With the news that St Thomas is leaving the Summit, that leaves the league with 7 members. This could spook a couple other schools like ORU or KC to bolt when they get the chance. Both likely have options. In fact, members leaving forces schools to start looking around. They would not be acting responsibly to not have some feelers out there when their conference has just lost multiple members in short succession.

Additionally, North Dakota State is already headed to the Mountain West in football. An all sports offer could possibly take them out of the Summit as well. I doubt they’d turn it down after all. Maybe SDSU gets a ride along to keep things in pairs?

On top of that, the other Dakota schools have been talked about as potential FBS schools. Omaha currently seems like the sole member who may not have any options.

The only current D1 option I can think of is Chicago State. I guess Northern Colorado could be thrown in as a very unlikely candidate, but I don’t see it. Eastern and Western Illinois could possibly be named as unlikely candidates as well if they could leave football in the OVC.

Again, unlikely, but as shrinking and underfunded schools, jumping into a league they could compete in, and have a little more control of could have some appeal. I could see Western not liking being on the fringe of the OVC, which is more Southern. I’m sure they would like to stay with Eastern. And the chance to regularly play games in Chicago would be viewed as a big plus for them as well.

Augustana, and possibly a few Minnesota schools that have been rumored are also possibilities for a long time.

In fact, removing some of the stronger Dakota schools might actually increase the likelihood of less funded schools like Mankato, St Cloud, or Duluth being willing to move. A conference where they could actually compete is a lot more attractive than a conference with well funded schools like St Thomas and NDSU.

As we’ve seen many times in the past, openings can draw out schools that may not have really been looking. When you see an open door, sometimes it makes sense to walk thru. You never know when it might open again.

I also would not be surprised to see the NEC cast Chicago State free with no (or reduced) exit fee if CSU had a place to go. The collective membership likely spends more traveling to Chicago State than they could receive for their portion of an exit fee.

It’s all speculation at this point, and I’m just putting some ideas out there that have come to mind. There’s a lot that would have to happen between now and a Chicago State invite to a reformed Summit. But stranger things have happened.

I think CSU’s long-term home is the OVC, and they’re just going to wait out until the timing’s right. Going to the Summit would put FB in limbo as I can’t see the MVFC taking CSU.

(08-09-2026 06:08 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  I think CSU’s long-term home is the OVC, and they’re just going to wait out until the timing’s right. Going to the Summit would put FB in limbo as I can’t see the MVFC taking CSU.

You are probably right. I was completely forgetting where Summit schools play football. I dont really pay attention to MVFC football at all, and very little to FCS overall.

When an OVC invite might come is pretty uncertain. And it makes me wonder what that conference might look like then. My fear is the OVC no longer being a football conference if they lose more FB members. Depending on affiliates, especially so far flung, is a sketchy set up long term.

If the Summit were to be on the verge of collapse, I’m not sure what I think Chicago State should do. Leaving football where it’s needed in the NEC is a possibility. NEC football already depends on affiliates to exist.

But one issue there is, a large chunk of the Summit would require flights that may actually cost more and be less convenient than the setup they have in the NEC. Perhaps the whole idea is just bad? Yeah, it seems like a more local and logical fit, but I’m not sure it actually is.

And if Chicago State couldn’t play the cards they would hold better than they did when they “joined” the WAC, then it’s really a terrible idea lol. I’m still not over that ineptitude.

As I said before, lots of parts would have to move in the right way for it to even be an option.