(06-13-2011 12:28 PM)ChooChoo Wrote:  I think a smaller footprint is better for most conferences. I think most southern fans with schools not in the SEC (and ACC to some extent) still want that experience and the best way to offer it is to replicate it as best as possible.
The MAC has a great thing going IMO. Some of the names aren't glamorous or instantly notable nationally, but it's a solid regional core group. I guess my ultimate scenario for Georgia State is to be in a conference with other "large-publics" in southern epicenters. As insane as it sounds, I think an eastern C-USA league would be a better fit than even the Big East (not sayin we deserve a sniff, just sayin). Even though the BE offers a much bigger pay-off and BCS access, being in a league with the likes of Memphis, SoMiss, and UAB to the west, a Florida rivalry with UCF, and the likes of Charlotte, ECU, and ODU to the east would be a much tighter, fan-focused conference akin to the SEC and Tobacco Road.
Does anyone honestly think that Temple and UMass intend to stick it out with the MAC any longer than they have to? I believe as soon as a new FBS eastern option becomes available they and anyone else added at this point will jump ship. The same applies for TCU if it were the Big 12. I think LA Tech is about the only school too stubborn to budge. They'd rather fly to Moscow and San Jose than realign with the Sunbelt.

I think the MAC should either look at Illinois St. or another mid-west school if the need to expand arises. Maybe JMU. Maybe Otherwise, don't do it.

I had thought the MAC would have been wise to go with Illinois State and Stony Brook. That would have given the MAC two schools in both IL and NY.

I: Ill St., No. IL, WMU, EMU, CMU, Ball St, Toledo
II: SBU, Buffalo, BGSU, KSU, MU, OU, Akron

That would have promoted more of an academic federation style with multiple schools in IL, MI, OH, NY. 14 is a good number for football, giving each league schedule 1 game home/1 game away from the opposite division. This way makes the divisions more regional.

CUSA should try the same thing adding WKU/FIU and send So Miss to the west.

I: UTEP, SMU, Rice, Houston, Tulsa, Tulane, So. Miss
II: ECU, FIU, UCF, Marshall, UAB, WKU, Memphis

(06-13-2011 02:45 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  

(06-12-2011 03:03 PM)rufus Wrote:  

(06-12-2011 01:41 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Charlotte and JMU. JMU would need full and UNCC would want fb only, if you wanna do 13 for other sports again. App St. and JMU if you want 2 full members

I don't see JMU leaving the CAA for the MAC in all sports. Moving to the MAC would increase travel costs considerably, and would represent a step down in basketball (CAA has been getting multiple bids more often lately, and there are those two Final Four appearances for the conference). Football only is an option.

They're building a big stadium. Really who else other than App and Charlotte? Delaware? FCS board doesn't think UD is interested. Fb only is not an option for JMU, CAA would kick them out. They don't allow you to play fb elsewhere. Basically everyone but the A-10 schools and Army & Navy would have to be full members since they'd be kicked out.

I'm not sure that you have to play FB to be a member of the CAA, afterall Northeastern and Hofstra dropped their football programs and are still members. If you can drop and remain, I would suspect there is nothing stopping a program from moving up to FBS. It sounds like an anything goes kind of conference, mostly all sport but some schools football only while others no football at all.

In the MAC, football is a required sport. If you drop down in football, you drop out of the MAC. That is a major reason why Kent St. and EMU have kept fielding football program at the FBS level. They needed to do it to stay in the league.

(06-14-2011 05:50 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-13-2011 02:45 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  

(06-12-2011 03:03 PM)rufus Wrote:  

(06-12-2011 01:41 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Charlotte and JMU. JMU would need full and UNCC would want fb only, if you wanna do 13 for other sports again. App St. and JMU if you want 2 full members

I don't see JMU leaving the CAA for the MAC in all sports. Moving to the MAC would increase travel costs considerably, and would represent a step down in basketball (CAA has been getting multiple bids more often lately, and there are those two Final Four appearances for the conference). Football only is an option.

