Has anyone heard rumblings of a 12th team joining up with the OVC. With Western Illinois being a year into their membership as #11 I would think that Indianapolis would’ve announced its intentions. I know a few years ago they voted NOT to join the league, but thought they had both an interim AD and President at the time?

Would be nice to see Central Missouri move up as they would fit quite nicely in the conference’s footprint. Does anyone prefer one school over another?

(05-23-2024 06:29 PM)BubWV Wrote:  Has anyone heard rumblings of a 12th team joining up with the OVC. With Western Illinois being a year into their membership as #11 I would think that Indianapolis would’ve announced its intentions. I know a few years ago they voted NOT to join the league, but thought they had both an interim AD and President at the time?

Would be nice to see Central Missouri move up as they would fit quite nicely in the conference’s footprint. Does anyone prefer one school over another?

I would think the football stadium would need to be enlarged. Currently seats 5,500. Cathedral vs Custard HS game filled it easy.

(05-25-2024 07:50 PM)EKUSteve Wrote:  

(05-23-2024 06:29 PM)BubWV Wrote:  Has anyone heard rumblings of a 12th team joining up with the OVC. With Western Illinois being a year into their membership as #11 I would think that Indianapolis would’ve announced its intentions. I know a few years ago they voted NOT to join the league, but thought they had both an interim AD and President at the time?

Would be nice to see Central Missouri move up as they would fit quite nicely in the conference’s footprint. Does anyone prefer one school over another?

I would think the football stadium would need to be enlarged. Currently seats 5,500. Cathedral vs Custard HS game filled it easy.

Not sure if Wikipedia is up-to-date, but it says that the stadium holds 12,000 people? Also states “The largest attendance at the stadium was on October 8, 2011, when 14,377 attended a game between Central and Northwest Missouri State University. It was the largest attendance at any MIAA facility.”

(05-26-2024 07:02 AM)BubWV Wrote:  

(05-25-2024 07:50 PM)EKUSteve Wrote:  

(05-23-2024 06:29 PM)BubWV Wrote:  Has anyone heard rumblings of a 12th team joining up with the OVC. With Western Illinois being a year into their membership as #11 I would think that Indianapolis would’ve announced its intentions. I know a few years ago they voted NOT to join the league, but thought they had both an interim AD and President at the time?

Would be nice to see Central Missouri move up as they would fit quite nicely in the conference’s footprint. Does anyone prefer one school over another?

I would think the football stadium would need to be enlarged. Currently seats 5,500. Cathedral vs Custard HS game filled it easy.

Not sure if Wikipedia is up-to-date, but it says that the stadium holds 12,000 people? Also states “The largest attendance at the stadium was on October 8, 2011, when 14,377 attended a game between Central and Northwest Missouri State University. It was the largest attendance at any MIAA facility.”

They are referencing UIndy's stadium. I hope UCM joins the OVC. It would be incredible watching them play D1. The rumor while I was at the school, was the president at the time really wanted to be D1. Which is why he renovated the stadium. But he has since left and I haven't heard anything about it

From another poster
Central Missouri and the OVC talked in October 2023

(06-20-2024 08:09 PM)Illinoisking91 Wrote:  From another poster
Central Missouri and the OVC talked in October 2023

I hope they keep talking!

(06-20-2024 11:17 PM)jhjhanaway Wrote:  

(06-20-2024 08:09 PM)Illinoisking91 Wrote:  From another poster
Central Missouri and the OVC talked in October 2023

I hope they keep talking!

Me too

With the soon demise of the WAC, could the OVC look at adding the 3 Texas schools? I know this would put them at 14 for basketball but 9 without the alliance with the Big South. It extends the footprint slightly but also gets them in Texas. I could see Summit and A-Sun going after them but it would be nice.

So now the question is who will be the OVCs 10th team?

Is there any reason why the University of Illinois at Springfield isn't part of this discussion? They fit pretty well within the OVC's existing footprint. Same with the University of Missouri at St. Louis.

(02-02-2026 08:45 PM)rtist Wrote:  Is there any reason why the University of Illinois at Springfield isn't part of this discussion? They fit pretty well within the OVC's existing footprint. Same with the University of Missouri at St. Louis.

Don't know if either have a desire or funding to move up to D1. Also neither has football which they need to add teams with football.