(02-13-2017 09:35 AM)TopperCard Wrote:  A school can only have a sport in a different conference if their main conference doesn't sponsor that sport, and I believe this is an NCAA rule. For example, Kentucky soccer is in C-USA because the SEC doesn't sponsor soccer.

Choosing independence in a sport that is sponsored by your main conference is negotiated, i.e. Notre Dame football. By NCAA rule, they can't have their football another conference since the ACC sponsors football. They'd have to move all their other sports to a conference like the Big East if they wanted to join a conference in football only. Obviously they could choose independence in everything but that's ridiculous.

That isn't true. Providence played volleyball in the less competitive America East because that sport probably didn't have talent or funding at Providence. It has since changed to the Big East. The Big East chose to give an exemption for Providence, as some schools like Creighton and Marquette put serious money into that sport and don't want a lax member that would bring down the RPI. The NCAA rules allow it but conferences mostly dont.