They're building a big stadium. Really who else other than App and Charlotte? Delaware? FCS board doesn't think UD is interested. Fb only is not an option for JMU, CAA would kick them out. They don't allow you to play fb elsewhere. Basically everyone but the A-10 schools and Army & Navy would have to be full members since they'd be kicked out.

I'm not sure that you have to play FB to be a member of the CAA, afterall Northeastern and Hofstra dropped their football programs and are still members. If you can drop and remain, I would suspect there is nothing stopping a program from moving up to FBS. It sounds like an anything goes kind of conference, mostly all sport but some schools football only while others no football at all.

In the MAC, football is a required sport. If you drop down in football, you drop out of the MAC. That is a major reason why Kent St. and EMU have kept fielding football program at the FBS level. They needed to do it to stay in the league.

The CAA Football League and the CAA (Olympic Sports) are separate entities.

(06-14-2011 01:12 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 05:50 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-13-2011 02:45 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  

(06-12-2011 03:03 PM)rufus Wrote:  

(06-12-2011 01:41 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Charlotte and JMU. JMU would need full and UNCC would want fb only, if you wanna do 13 for other sports again. App St. and JMU if you want 2 full members

I don't see JMU leaving the CAA for the MAC in all sports. Moving to the MAC would increase travel costs considerably, and would represent a step down in basketball (CAA has been getting multiple bids more often lately, and there are those two Final Four appearances for the conference). Football only is an option.

They're building a big stadium. Really who else other than App and Charlotte? Delaware? FCS board doesn't think UD is interested. Fb only is not an option for JMU, CAA would kick them out. They don't allow you to play fb elsewhere. Basically everyone but the A-10 schools and Army & Navy would have to be full members since they'd be kicked out.

I'm not sure that you have to play FB to be a member of the CAA, afterall Northeastern and Hofstra dropped their football programs and are still members. If you can drop and remain, I would suspect there is nothing stopping a program from moving up to FBS. It sounds like an anything goes kind of conference, mostly all sport but some schools football only while others no football at all.

In the MAC, football is a required sport. If you drop down in football, you drop out of the MAC. That is a major reason why Kent St. and EMU have kept fielding football program at the FBS level. They needed to do it to stay in the league.

The CAA Football League and the CAA (Olympic Sports) are separate entities.

Then you are confirming my point.

(06-14-2011 04:44 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 01:12 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 05:50 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-13-2011 02:45 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  

(06-12-2011 03:03 PM)rufus Wrote:  I don't see JMU leaving the CAA for the MAC in all sports. Moving to the MAC would increase travel costs considerably, and would represent a step down in basketball (CAA has been getting multiple bids more often lately, and there are those two Final Four appearances for the conference). Football only is an option.

They're building a big stadium. Really who else other than App and Charlotte? Delaware? FCS board doesn't think UD is interested. Fb only is not an option for JMU, CAA would kick them out. They don't allow you to play fb elsewhere. Basically everyone but the A-10 schools and Army & Navy would have to be full members since they'd be kicked out.

I'm not sure that you have to play FB to be a member of the CAA, afterall Northeastern and Hofstra dropped their football programs and are still members. If you can drop and remain, I would suspect there is nothing stopping a program from moving up to FBS. It sounds like an anything goes kind of conference, mostly all sport but some schools football only while others no football at all.

In the MAC, football is a required sport. If you drop down in football, you drop out of the MAC. That is a major reason why Kent St. and EMU have kept fielding football program at the FBS level. They needed to do it to stay in the league.

The CAA Football League and the CAA (Olympic Sports) are separate entities.

Then you are confirming my point.

Yep

(06-14-2011 05:50 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-13-2011 02:45 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  

(06-12-2011 03:03 PM)rufus Wrote:  

(06-12-2011 01:41 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Charlotte and JMU. JMU would need full and UNCC would want fb only, if you wanna do 13 for other sports again. App St. and JMU if you want 2 full members

I don't see JMU leaving the CAA for the MAC in all sports. Moving to the MAC would increase travel costs considerably, and would represent a step down in basketball (CAA has been getting multiple bids more often lately, and there are those two Final Four appearances for the conference). Football only is an option.

