The WAC is all but done as a football conference. Texas State is reportedly heading to the Sun Belt Conference in 2013.
The Bobcats haven’t even played a game as a WAC member yet. They officially join the conference on July 1 and the 2012 season will also be their first in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Texas State joins a long list of schools jumping from the WAC ship. Louisiana Tech and UTSA are moving to Conference USA and San Jose State and Utah State heading to the MWC.
With Georgia State joining the Sun Belt in 2013 and Florida International and North Texas rumored to be leaving for C-USA, here is what the SBC might look like next season:
Sun Belt Conference
Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy, Western Kentucky, UL Lafayette, ULM
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Thought for sure you guys were going to MWC. Looking forward to Nov. 24th game in the Alamodome. Go RUNNERS!
That leaves Idaho and New Mexico St, the MWC could add them and go to 12 teams. It would setup an easy division split too
East:
Air Force
Colorado St
New Mexico
New Mexico St
Utah St
Wyoming
West:
Fresno St
Hawaii
Idaho
Nevada
San Jose St
UNLV
That’s one option, but the Sun Belt is the other. I’m not sure Idaho and New Mexico State add any value to the MWC other than allowing a conference title game.
Both were in the Sun Belt for some time so that seems like a natural landing spot for them, despite the distance. Regardless, I would think Idaho and NMST are a package deal, bringing either conference to 12 teams
Could be an East-West split the SBC:
East
Florida Atlantic
Georgia State
Middle Tennessee
South Alabama
Troy
Western Kentucky
West
Arkansas State
Idaho
Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Monroe
New Mexico State
Texas State
Good point. I think NMSU is a much safer place than Idaho. If all else fails NMSU can lean on the state legislature to force New Mexico to protect them. Similar to how Texas Tech used to state legislature to force Texas and Texas A&M to make Tech a package deal when the Big 12 started.
Where is Florida International? I thought they were in the Sun Belt.
FIU is joining C-USA
FIU is rumored to be heading to C-USA along with North Texas. Texas State and Georgia State will replaced them.