Whither America East?
Could America East be in more danger of collapsing than the Summit League or Atlantic Sun? The Atlantic Sun will have 9 members come July 1 (including UMass-Lowell, newly transitioning from Division II), but could have a mess on its hands when it comes to sponsoring team sports.
If the CAA adds Albany and Stony Brook as full members, not just football-only, the league will be down to seven members, only six of whom are Division I (Binghamton, Harford, Maine, UMBC, UNH, Vermont).
Baseball (4): Binghamton, Harford, Maine, UMBC
Men's Lacrosse (4): Binghamton, Hartford, UMBC, Vermont
Men's Soccer (5): Binghamton, Harford, UMBC, UNH, Vermont
Softball (4): Binghamton, Hartford, Maine, UMBC
Women's Lacrosse (4): Binghamton, UMBC, UNH, Vermont
Women's Soccer (6): Binghamton, Harford, Maine, UMBC, UNH, Vermont
Field Hockey (4): Fairfield, Maine, UNH, Vermont
Volleyball (5): Binghamton, Hartford, UMBC, UNH, Providence
Fairfield could be a flight risk as well to the NEC or CAA. Providence volleyball will ultimately join the Big East.
Adding NJIT plugs holes in Baseball, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, and Women's Volleyball, at least until Providence leaves. NYIT (Division I in baseball only) would make six for baseball.
If the Summit collapses, IUPUI and IPFW could be options. Both bring Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball Women's Volleyball. IPFW also brings baseball. Western Illinois may elect to join the WAC instead since it would at least have Chicago State and UMKC nearby. The I-29 corridor schools and Denver would likely go for the WAC or Big Sky over America East.
Men's Lacrosse could also go the affiliate route as it has 4 full members playing the sport. The remains of the ECAC or NEC could be up for grabs depending on what happens in the wake of the Big Ten. Women's Lacrosse could reload at the expense of the Atlantic Sun.
If the Atlantic Sun Conference fails, the four Florida schools will be ones up for grabs, as the SoCon hasn't looked their way. All four play Men's and Women's Soccer, Baseball, Softball, and Volleyball. Lipscomb and NKU would probably head to something more regionally appropriate (Summit, Horizon, OVC) and USC Upstate probably gets the call to replace VMI should they leave the Big South for the SoCon.
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