They're building a big stadium. Really who else other than App and Charlotte? Delaware? FCS board doesn't think UD is interested. Fb only is not an option for JMU, CAA would kick them out. They don't allow you to play fb elsewhere. Basically everyone but the A-10 schools and Army & Navy would have to be full members since they'd be kicked out.

I'm not sure that you have to play FB to be a member of the CAA, afterall Northeastern and Hofstra dropped their football programs and are still members. If you can drop and remain, I would suspect there is nothing stopping a program from moving up to FBS. It sounds like an anything goes kind of conference, mostly all sport but some schools football only while others no football at all.

In the MAC, football is a required sport. If you drop down in football, you drop out of the MAC. That is a major reason why Kent St. and EMU have kept fielding football program at the FBS level. They needed to do it to stay in the league.

Name 1 conference where they play other sports in that conf. and play football in a different conf. even though their conf. offers scholly football? Answer 0. You'd have to be Indy in fb. I'm on the FCS board all the time, do you want them to explain it to you? Yes Hofstra doesn't offer football. I never said you had to have fb to be in the CAA I said you can't be in the CAA for other sports and play football in a different conf.

(06-14-2011 06:58 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 04:44 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 01:12 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 05:50 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-13-2011 02:45 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  They're building a big stadium. Really who else other than App and Charlotte? Delaware? FCS board doesn't think UD is interested. Fb only is not an option for JMU, CAA would kick them out. They don't allow you to play fb elsewhere. Basically everyone but the A-10 schools and Army & Navy would have to be full members since they'd be kicked out.

I'm not sure that you have to play FB to be a member of the CAA, afterall Northeastern and Hofstra dropped their football programs and are still members. If you can drop and remain, I would suspect there is nothing stopping a program from moving up to FBS. It sounds like an anything goes kind of conference, mostly all sport but some schools football only while others no football at all.

In the MAC, football is a required sport. If you drop down in football, you drop out of the MAC. That is a major reason why Kent St. and EMU have kept fielding football program at the FBS level. They needed to do it to stay in the league.

The CAA Football League and the CAA (Olympic Sports) are separate entities.

Then you are confirming my point.

Yep

I'll bet you the right to post that NO CAA member would be allowed to play fb in the MAC or NEC or any other scholly offering conf. and stay in the CAA for other sports.

(06-14-2011 07:38 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 06:58 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 04:44 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 01:12 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 05:50 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  I'm not sure that you have to play FB to be a member of the CAA, afterall Northeastern and Hofstra dropped their football programs and are still members. If you can drop and remain, I would suspect there is nothing stopping a program from moving up to FBS. It sounds like an anything goes kind of conference, mostly all sport but some schools football only while others no football at all.

In the MAC, football is a required sport. If you drop down in football, you drop out of the MAC. That is a major reason why Kent St. and EMU have kept fielding football program at the FBS level. They needed to do it to stay in the league.

The CAA Football League and the CAA (Olympic Sports) are separate entities.

Then you are confirming my point.

Yep

I'll bet you the right to post that NO CAA member would be allowed to play fb in the MAC or NEC or any other scholly offering conf. and stay in the CAA for other sports.

They have separate bylaws so leaving CAA Football does not mean leaving the CAA (Olympic Sports)

(06-14-2011 07:46 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 07:38 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 06:58 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 04:44 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 01:12 PM)panama Wrote:  The CAA Football League and the CAA (Olympic Sports) are separate entities.

Then you are confirming my point.

Yep

I'll bet you the right to post that NO CAA member would be allowed to play fb in the MAC or NEC or any other scholly offering conf. and stay in the CAA for other sports.

They have separate bylaws so leaving CAA Football does not mean leaving the CAA (Olympic Sports)

Then bet me. If JMU leaves CAA for fb they will be out of the CAA and in the new conference. JMU can not play fb on the SoCon, MAC or any other conf. and play other sports in the CAA

(06-14-2011 07:55 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 07:46 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 07:38 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 06:58 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 04:44 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  Then you are confirming my point.

