I expect OVC to stay at 11 if they lose Murray. I also think they will let them stay in Football a couple years. Scheduling is already done for 2017, even if not published has too many hard dates to change now. IMO this is what the holdup is about, negotiating a terms for 2018 and 2019 football, possibly beyond (OVC has only 8 football schools) -- the Big South would certainly take Murray even on a two year contract, as they have the bare minimum and are losing Liberty after this year.

The two schools in the OVC footprint are Lipscomb and North Alabama. North Alabama is far more attractive but they are under transition contract with the A-Sun through 2022, so are not available. Lipscomb is not very attractive, and would be a bottom fill. The only reason to add them would be for a 12th basketball school. But I think the option of standing pat at 11 looks more attractive. They can go to full round robin scheduling moving to 20 games. The desire for an extra home game is a big theme you here from many lower mid-major conferences.

So expect the OVC to stay pat, move to 20 game schedule to help everyone's bottom line.