Is there a possibility that Austin Peay returns to the OVC with yesterday's announcement of Incarnate Word staying in the Southland? Will Eastern Kentucky try to find a way to get into the FBS, even without an invite from the CUSA? What will the OVC do next now that the MEAC and Southland have made their moves?

(06-25-2022 11:09 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  The future of Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky and the OVC

To quote the great Michael Ray Richardson:

"The ship be sinking"

At this point, I think it makes the most sense for the 5 ASUN football schools to merge, on a full time or football only basis, with the OVC.

I feel the same way about the WAC—full membership in the Southland for the Texas school and football only membership in the Big Sky for the Utah twins.

(06-25-2022 01:54 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  At this point, I think it makes the most sense for the 5 ASUN football schools to merge, on a full time or football only basis, with the OVC.

I feel the same way about the WAC—full membership in the Southland for the Texas school and football only membership in the Big Sky for the Utah twins.

I agree with you on the WAC schools, although I'm not sure if the Southland will be able to convince Stephen F. Austin and Abilene Christian to rejoin full time. The most they will get is affiliate membership in football. The Utah schools may be more likely to get full membership in the Big Sky because that will bring the conference up to 12 full members.

The OVC will have a harder time bringing in the ASUN schools, especially Eastern Kentucky with the ongoing lawsuit between them and the OVC over exit fees. On top of that, the OVC has an impending partnership with the Big South starting next year, and no details have been released about it yet. It's possible that the OVC only gets Austin Peay and Central Arkansas to join, while North Alabama and Kennesaw State would probably join the Big South as affiliate members.

ASUN/OVC need to rearrange along (scholarship) football/non-football lines.

1 - SIUe, UALR, Southern Indiana, Bellarmine, Morehead State, Lipscomb, Queens, Jacksonville, North Florida, Stetson, FGCU
2 - SEMO, UCA, Lindenwood, EIU, EKU, APSU, UNA, TSU, TTU, UTM, KSU

(06-25-2022 02:42 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  ASUN/OVC need to rearrange along (scholarship) football/non-football lines.

1 - SIUe, UALR, Bellarmine, Morehead State, Lipscomb, Queens, Jacksonville, North Florida, UNF, FGCU
2 - SEMO, Lindenwood, EIU, EKU, APSU, UNA, TSU, TTU, UTM, KSU

Don't forget about USI and Central Arkansas. You also put UNF twice and you left out Stetson.

(06-25-2022 01:54 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  At this point, I think it makes the most sense for the 5 ASUN football schools to merge, on a full time or football only basis, with the OVC.

I feel the same way about the WAC—full membership in the Southland for the Texas school and football only membership in the Big Sky for the Utah twins.

Including the new members joining the OVC, the OVC adding the 5 A-Sun schools would jump to 11 schools for football + Morehead St. and 15 schools for non-football. I think the A-Sun could look at the 3 TX WAC football schools or Tenn St./Tenn Tech (probably the best of the rest of the OVC football schools) to reload. If the A-Sun were hit again from C-USA raids, then I could see the remaining A-Sun football members potentialy join the OVC.

I see the answer for Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky is to get above the fray and move up to FBS.

The low major level is volatile. None of the administrations are excited about these conferences.

(06-25-2022 04:02 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  I see the answer for Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky is to get above the fray and move up to FBS.

The low major level is volatile. None of the administrations are excited about these conferences.

Austin Peay wouldn't gain anything by moving up to the FBS. I live and work near Clarksville. The university is a commuter school, and the football stadium is well below the capacity requirement for an FBS school.

Would Austin Pray make a good fit for the SoCon, if the SoCon were to invite them?? I read some reviews on Unigo.com about Austin Peay and they basically confirmed what you said about APSU being a commuter school. However, I don't think that APSU wants to be part of the OVC anymore either. They want to be able to stand out from their competition. That's why I mentioned the SoCon.

However, I feel like that EKU is in a different situation than APSU and could move up to FBS.

(06-25-2022 02:42 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  ASUN/OVC need to rearrange along (scholarship) football/non-football lines.

1 - SIUe, UALR, Southern Indiana, Bellarmine, Morehead State, Lipscomb, Queens, Jacksonville, North Florida, Stetson, FGCU
2 - SEMO, UCA, Lindenwood, EIU, EKU, APSU, UNA, TSU, TTU, UTM, KSU

I wonder if that was the "merger" that was mentioned in the EKU article between the OVC and ASun.

It would accomplish ASun Ted's goal from the failed expand and split project he proposed

(06-25-2022 01:54 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  At this point, I think it makes the most sense for the 5 ASUN football schools to merge, on a full time or football only basis, with the OVC.

I feel the same way about the WAC—full membership in the Southland for the Texas school and football only membership in the Big Sky for the Utah twins.

No thank you.

(06-26-2022 02:54 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  Would Austin Pray make a good fit for the SoCon, if the SoCon were to invite them?? I read some reviews on Unigo.com about Austin Peay and they basically confirmed what you said about APSU being a commuter school. However, I don't think that APSU wants to be part of the OVC anymore either. They want to be able to stand out from their competition. That's why I mentioned the SoCon.

However, I feel like that EKU is in a different situation than APSU and could move up to FBS.

To add to your point, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State have been rumored to leave the OVC for the ASUN, but I doubt Tennessee State would want to be in the ASUN. From what I've heard and read on this forum, they're trying to get into the SWAC to join the other HBCU schools and move away from the culture of the OVC as it hasn't helped their fan base grow.

Tennessee Tech was mentioned as a potential expansion candidate for the SoCon and pairing them with Austin Peay would be a sensible move, although the SoCon isn't interested in expansion right now as they are content with 9 football members and 10 full members. Plus. they would risk diluting the product of oversaturating the Tennessee presence in the conference. But I'd say ETSU, and Chattanooga would like to play in-state opponents more often in football. It would almost be the reverse of what the OVC tried to do about 10 years ago when they tried to bring ETSU and Chattanooga into the fold. It would have made since for ETSU since they were a member of the OVC before joining the SoCon.

If the reports are being confirmed, and the OVC does add the University of Indianapolis, what does that do to their merger with the Big South? Campbell is leaving the Big South for the CAA, leaving four football members behind. I feel like this merger will be more along the lines of the Big South schools just playing in the OVC as affiliates. If U Indy is in the league, would the OVC consider adding Robert Morris as a full member? Also, have there been any updates regarding Tennessee State/Tech leaving the conference? I know they're both being looked at by the the ASUN, but Tennessee State is looking to go to the SWAC as well. Would the SWAC take only them, or would they have to find a 14th member?

(08-29-2022 08:49 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  If what reports are being confirmed, and the OVC does add the University of Indianapolis? What does that do to their merger with the Big South. Campbell is leaving the Big South for the CAA, leaving four football members behind. I feel like this merger will be more along the lines of the Big South schools just playing in the OVC as affiliates. If U Indy is in the league, would the OVC consider adding Robert Morris as a full member? Also, have their been any updates regarding Tennessee State/Tech leaving the conference? I know they're both being looked at by the the ASUN, but Tennessee State is looking to go to the SWAC as well. Would the SWAC take only them, or would they have to find a 14th member?

Robert Morris just got into the Horizon, even though they left football in limbo with no longer being able to associate with the NEC. I doubt they would go to the OVC so their football team would have a better home. I'm sure the OVC will take whomever is willing to affiliate with them, especially while they have 2 schools doing the 4 years D2 upgrade process.