YSU likely had the best chance they are going to get for joining the MAC back in 1995.
HL is a very good league for basketball and volleyball. It is also a league where YSU can be competitive in most of the Olympic Sports. But, the HL does not have football. Like it or not, MVFC is the best place for YSU. And, winning just one more game each of the last 3 years, and alot of the complaining about the MVFC would be diminished. YSU drew quite well the first 5-6 years in the MVC, including the largest crowd ever in 2000 against UNI. Of course, YSU went 13-2 and won an NC in 97, went 12-3 and advanced to the NC in 99, and finished 9-3 and made the playoffs in 2000
As for NDSU and SDSU, not so sure moving to FBS makes much sense. Right now, they are big fish in a small pond. Moving to FBS will make them little fish in a big pond. I can understand the attraction, but the jump from FCS to FBS does not work out all that well for most schools. Everyone likes to talk about Boise, but they are the exception to the rule. Other schools have had limited success at FBS level, but nothing special.
Nevada has had some success, but no BCS Bowls. Same with Marshall. Some success, but no major bowls. Idaho, Troy, WKU, MTSU, FIU, FAU, Buffalo, Texas State, Louisiana Lafayette and LA-Monroe, UMASS. All of these schools are in non AQ BCS Conferences. And, starting next year, they will all be in conferences without tie-in's to any of the major bowls. Even Boise is in the Mountain West, a non AQ Conference. And, many of these schools had alot of success in FCS, and I'd doubt any of them other than Boise come close to turning a profit in football. I've watched a few Marshall games this year, and they do not draw any better than when playing FCS, even though the team is going to be playing in the C-USA Title game.
Buffalo and BG played this past weekend at Buffalo Bills stadium, with the winner going to the MAC Title game. Announced crowd was 2,622.
UCONN is in the AAC, but they started football specifically to jump to FBS. Central Florida is also in the AAC, and may win the AQ to a BCS Bowl this year. So, what conference would SDSU or NDSU join? The WAC no longer has football, so their only real choice is the Mountain West. Neither of these schools are getting into the PAC 12 or Big 12