Yep

I'll bet you the right to post that NO CAA member would be allowed to play fb in the MAC or NEC or any other scholly offering conf. and stay in the CAA for other sports.

They have separate bylaws so leaving CAA Football does not mean leaving the CAA (Olympic Sports)

Then bet me. If JMU leaves CAA for fb they will be out of the CAA and in the new conference. JMU can not play fb on the SoCon, MAC or any other conf. and play other sports in the CAA

LOL! For us to bet CAA Football has to last long enough for JMU to leave.


Psst, it will not.

Will not last past 3 seasons and I am including 2011

Or anyone, which may not, PS it's not a CAA thing it's an NCAA thing that prevents that.

(06-14-2011 08:14 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Or anyone, which may not, PS it's not a CAA thing it's an NCAA thing that prevents that.

An NCAA thing that prevents what?

(06-14-2011 08:32 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 08:14 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Or anyone, which may not, PS it's not a CAA thing it's an NCAA thing that prevents that.

An NCAA thing that prevents what?

He is referring to moving up to FBS.

You are referring to the viability of CAA in general over the long term, which is a different question all together.

Personally I can't see how the CAA could move up even if the NCAA allowed. Only a few schools in the CAA are FBS material (JMU, ODU, Georgia St, Delaware). Those schools would probably just join CUSA or the SBC.

(06-14-2011 09:18 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 08:32 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 08:14 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Or anyone, which may not, PS it's not a CAA thing it's an NCAA thing that prevents that.

An NCAA thing that prevents what?

He is referring to moving up to FBS.

You are referring to the viability of CAA in general over the long term, which is a different question all together.

Personally I can't see how the CAA could move up even if the NCAA allowed. Only a few schools in the CAA are FBS material (JMU, ODU, Georgia St, Delaware). Those schools would probably just join CUSA or the SBC.

The NCAA rule is that you must have a conference invite as a single school to move up to FBS. There is no rule preventing a conference from moving up.

(06-14-2011 07:34 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Name 1 conference where they play other sports in that conf. and play football in a different conf. even though their conf. offers scholly football? Answer 0. You'd have to be Indy in fb. I'm on the FCS board all the time, do you want them to explain it to you? Yes Hofstra doesn't offer football. I never said you had to have fb to be in the CAA I said you can't be in the CAA for other sports and play football in a different conf.

It's possible that I'm misunderstanding the point you're trying to make, but to take your challenge at word-for-word value:

Villanova is a Big East member that plays football in the CAA and isn't even guaranteed Big East football admission. Georgetown too. UConn played football in the A10 and Yankee conferences before moving to the Big East. St. John's football before it was disbanded did not play in the Big East.

Davidson is a SoCon member that plays football in the Pioneer.
Drake is a MVC member that plays football in the Pioneer.
Morehead State is an OVC member that plays football in the Pioneer.

Back in 1997-2006 when the A10 sponsored football, Temple, Fordham, Dayton, Duquesne and La Salle continued playing football in other conferences.

The only example you won't find is a football team playing in a different conference if its home conference sponsors football at both the same subdivision level (FBS/FCS) AND the same scholarship level. All of the examples I provided were due to differences in one of those two areas. The CAA Football bylaws tellingly waive the exit fee for football teams leaving the CAA for FBS conferences or for half-scholarship or non-scholarship FCS conferences. It's not really considered the same sport.

I believe that what you think is a NCAA rule is actually an internal conference rule that most conferences adopt, and is limited to playing in conferences in direct competition with them. FBS is not in competition with FCS, as the examples of the Big East vs. Villanova and A10 (pre-2007) vs. Temple prove. Maybe the full CAA members have some wacky internal blood oath amongst themselves that would prevent a member from moving, but there's no way the NCAA would prevent JMU from playing football in the Sun Belt and every other sport in the CAA if both the Sun Belt and the CAA agreed.

(06-14-2011 10:09 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 09:18 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 08:32 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 08:14 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Or anyone, which may not, PS it's not a CAA thing it's an NCAA thing that prevents that.

