This duplicates the information below, but I think this deserves it's own post. Apparently, UIC will also be added soon. UMKC and UTA may still be under consideration, but they aren't being invited now. I guess the only good news to me is that this is not, in the least, a surprise to the Ohio Valley Conference according to Matt Norlander:

Industry sources also tell me that Murray's departure was expected by OVC officials, and the league will continue to seek to expand, with their search including both current D-I, FCS-football playing institutions, (such as Western Illinois and Arkansas-Pine Bluff) as well potentially D-II institutions in the Midwest and Upper South (such as Southern Indiana, Hillsdale, Grand Valley State and Lincoln Memorial).

Personally, I'd like to see Western Illinois added along with Southern Indiana. I believe Southern Indiana would have a lot of potential, as a DI basketball school, just because of their location and an arena which looks a lot like the Stephens Center. The OVC is a better geographical fit, than the Summit, for WIU but they are probably worried about the status of OVC football. If a 3rd Illionois team is added, Chicago State would then make a lot of sense as well. Don't know how realistic UAPB is, but that is certainly an interesting possibility. Lincoln Memorial, in eastern Tennessee, also has a very nice 5000 seat arena, but only has 1800 students. Seems pretty small for DI.

Murray State's leaving the OVC is certainly no surprise. I've been saying for a month that I hope the OVC has a good plan in place to deal with this. I also said that I can't imagine we committed to the OVC without some assurances that they have a solid plan moving forward. Some folks on message boards seem to believe the OVC will lose a couple of football schools to the ASUN. Not sure how they would survive that, but I guess we'll see in the next few weeks and months. At least, there is no doubt Murray State is gone and thus the OVC can proceed knowing that is a sure thing. What is scary is that most of the remaining OVC teams are probably looking at other options. Doesn't mean they will leave, but they obviously have to be proactive in covering their butts if the league falls apart.

According to Matt Brown-

The list of schools that I know are at least on the OVC hot board at the moment:

Western Illinois
Arkansas Pine Bluff
Grand Valley State
Hillsdale College
Lincoln Memorial
Southern Indiana
University of Indianapolis

It's possible there are others, but those are the ones I've heard from OVC ADs and central office personnel. Not totally sure how to handicap it all yet, honestly

WIU, UAPB, Southern Indiana, Lincoln Memorial, and maybe even U of Indianapolis could be seen as being in the OVC "footprint". Hillsdale and Grand Valley are both a long way from Little Rock.

There is no reason why we shouldn't be the top dog in the new OVC. I've always wanted our program to be in as good a conference as possible. I was willing to be a mediocre Sun Belt team and would have been happy to be a mediocre MVC team. I'm a college basketball fan and wanted to be able to see as good a level of basketball as possible. But, while it's somewhat hard to remember, I'm pretty sure I enjoyed winning in the TAAC. I'm sure I can get used to winning again in the OVC. I'm willing to bet we will win more than 2 conference titles in the OVC in the next 30 years.

(01-05-2022 07:18 PM)mjs Wrote:  Personally, I'd like to see Western Illinois added along with Southern Indiana. I believe Southern Indiana would have a lot of potential, as a DI basketball school, just because of their location and an arena which looks a lot like the Stephens Center. The OVC is a better geographical fit, than the Summit, for WIU but they are probably worried about the status of OVC football. If a 3rd Illionois team is added, Chicago State would then make a lot of sense as well. Don't know how realistic UAPB is, but that is certainly an interesting possibility. Lincoln Memorial, in eastern Tennessee, also has a very nice 5000 seat arena, but only has 1800 students. Seems pretty small for DI.

I haven't been following the conference realignment close, but is the SWAC forcing UAPB out? It wouldn't make sense for UAPB to voluntarily leave the SWAC. Although Pine Bluff has not been consistently good sports wise in the SWAC them leaving the SWAC would be a massive blow to their already meager athletic program.

(01-06-2022 07:57 PM)LR Alum Wrote:  

(01-05-2022 07:18 PM)mjs Wrote:  Personally, I'd like to see Western Illinois added along with Southern Indiana. I believe Southern Indiana would have a lot of potential, as a DI basketball school, just because of their location and an arena which looks a lot like the Stephens Center. The OVC is a better geographical fit, than the Summit, for WIU but they are probably worried about the status of OVC football. If a 3rd Illionois team is added, Chicago State would then make a lot of sense as well. Don't know how realistic UAPB is, but that is certainly an interesting possibility. Lincoln Memorial, in eastern Tennessee, also has a very nice 5000 seat arena, but only has 1800 students. Seems pretty small for DI.

I haven't been following the conference realignment close, but is the SWAC forcing UAPB out? It wouldn't make sense for UAPB to voluntarily leave the SWAC. Although Pine Bluff has not been consistently good sports wise in the SWAC them leaving the SWAC would be a massive blow to their already meager athletic program.

No indication that the SWAC is forcing UAPB out. UAPB is just testing the waters. Can't see them moving either, but the OVC desperately needs to add a football team or two if they want to remain a football conference.

If Murray State football leaves the OVC, they are down to 5 football playing members. You need to have 6 to sponsor football and be an automatic qualifier for the playoffs. Apparently, to be a DI conference, you have to have men's basketball and football. If you don't have football, you need to have 2 men's team sports other than basketball. So if the OVC stops sponsoring football, they will have to add another men's team sport (they already have baseball). This is most likely soccer which they are well short of the required 6 teams at this point. So survival of the OVC is rather complicated, but I assume they will get it done. According to posts, I have read on other boards, Murray State is applying for membership in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (a separate entity from the MVC) for 2023. This would give the OVC a one-year reprieve to try and get things figured out. If they add DII call-ups, as is rumored, the NCAA will likely work with them regarding the 4 year transition period required to move to DI. I assume that transition period applies to football, basketball, soccer, or any other sport.

Anyway, my point is that UAPB would really help solve some of the OVC's problems if they could convince them to move leagues.

(01-07-2022 02:17 PM)mjs Wrote:  If Murray State football leaves the OVC, they are down to 5 football playing members. You need to have 6 to sponsor football and be an automatic qualifier for the playoffs. Apparently, to be a DI conference, you have to have men's basketball and football. If you don't have football, you need to have 2 men's team sports other than basketball. So if the OVC stops sponsoring football, they will have to add another men's team sport (they already have baseball). This is most likely soccer which they are well short of the required 6 teams at this point. So survival of the OVC is rather complicated, but I assume they will get it done. According to posts, I have read on other boards, Murray State is applying for membership in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (a separate entity from the MVC) for 2023. This would give the OVC a one-year reprieve to try and get things figured out. If they add DII call-ups, as is rumored, the NCAA will likely work with them regarding the 4 year transition period required to move to DI. I assume that transition period applies to football, basketball, soccer, or any other sport.

Anyway, my point is that UAPB would really help solve some of the OVC's problems if they could convince them to move leagues.

Thanks for the insight.