With UMass and Liberty already in the ranks of the FBS independents (and for that matter NMSU) if JMU, Delaware, and Stony Brook all wanted to come up together I think they could pull it off. Those six could form a scheduling agreement, ensuring that they all have opponents and home games in late October and through November.

I think it takes 7, maybe 8 to make an FBS conference so they'd just need to find one or two more interested parties. Youngstown St and Jacksonville St could both probably make the move. UTRGV might launch a start up.

Regarding conference affiliations, I think everyone can stay in their present homes. The CAA can't kick out JMU and Delaware for Olympic sports--I just don't see the 5 non-football voting them out for not sponsoring FCS football.

A few different things could happen the CAA football if they depart:
1. Soldier on as is with 9 schools or go up to 10+ with schools like Monmouth and Kennesaw St as affiliates.
2. America East takes over the sponsorship of the league
3. The league blows up. William & Mary is lured away to the Patriot with Richmond football with them (and maybe Towson and/or Richmond too). If William & Mary and potentially one or more of the other football playing full members Towson and Elon bolt I think America East takes over football and JMU and company use CAA as the sponsoring body for their FBS League if they ever make the minimum qualifications for league status