for at least 10 seasons, with stiffer penalties if a school leaves prior to spending four years in the league. This number makes sense. The league has historically added from the Division II ranks, and this four year period corresponds to the traditiional reclassification period. This period is now as little as three years provided certain metrics are met (Stonehill did so most recently in the NEC).
It’s not outside of the realm of possibility for a conference (such as the OVC) to pay an exit fee to a member if it were a matter of survival, although I’m not very familiar with the financial burden this might place on a conference. Unfortunately, we’re not aware of the actual numbers or scope of the financial penalty. Predicting the future is conjecture, but the very existence of an increased penalty within 4 years of joining the conference suggests that it should serve as at least a deterrent to conference realignment.
My guess is that this stipulation is likely present for any school joining the NEC, but I can’t prove that and don’t know for sure. As it pertains to Chicago State, though, there would certainly be an exit fee.
If donor money were required to be raised by Chicago State to change leagues, it would be a tough sell. The OVC might be preferred by fans and donors of Chicago State football, but with an ongoing donation drive to set up Division I football, it might be splitting the pool. That’s probably not a good thing for the Cougars now or in any kind of near future.
Level of Competition
Chicago State has found a pretty good fit for its teams in the NEC. When they played independent schedules, they often had to face high level competition and their performance suffered accordingly. They had a good volleyball team in 2023, but until they joined the NEC in 2024, they had no real hope of competing in the NCAA tournament. Upon joining the league, they were able to do just that. The dream season was probably the biggest moment in Chicago State Athletics history. Would this exist in the OVC?
Maybe, maybe not. But there’s no denying that Chicago State has found a league they can compete in in the NEC.
The rise of a football program for the Cougars may additionally provide some reason to hesitate to make a move. If the Big South-OVC continues to exist, the Cougars would either have to match a higher level of scholarships than they likely plan to provide or be comfortable with playing teams that give a full complement of scholarships. It’s believed the NEC has removed the scholarship limit for football, but it’s simultaneously been reported that the expectations are for no team to give out more than around 50 scholarships. Any team leaving the NEC has to contend with this- do they increase the amount of scholarships they give out in football, or play at a disadvantage? RMU’s performance in the Big South-OVC is a good indicator of why that’s a tough choice for a program.
Geography
It is definitely true that the geography would be better for Chicago State in the OVC. It might even introduce some financial benefits as well. As it stands today, Chicago State commutes to its games in conference via airplane- the distance from Chicago to New Haven or Stonehill is simply too great to manage adequately via bus ride. But in the Ohio Valley Conference, this wouldn’t be the case.
There’s also better opportunity for geographic rivalries and shorter road trips for fans. Generally, this is desirable from the standpoint of purists, alumni, and fans, but it isn’t the way conference realignment decisions are made. The history of major level realignment has been to expand footprints rather than to contract them. But if the OVC is fighting for survival, that might not be a consideration so much as obtaining members through any means possible.
Travel costs are likely going to be a consideration for Chicago State’s decisions for conference affiliation any time there’s a decision to be made. It’s just unclear if they’d be the biggest consideration at this time.
So… Could They?
Anything is possible, but I don’t see it as likely. Unless there’s an ability to overcome a financial burden put in place specifically to combat this type of situation, Chicago State is more likely to remain in the NEC than to depart. So while the speculation will always continue, most of the following will have to be true:
-The OVC has to want Chicago State enough to pay an exit fee to get them out of the NEC.
-Chicago State has to want to join the OVC enough to pay an exit fee.
Someone will have to pay that exit fee, and it will have to be worth it to someone for it to be paid. That requires strong mutual interest and a willingness for someone to jump hurdles to do it.
Anything is possible, but it just might not be the right time or the right situation. We’ll put our money on the Cougars staying in the NEC. Whether we like it or not, money just so happens to be the most important thing in our sport today.
The Northeast Conference Changes Its Name to NEC, But That Doesn’t Mean More Change is Coming
The Northeast Conference is no more.
Now that I’ve got your attention.
The NEC has decided to go with the orphan initial approach, where now “NEC” means, quite literally, “NEC.” This is a popular move in the current geography-to-the-side state of conference realignment. I believe, in fact, that the ACC might well be doing the same thing. If they’re not, the whole “having teams in California” thing should probably convince them to reconsider.
The logic behind the move is very similar to that scenario for the Northe- er, NEC.
The league is still focused on the New York City area, but let’s be real here. The league is more spread out than ever before. There has usually been a presence in Pittsburgh with RMU being in the league for most of its existence, but additions in Erie and Chicago are, relatively speaking, stretching the definition of Northeast.
The alternative of rebranding entirely might or might not have been considered, but I’m certainly glad that it wasn’t what the league went with. The example of the WAC becoming the UAC recently has kind of demonstrated the disastrous effect this step can have on the history of college sports. Sure, the conference wasn’t exactly western anymore- no doubt about that- but why couldn’t they have gone with the orphan letter approach? It sure beats something generic like the UAC- or, somehow worse, the United Athletic Conference.
The real question that I’m expecting to be hit with is whether or not this means anything for further expansion. After all, the rumors are certainly swirling out there about Midwestern schools possibly searching for members- or a conference- in the short term. Is the NEC a landing spot for these schools now that the name has changed?
It’s a fun conspiracy theory, but everything I’ve learned and heard still indicates no upcoming membership changes to the NEC. I could be wrong- I certainly don’t know everyone who knows everyone- but it’s unlikely for the league to be adding or subtracting at this time. Besides, wouldn’t the expected move be to solidify the new membership- and then change the name?
It’s true that contracts for joining a conference will include a clause for not announcing joining the conference until it’s done so in conjunction with the school and the league. But it just doesn’t seem the way to go.
If you’re looking for a clue that the league might be expanding further into the midwest, you shouldn’t be looking at the name change.