An NCAA thing that prevents what?

He is referring to moving up to FBS.

You are referring to the viability of CAA in general over the long term, which is a different question all together.

Personally I can't see how the CAA could move up even if the NCAA allowed. Only a few schools in the CAA are FBS material (JMU, ODU, Georgia St, Delaware). Those schools would probably just join CUSA or the SBC.

The NCAA rule is that you must have a conference invite as a single school to move up to FBS. There is no rule preventing a conference from moving up.

The language states that a school moving up has to have an invite from an exisiting FBS conference.

Conferences themselves cannot move up, only the individual schools themselves. Every institution makes the decision to reclassify by itself.

(06-15-2011 12:17 AM)LastMinuteman Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 07:34 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Name 1 conference where they play other sports in that conf. and play football in a different conf. even though their conf. offers scholly football? Answer 0. You'd have to be Indy in fb. I'm on the FCS board all the time, do you want them to explain it to you? Yes Hofstra doesn't offer football. I never said you had to have fb to be in the CAA I said you can't be in the CAA for other sports and play football in a different conf.

It's possible that I'm misunderstanding the point you're trying to make, but to take your challenge at word-for-word value:

Villanova is a Big East member that plays football in the CAA and isn't even guaranteed Big East football admission. Georgetown too. UConn played football in the A10 and Yankee conferences before moving to the Big East. St. John's football before it was disbanded did not play in the Big East.

Davidson is a SoCon member that plays football in the Pioneer.
Drake is a MVC member that plays football in the Pioneer.
Morehead State is an OVC member that plays football in the Pioneer.

Back in 1997-2006 when the A10 sponsored football, Temple, Fordham, Dayton, Duquesne and La Salle continued playing football in other conferences.

The only example you won't find is a football team playing in a different conference if its home conference sponsors football at both the same subdivision level (FBS/FCS) AND the same scholarship level. All of the examples I provided were due to differences in one of those two areas. The CAA Football bylaws tellingly waive the exit fee for football teams leaving the CAA for FBS conferences or for half-scholarship or non-scholarship FCS conferences. It's not really considered the same sport.

I believe that what you think is a NCAA rule is actually an internal conference rule that most conferences adopt, and is limited to playing in conferences in direct competition with them. FBS is not in competition with FCS, as the examples of the Big East vs. Villanova and A10 (pre-2007) vs. Temple prove. Maybe the full CAA members have some wacky internal blood oath amongst themselves that would prevent a member from moving, but there's no way the NCAA would prevent JMU from playing football in the Sun Belt and every other sport in the CAA if both the Sun Belt and the CAA agreed.

read my second post making clear what you misunderstood in bold. No school that plays scholly fb in a conf. that sponsors scholly football can play in another conf. that sponsors scholly fb. PFL and PL don't have schollys, Making those schools exempt.

Villanova played fb in the I-AA before the BE fb existed, along with Georgetown D-III & I-AA, They were grandfathered in and can't be forced to join or leave like say, If Georgia St. wanted to be in the SBC, they wouldn't be allowed to stay in the CAA for other sports. They'd either be SBC all the way or SBC for fb only and A-Sun for other sports since A-Sun doesn't sponsor fb. W.Kentucky is another that was grandfathered in since they were already an SBC member for other sports and played I-AA fb before SBC fb existed. They ended up moving up like Nova wants too.

La Salle, Duquesne(MAAC) & Dayton (also was D-III then D-I non scholly PFL) played non scholly and I believe the rule wasn't in affect until 2003 under the the last moratorium. Temple was in the BE before A-10 fb existed, making them exempt Fordham was in the Patriot which doesn't have schollies, making them exempt. They just added schollies and had to leave the PL. all of those were in their conf. for fb before 2003 thus being grandfathered in. The rule may have been in affect since 1991 when they didn't allow you to play down a div. I just know for sure since 2003. Has there been any that have a scholly fb conf. they play in and play other sports in another conf. joining after 2003 that also sponsors scholly fb? I can't think of any in D-I or D-II. If there are let me know.

