Utah Valley
Southern Utah
Utah Tech
Cal Baptist
UT-Arlington
Tarleton State
Abilene Christian

….. are the only teams left in 2026. What will happen with the Western Athletic Conference and its teams?

Central Oklahoma would be looking for a home since Southland is full, so WAC would be for them and UAC for football.

(01-19-2025 05:42 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Central Oklahoma would be looking for a home since Southland is full, so WAC would be for them and UAC for football.

The Southland isn't full, David. They just don't want to add anyone else at this time, including the Texas teams in the WAC.

Also, unless Central Oklahoma makes an official announcement about moving up, I don't see it happening.

(01-19-2025 04:33 PM)AuzGrams Wrote:  Utah Valley
Southern Utah
Utah Tech
Cal Baptist
UT-Arlington
Tarleton State
Abilene Christian

….. are the only teams left in 2026. What will happen with the Western Athletic Conference and its teams?

As long as those teams remain, the WAC will limp on. If one of them leaves, all hell will break loose in that conference.

(01-19-2025 04:33 PM)AuzGrams Wrote:  Utah Valley
Southern Utah
Utah Tech
Cal Baptist
UT-Arlington
Tarleton State
Abilene Christian

….. are the only teams left in 2026. What will happen with the Western Athletic Conference and its teams?

WAC loses CBU to the WCC...down to 6 members...
- 4 FB + 2 Non-FB members
- 3 UT/ 3 TX

WAC (6) explores reverse merger with Summit (9)
- becomes 15-member conference...
- protects against further member loss...
- WAC banner...
- Summit admin...
- WAC FB stays in UAC...
- Summit FB stays in MVFC...

Why would the Summit do that?

I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

If Sacramento State can swing football-only deal with C-USA, the WAC would be a perfect landing spot for them. This would also give the Hornets a chance to park all of their Olympic sports in the same conference as the Big Sky doesn't sponsor baseball (currently in the WAC) or men's soccer (currently in the Big West).

I just don't see this as likely as C-USA is more likely to be at 10 after losing a school to backfill for Texas State going to the Pac-12. If the Pac-12 pulls a rabbit out of its hat and lands both Memphis and Tulane, then C-USA will be at either 9 or 11 members, and Sacramento State joining as a football-only member makes more sense.

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

They are like the cat that kept coming back in that kids song. Nothing can destroy it.

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

Yikes! Cryptic apocalyptic post from our resident guy-in-the-know. Something is about to go down and go down hard.

(01-19-2025 07:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

Yikes! Cryptic apocalyptic post from our resident guy-in-the-know. Something is about to go down and go down hard.

The WACpocalypse

(01-19-2025 07:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

Yikes! Cryptic apocalyptic post from our resident guy-in-the-know. Something is about to go down and go down hard.

Yup. Not reporting the specifics yet because I don't actually know the final conference destinations for every school yet, but conversations that have been happening for a while (between WAC schools and multiple interested conference partners) shifted into high gear at the NCAA Convention.

The league only needs one defection before everybody activates their emergency plan B option. I think more than one defection is coming pretty soon.

(01-19-2025 07:57 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

Yikes! Cryptic apocalyptic post from our resident guy-in-the-know. Something is about to go down and go down hard.

Yup. Not reporting the specifics yet because I don't actually know the final conference destinations for every school yet, but conversations that have been happening for a while (between WAC schools and multiple interested conference partners) shifted into high gear at the NCAA Convention.

The league only needs one defection before everybody activates their emergency plan B option. I think more than one defection is coming pretty soon.

Is anyone at risk of getting set adrift or does it look like there’s a plan B for everyone?

(01-19-2025 08:01 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:57 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

Yikes! Cryptic apocalyptic post from our resident guy-in-the-know. Something is about to go down and go down hard.

Yup. Not reporting the specifics yet because I don't actually know the final conference destinations for every school yet, but conversations that have been happening for a while (between WAC schools and multiple interested conference partners) shifted into high gear at the NCAA Convention.

The league only needs one defection before everybody activates their emergency plan B option. I think more than one defection is coming pretty soon.

Is anyone at risk of getting set adrift or does it look like there’s a plan B for everyone?

The Utah football schools may have to go independent if the UAC doesn't want them for football only. The Big Sky sure doesn't want them, especially Southern Utah.

My guess for destination if every school finds a home:
Cal Baptist: WCC
Utah Valley: Big West
UT Arlington, Southern Utah, Utah Tech: Summit
Abilene Christian, Tarleton State: Southland

(01-19-2025 04:33 PM)AuzGrams Wrote:  Utah Valley
Southern Utah
Utah Tech
Cal Baptist
UT-Arlington
Tarleton State
Abilene Christian

….. are the only teams left in 2026. What will happen with the Western Athletic Conference and its teams?

It will exist in perpetuity.

(01-19-2025 08:54 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  My guess for destination if every school finds a home:
Cal Baptist: WCC
Utah Valley: Big West
UT Arlington, Southern Utah, Utah Tech: Summit
Abilene Christian, Tarleton State: Southland

I see it going down like this:

Cal Baptist: WCC
UT-Arlington: MVC
Southern Utah, Utah Tech, Utah Valley: Summit
Abilene Christian, Tarleton State: Southland

Southern Utah and Utah Tech either stay in UAC for football-only or go the Independent route.

Independent in FCS football doesnt work. Those Utah schools are screwed. Drop football and save some money.

Oh great, another thread talking about the WAC. Let’s hear the about the D2 fantasy moveups and landing spots for all the teams again.

(01-19-2025 08:45 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 08:01 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:57 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

Yikes! Cryptic apocalyptic post from our resident guy-in-the-know. Something is about to go down and go down hard.

Yup. Not reporting the specifics yet because I don't actually know the final conference destinations for every school yet, but conversations that have been happening for a while (between WAC schools and multiple interested conference partners) shifted into high gear at the NCAA Convention.

The league only needs one defection before everybody activates their emergency plan B option. I think more than one defection is coming pretty soon.

Is anyone at risk of getting set adrift or does it look like there’s a plan B for everyone?

The Utah football schools may have to go independent if the UAC doesn't want them for football only. The Big Sky sure doesn't want them, especially Southern Utah.

The UAC is a football only conference???