I think the following is the key to the situation.
lion1983 posted the following on another sports board.
It is an conversation he had with the ASUN Commissioner.
If both Kennesaw State and North Alabama had about the same Potential schools listed and at least those schools that were approach Didn’t turn it down but would consider it. Think it you was living in Either Kennesaw Georgia or Florence Alabama what teams would be on your list.

Me:"Why did this UAC project come to be? Was it UNA and KSU wanting a better fit or other schools seeing a need?"

Ted Gumbart: "Yes. We got together with UNA and KSU after the realization that Presbyterian was moving football out of the Big South and asked what the best scenario would be for both institutions. They both said a conference more in line with their schools, both geographically and same types of schools. So we reached out to a list of schools provided by both UNA and KSU. Not surprisingly, they basically had the same list, and all schools on the list wanted to explore this option."

Me: "Ultimately, what do you want to accomplish with the UAC?"

Gumbart: "Well, as I mentioned, FCS in the south is a no brainer, but to be what it should be, you shouldn't have similar schools in the same geographic footprint spread over 3-4 conferences. That makes for a weak football conference. Of you can pull the schools together, you should have a dominant conference. Our pitch to them was, these schools need to play each other every year. They agreed."