This round of realignment could present a very good opportunity.

UTA would be the perfect addition to the conference.

They've talked in the past about adding football as well, and that would be great for the WAC is it came to be.

Nevertheless, their basketball team is good and their arena is top notch.

If they wanted football then presumably they wouldn't get kicked out of the Sun Belt

Agreed with our Bobcat guest

I’ve said it before and will say it again, UTRGV adding Football gives the WAC some more flexibility. Certainly if Arlington gets into Missouri Valley, that’s the better league for basketball but a WAC with all Texas schools is a sensical landing point for that program and much better than landing in Southland

UTA is not getting "kicked out" of the SBC. They and Little Rock are looking for a conference that has less emphasis on FBS football and more emphasis on basketball. I think they would be a great add for the WAC, but don't expect them to start football. If they wanted to do that, they would stay in the SBC.

(10-24-2021 07:49 PM)CW Fishman Wrote:  UTA is not getting "kicked out" of the SBC. They and Little Rock are looking for a conference that has less emphasis on FBS football and more emphasis on basketball. I think they would be a great add for the WAC, but don't expect them to start football. If they wanted to do that, they would stay in the SBC.

I think UTA and UALR would like to be in the Missouri Valley but they are not leaving the Sun Belt otherwise. Which makes the Sun Belt interesting. If the SBC were to add Southern Miss, Marshall, and Old Dominion. That would put the SBC at 15 members. Will they add a 16th school (Florida International, Louisiana Tech, UTEP or Liberty) or try to actually force the non-football schools (UTA, UALR) out?

I don’t see UALR and UTA and the SBC being happy with 1 bid, 16 team league. Would be the largest conference in the NCAA, fighting over 1 bid. I don’t see how their membership is beneficial to anyone.

JMU is the 16th Sunbelt team. IF Tarleton, SHSU, and NMSU leave the WAC for C-USA which is most likely, then I imagine the WAC would Target football schools like UIW and McNeese ( if they do not go to CUSA) and then a few more D2 schools like WTAMU Angelo State and Midwestern. The WAC will desperately need football schools if those three leave and BB schools only do them no good.

(10-24-2021 08:17 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  I don’t see UALR and UTA and the SBC being happy with 1 bid, 16 team league. Would be the largest conference in the NCAA, fighting over 1 bid. I don’t see how their membership is beneficial to anyone.

I suspect the conference powers would look at the math to determine if by adding UALR and UTA and subtracting Chicago State, the WAC would move into two bid territory. The WAC jumped way up this year by adding the Texas 4 and will get another boost next year when Southern Utah comes on board and Chicago State departs.

(10-25-2021 04:01 AM)OscarWildeCat Wrote:  

(10-24-2021 08:17 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  I don’t see UALR and UTA and the SBC being happy with 1 bid, 16 team league. Would be the largest conference in the NCAA, fighting over 1 bid. I don’t see how their membership is beneficial to anyone.

I suspect the conference powers would look at the math to determine if by adding UALR and UTA and subtracting Chicago State, the WAC would move into two bid territory. The WAC jumped way up this year by adding the Texas 4 and will get another boost next year when Southern Utah comes on board and Chicago State departs.

UTA and UALR don’t add another bid to any conference

(10-25-2021 08:39 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 04:01 AM)OscarWildeCat Wrote:  

(10-24-2021 08:17 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  I don’t see UALR and UTA and the SBC being happy with 1 bid, 16 team league. Would be the largest conference in the NCAA, fighting over 1 bid. I don’t see how their membership is beneficial to anyone.

I suspect the conference powers would look at the math to determine if by adding UALR and UTA and subtracting Chicago State, the WAC would move into two bid territory. The WAC jumped way up this year by adding the Texas 4 and will get another boost next year when Southern Utah comes on board and Chicago State departs.

UTA and UALR don’t add another bid to any conference

This^

If UTA and UALR don't add a second bid to the SBC, then they would very little for the WAC. The only reason their was speculation of the WAC getting a second bid is because the WAC took on the best programs of the Southland to join NMSU and a few growing programs in the WAC. UTA and UALR aren't even the best programs in the SBC. The other option for the schools if the SBC football playing schools try to force them out is the Summit League which doesn't support football as a conference.