Quote: The more pressing issue for Wistrcill is the conference realignment within the FCS and how the increase in automatic bids for new leagues would limit at-large bids for Big Sky teams. The relaunched Western Athletic Conference and Atlantic Sun Conference have a scheduling alliance allowing for a new automatic bid into the playoffs this year. When they become separate leagues in 2022, they should each get an automatic bid, taking away two AQ spots from the last full season in 2019.

“What I’m concerned about there is we’re one of the power conferences, we want at-large bids, so any time there’s an extra AQ, that takes away at-large bids for a conference like ours that might get four or five schools in,” Wistrcill said. “We’re monitoring that. We’re talking a lot about it. I think, to me, that’s the direct impact on us as a league because I want as many at-large opportunities as possible.”