First, for this to even be possible, the WAC will need to get up to at least 12, if not 16 in football. But if both the "WAC North" and "WAC South" can reach critical mass, the WAC could birth another FBS conference.

Each side would need 8 full FBS members to qualify as an FBS conference. Presuming the WAC adds 2 more schools before the deadline to preserve its status as an FBS conference, and Texas-Arlington revives its football program, the WAC will be sitting at 10 football schools come 2016:

(*non-football member)
North - Seattle*, Idaho, Utah State, San Jose State, {Big Sky #1}, {Big Sky #2)
South - New Mexico State, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, Texas-Arlington, Louisiana Tech, Denver*

Presuming the mystery adds above are Montana and Montana State, the North needs three more schools to get to eight. The Big Sky would be a step down for Seattle, and Denver would have no incentive to leave for the new Texas-centered conference. The WAC therefore, raids the Big Sky cookie jar again. Since that puts the WAC at 15, Lamar finally gets the big promtion:

North - Seattle*, Portland State, Idaho, San Jose State, Sacramento State, Cal Poly SLO, Montana, Montana State
South - New Mexcio State, Texas-Arlington, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, Louisiana Tech, Utah State, Denver*, Lamar

Utah State gets briefly moved to the South Division to keep each division at 8 schools for all sports and 7 each for football.

Now the fun begins. Since only an FBS conference can invite an FCS school to upgrade, the WAC has to either (a) recruit 2 schools from existing FBS conferences, or (b) go to 16 in football to give each side 8 programs. The WAC invites Sam Houston State to move up, and then recruits Louisiana-Lafayette of the Sun Belt to join the Southland when the split happens.

WAC (8/10) - Seattle*, Portland State, Idaho, Utah State, San Jose State, Sacramento State, Cal Poly SLO, Denver*, Montana, Montana State

Southland (8/16)
FBS - New Mexico State, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, Lamar, SHSU, Texas-Arlington, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette
FCS - Northwestern State, McNeese State, Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls State, Central Arkansas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi*, Stephen F. Austin State, Houston Baptist

The Southland is presumed to have added Houston Baptist when Sam Houston State's departure brought them down to 7 members.

The FCS schools in the Southland now have to decide if they stick around to upgrade, or find a new home. Since the Big Sky is down to the bare minimum of 7 schools, it essentially absorbs the FCS Southland:

Big Sky (14)
Mountain - Northern Colorado, Idaho State, Weber State, Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington, North Dakota
Central - Central Arkansas, Northwestern State, McNeese State, Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls State, Houston Baptist, Stephen F. Austin State

The Big Sky presumes North Dakota will eventually find the Summit and Missouri Valley Football Conference home, and has Utah Valley on standby to fill that all sports slot. The Southland is stuck with non-football member Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, but will be able to invite its former members to come back as FBS programs should it need to replenish or expand its ranks.

WAC: Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, New Mexico State, Portland State, Sacramento State, San Jose State, Utah State
Big Sky: Central Washington, Dixie State, Eastern Washington, Humboldt State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, Weber State, Western Oregon, Western Washington
Sun Belt: (E): Arkansas-Little Rock*, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Troy, Western Kentucky (W): Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas-Arlington*, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State (*)-Non Football Schools

(07-31-2011 10:27 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  if both the "WAC North" and "WAC South" can reach critical mass, the WAC could birth another FBS conference.

Quote:Presuming the WAC adds 2 more schools before the deadline to preserve its status as an FBS conference, and Texas-Arlington revives its football program, the WAC will be sitting at 10 football schools come 2016

Quote:The WAC invites Sam Houston State to move up, and then recruits Louisiana-Lafayette of the Sun Belt to join the Southland when the split happens.

This is all just meant as a joke, right?