I've always been under the impression that Montana and Montana State weren't going to be separated due to state politics.


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I believe that Montana and Montana State were interested in the WAC until the WAC decided to shift toward Texas and added UTSA and Texas State. Neither of the Montana schools wanted to join a conference with such a wide footprint.

While it's a shame Idaho dropped down - realistically I can't see any path forward in FBS for Idaho, other than perpetual independence.

The only existing FBS conference that makes any geographic (and thus financial) sense is the MWC. Idaho would be pinning their hopes on a large defection of schools from the MWC, and then, that the MWC would then want them. I think both of those things happening are a long shot. I also think talk of a WAC football revival is just that - all talk.

Meanwhile Idaho would be spending $1-2 million extra per year on independent football just to survive. Seems tough to make that kind of commitment in today's economic environment.

IMO the same argument applies to NMSU, but NMSU is at least in a little better geographic spot, and has competitive football facilities. So, I think NMSU's chances of finding a conference home for football are slightly (barely) better.

Very tough situation all the way around.

(10-02-2016 08:55 PM)NuMexAg Wrote:  I believe that Montana and Montana State were interested in the WAC until the WAC decided to shift toward Texas and added UTSA and Texas State. Neither of the Montana schools wanted to join a conference with such a wide footprint.

While it's a shame Idaho dropped down - realistically I can't see any path forward in FBS for Idaho, other than perpetual independence.

The only existing FBS conference that makes any geographic (and thus financial) sense is the MWC. Idaho would be pinning their hopes on a large defection of schools from the MWC, and then, that the MWC would then want them. I think both of those things happening are a long shot. I also think talk of a WAC football revival is just that - all talk.

Meanwhile Idaho would be spending $1-2 million extra per year on independent football just to survive. Seems tough to make that kind of commitment in today's economic environment.

IMO the same argument applies to NMSU, but NMSU is at least in a little better geographic spot, and has competitive football facilities. So, I think NMSU's chances of finding a conference home for football are slightly (barely) better.

Very tough situation all the way around.

The Big Sky has as wide a footprint as anyone. It goes from the eastern edge of North Dakota to Washington down to California and Arizona.

I think it's just MWC or Big Sky for the the Grizzlies and the Bobcats. They're not going to set themselves up in a conference with no stability.

The WAC could be revived as an FBS conference as they're grandfathered in an NCAA bylaw if they get eight football-playing members.

I would love to see the WAC revived and playing football

New Mexico State
UTEP
Idaho
Montana
Montana St
Eastern Washington
Texas State
UTSA

Could be a solid

(10-03-2016 02:43 AM)SouthJags2012 Wrote:  I would love to see the WAC revived and playing football

New Mexico State
UTEP
Idaho
Montana
Montana St
Eastern Washington
Texas State
UTSA

Could be a solid

not a bad lineup except that utep would see that group of schools as a step down. probably have to leave them off the list for nau or the dakotas.

It is a bad lineup. What the heck does Idaho, Montana, Montana St and Eastern Washington have in common with NMSU, UTEP, UTSA and TXST.

(10-03-2016 02:43 AM)SouthJags2012 Wrote:  I would love to see the WAC revived and playing football

New Mexico State
UTEP
Idaho
Montana
Montana St
Eastern Washington
Texas State
UTSA

Could be a solid

Much as I would personally love this conference there are no Texas teams already in a G5 conference who would join something like this. The closest possibility would be UT-RGV, which is looking into restarting football and would apparently like to play at the FBS level. There are just a ton of logistical difficulties with trying to get something like this off the ground.

(10-03-2016 12:11 PM)LatahCounty Wrote:  Much as I would personally love this conference there are no Texas teams already in a G5 conference who would join something like this. The closest possibility would be UT-RGV, which is looking into restarting football and would apparently like to play at the FBS level. There are just a ton of logistical difficulties with trying to get something like this off the ground.

Agreed. TXST would rather stay in the Sun Belt and utsa/UTEP would rather stay CUSA then to head back to a rebooted WAC I would have to imagine.