(non-MVC) Realignment News

[squirrel]

Wright State dropped below the DI minimum for sports, so they may not even be DI in the future.

[VUGrad1314]

Sounds like there might be some cooling on this among the interested schools particularly JSU. Guess we'll have to see.

[mvfcfan]

Leaving a very stable conference that sponsors all of your major sports for a conference with a pie in the sky plan for football just doesn't make a lot of sense in my view.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

They obviously have aspirations of bettering their situation. When you're in that place all you can do is swing for the fences. Sure you may strike out but is that really worse than status quo? Guess what. The MVC is in status quo purgatory, as well.

[patnb]

Watch for big news involving the WAC and SLC coming

4 Texas schools leaving the SLC and joining the WAC. WAC starting FCS football as well

ASUN/Big South already have an agreement to share members for football. They are position for the ASUN to be one conference but "two conferences" to get another NCAA bid/payout and having one of them have FCS football to attract more schools - and give them an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. Meaning the agreement with the Big South essentially ends and the Big South has to figure it out on their own once the ASUN gets their members and splits into 2 conferences in 1

Shuffling "below" the MVC but could still send a ripple here or there up

I've heard the WAC\SLC rumors for awhile too but everything has been quiet on that front for at least a few weeks. I wonder if there will be any movement there soon. All I know is that from a basketball standpoint this could all be good for us. A lot of these football programs are also decent or better at hoops (SFA ETSU Chattanooga etc.) If we can pick up some strength by getting Murray State and Belmont out of this and the right programs coalesce together in the same conferences, we could have some great scheduling opportunities\opportunities for conference challenges and to become a true best of the rest when it comes to mid major basketball which I would argue we already pretty much are.

I have a well connected source/friend at one of the Texas schools.

It's happening barring some really crazy s&&& happening

They are going to match up with Dixie State and see what D2 move ups in Texas or Big Sky schools they can grab.

As I said the mass exodus of the SLC by the Texas schools is happening

SFA, SHSU, Lamar, and ACU are all leaked by more than one very knowledgeable public person (again, as I said I have some well connected friends) and SUU has received and official invite from The Big Sky

[VUGrad1314]

This gives me further belief that the A-Sun piece of this is actually happening. Central Arkansas probably got wind of this and looked to make a move to a more stable situation. And while JSU has denied it it sounded more like the denial you give before all I's are dotted and T's are crossed and EKU (at least from their fans) seems very excited about the move. For the WAC's part this should make them quite a bit better in basketball Abeline Christian is rising and SFA is a great program but make no mistake this is very much about football. Don't really get it for Southern Utah though. Why leave a conference with a bunch of Utah schools for this? I don't think any of this affects the MVC (unless the A-Sun thing is on and that makes Belmont and Murray State jump) but it's interesting nonetheless.

[BCPanther]

Southern Utah is a heckuva lot closer to all those Texas schools than they are to most of the Big Sky plus they use the Vegas airport so it's easy and cheap to get in and out of there. I totally understand it from their perspective, especially in recruiting.

This puts Northern Arizona on a real island. They are original members of the Big Sky but they aren't anywhere near anybody else anymore. Their closest trip is Weber State who's about 9 hours away, let alone the Idaho, Montana and Northern California schools. At the same time, if you don't go to the WAC, and they don't really fit there, where else do you go?

[VUGrad1314]

They might go too. I mean it would make geographic sense. Maybe that's the one school that might be coming that hasn't said yes yet. I have to wonder if any of this pushes Northern Colorado towards the Summit League nd if it does would the MVFC consider taking them? My guess would be no, but they do have an agreement with the Summit League so I suppose it's possible. The trouble with that is that I think adding Northern Colorado would allow the Summit League to start football on its own (if the Dakotas would be willing to give up the MVFC) Unless realignment pushes WIU to the OVC or something which would keep the status quo.

[BCPanther]

They might go too. I mean it would make geographic sense. Maybe that's the one school that might be coming that hasn't said yes yet. I have to wonder if any of this pushes Northern Colorado towards the Summit League nd if it does would the MVFC consider taking them? My guess would be no, but they do have an agreement with the Summit League so I suppose it's possible. The trouble with that is that I think adding Northern Colorado would allow the Summit League to start football on its own (if the Dakotas would be willing to give up the MVFC) Unless realignment pushes WIU to the OVC or something which would keep the status quo.

I think the MVFC takes Northern Colorado simply because it gets you to an even 12 and they're terrible which the top teams would all about.

WIU isn't long for the Summit. No money and being on an island doesn't work. They're an outlier in the OVC too geographically and with hemorrhaging enrollment D2 might be a better choice.

Ideally, NoCo goes to the Summit, WIU goes D2, OVC semi-implodes and Belmont decides to leave and brings Murray with them. Really, really solid 12 team leagues for the MVC and MVFC in that scenario.

[VUGrad1314]

https://twitter.com/ChrisVannini/status ... 0348399618

They're gone. This is supposedly going to be a football only invitation. If this is the only school to be moving to the AAC and there is no western pod created out of multiple MWC schools (and possibly BYU) which is likely due to the existing TV deal the conference has then this could have implications for the MVC.

It's possible but very unlikely that ESPN could allow for multiple adds to add inventory out west for late night spots in exchange for upping the per school payout.

I presume the AAC will add a school from the A10 (Dayton SLU VCU come to mind) Dayton is the best brand but not an institutional fit nor does it open up a new market SLU would provide a new market but they have the institutional issue. They are also the weakest brand of the three. VCU offers the best combo of brand fit and market. I wouldn't be surprised if they went with Dayton since the brand is so strong or but I am going to say VCU is the pick here.

Now if the A10 loses a school you have to believe that Loyola is a prime target to replace the departed school which would be a huge blow to the conference. I REALLY hope the AAC is going to be allowed to be super aggressive so that the A10 loses multiple teams and there's no threat for the MVC to get poached.