Adding Valparaiso might not bring enough for men's basketball for RPI. Yes, they are good, but not good enough like Wichita State. North Dakota State and South Dakota State would have helped MVC out in that department. I do see Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State and Northern Iowa trying to talk to join an FBS conference. If they can't find a conference? Would they pushed like a Liberty deal to prove that they can get games to play FBS? I know all 4 could get P5 schools to schedule them, and G5 schools as well.
MAC East:
Buffalo
Ohio
Miami
Akron
Bowling Green
Kent State
Toledo
MAC West:
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Western Michigan
Ball State
Indiana State
Northern Illinois
Illinois State
Travel partners for olympic sports.
Buffalo/Kent State
Akron/Ohio
Toledo/Eastern Michigan
Miami/Bowling Green
Western Michigan/Central Michigan
Indiana State/Ball State
Northern Illinois/Illinois State
If you add 2 more?
Buffalo/Stony Brook
Akron/Kent State
Ohio U./Bowling Green
Toledo/Miami
Milwaukee (if they add football)/Western Michigan
Central Michigan/Eastern Michigan
Not sure why Northern Michigan did not stay in D1?
http://www.nmuwildcats.com/information/superior_dome
The Superior Dome opened in 1991 and could hold up to 16,000 fans. That is big enough to be FBS.
Now, MVC have to be worry if the football schools do leave. We already have three that have expressed interests in the past to go FBS. Missouri State already did some upgrading of their stadium. If those four leaves? Would Southern Illinois leave for OVC with Eastern Illinois?
That would leave these schools.
Bradley
Drake
Evansville
Loyola-Chicago
Valparaiso
Now, MVC could be in danger like the WAC and Summit. They are unstable right now. They needed to add more than one school.
Big 12 and MVC are actually sister conferences, and the both of them are endanger to become extinct if they do not expand.
Horizon, Big South, ASun, Summit, MVC, WAC and any other conferences with smaller numbers do have schools having eyes for moving out.