PS I'm not hating on any of you, I'm just trying to make clear NCAA and their obscure rules that I try to follow as close as possible. Really why would a CAA school want to play fb in the SoCon, why would a MWC school want to be fb only in CUSA. That's the reason the NCAA/Conf. have this. If you're in the conf. and you have the sport, you play w/ us or leave. Non scholly is probably exempt because they aren't at the same level as a school that plays w/ 63 schollies so they made the PFL. PL is more tricky because they are non scholly but allow grant aid. Loopholes. Playing as an Indy is the reason ND gets to stay in the BE they aren't allowed to be fb only in the Big 10 or Big 12. BYU couldn't be MWC for all sports but play fb in the WAC. Marshall is another one, they weren't allowed to keep their weaker sports in the SOCON while they played fb in the MAC, they had to go as a full member. UCF was allowed fb only to the MAC because A-Sun doesn't have scholly fb. Maybe the rule has been around since 1991 because all of this was before 2003.

(06-15-2011 12:35 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 10:09 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 09:18 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 08:32 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 08:14 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  Or anyone, which may not, PS it's not a CAA thing it's an NCAA thing that prevents that.

An NCAA thing that prevents what?

He is referring to moving up to FBS.

You are referring to the viability of CAA in general over the long term, which is a different question all together.

Personally I can't see how the CAA could move up even if the NCAA allowed. Only a few schools in the CAA are FBS material (JMU, ODU, Georgia St, Delaware). Those schools would probably just join CUSA or the SBC.

The NCAA rule is that you must have a conference invite as a single school to move up to FBS. There is no rule preventing a conference from moving up.

The language states that a school moving up has to have an invite from an exisiting FBS conference.

Conferences themselves cannot move up, only the individual schools themselves. Every institution makes the decision to reclassify by itself.

Please cite the bylaw that prevents a conference from moving because I cannot find it.

(06-15-2011 05:45 AM)panama Wrote:  

(06-15-2011 12:35 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 10:09 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 09:18 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 08:32 PM)panama Wrote:  An NCAA thing that prevents what?

He is referring to moving up to FBS.

You are referring to the viability of CAA in general over the long term, which is a different question all together.

Personally I can't see how the CAA could move up even if the NCAA allowed. Only a few schools in the CAA are FBS material (JMU, ODU, Georgia St, Delaware). Those schools would probably just join CUSA or the SBC.

The NCAA rule is that you must have a conference invite as a single school to move up to FBS. There is no rule preventing a conference from moving up.

The language states that a school moving up has to have an invite from an exisiting FBS conference.

Conferences themselves cannot move up, only the individual schools themselves. Every institution makes the decision to reclassify by itself.

Please cite the bylaw that prevents a conference from moving because I cannot find it.

It's a real rule. Most of us heard/read about the change back when they gave the rules about the moratorium on moving to FBS from FCS and from D-II to D-I along w/ new new rule dropping the 6/5 core/years membership for 7 continuing core members(bbal) 8 for FBS.

Like I said the NCAA is always dropping in new rules, obscure rules. Don't hurt your head trying to find/figure it out. Look what it's done to me. I'm on this board, FCS, WAC/MWC, D-II, NAIA boards and the conf movement board(collegesportsinfo) always finding looking for alignment info. I starting trying to follow this back in 1990(D-I) added D-II, D-III, NAIA in 1997. Pre internet (until 95) was almost impossible.

Here's the link to the proposal back in March of 2010. It passed in Jan 2011.

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?..._ncaa_news

By saying any FCS and/or D-II member must have an invite from a bona fide FBS conference seals it. (CAA, SOCON etc..) are not bona fide FBS conferences.

D-II to D-I works the same. A D-II member need an invite from a bona fide D-I conference. So it has to be 1 of the existing 31 conf. The GSC can't move to D-I. Also the Great West does NOT count as a D-I bona fide conf. since they don't have 7 core members in the conf. They have 5 total in which only Chicago St., UTPA are core(meaning D-I member for 8 years or longer, it does not include the 5 years of provisional membership)