(01-29-2021 02:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I’d add Tenn St as a 4th school that could prove to be a flight risk. I think the SWAC would still snatch them up if they wanted to join and the ASUN might pursue them too.

I think WIU is a must grab to give football a little more of a cushion.

Beyond that, they need to pursue whatever expansion move will keep Belmont the happiest as they are the biggest flight risk as they are attractive to not 1 but 2 other leagues with better basketball.

I don’t know who Belmont would want that would be good for basketball though—NKU, Libscomb, Bellarmine?

Agreed. Tennessee St has a fallback should the league continue to lose schools. If Austin Peay is the 6th school it would really hurt.

Assuming WIU joins, the OVC's core could very easily shift west
EIU, SIUE, SWMS, and UT Martin aren't going anywhere. If you do add WIU you have 5 schools with a very tight geographic footprint. Then you have Morehead State which plays non scholarship football to be #6, as they too do not seem to have any other options.

Tennessee Tech is out there too, but you figure if Belmont, Murray, Austin Peay, and Tennessee St all leave, then Tennessee Tech would begin pushing to join the ASun too.

Worst case scenario is Chicago St has to be added to preserve the league at #7 and the OVC figures out a way to sponsor soccer