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The WAC the last two (2) weeks, has made overtures to five (5) Southland Conference Schools teams _ Two (2) Big Sky Conference Schools have been named as having received invites to the WAC.

Southland Conference Teams are: Abilene Christian Wildcats, Lamar Cardinals, Sam Houston State Bearkats, Houston Baptist and Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks.

Big Sky Conference Teams are: Southern Utah State and Northern Arizona.

Saturday Update: D2 West Texas A&M - Canyon, TX considering jumping to D1 and this could be additional WAC school, like this year with Tarleton State.

Word is WAC with new schools that have football Dixie State U.-St George, Utah | Tarleton State-90 miles from Abilene,TX and New Mexico State-Las Cruces, NM __ Add: Southern Utah-Cedar City, UT and Northern Arizona-Flagstaff, AZ, Abilene Christian no brainer and the others creates East & West Conference.

No brainer as old WAC was Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, Wyoming etc. They want back into football. Plus, there is discussion with ALL their money Grand Canyon U adding football. Plus, remove Chicago State and UMKC basketball only and two time zones away.

This has true legs __ reduction travel costs, major travel advantages as Southwest Airlines close by airports El Paso, Midland, Las Vegas, Phoenix Houston and connections work with these schools. Plus one article the Texas schools want out playing the Louisiana schools and the island campus out of the geographical norm Central Arkansas.

we need to join the OVC

Not sure if we should join them, but I would encourage to schedule some kind of non-conference game each year with them. Which we have been doing. They are both about on the same level it seems for football schools.

I wonder if UCA has had any talks behind the scenes with the OVC....

Not sure if it would be any better for a Football Conference, but for other sports it should be a major step up.

The only conference I have heard mentioned is the Atlantic Sun but not sure a formal invitation has been extended.

OVC would be good for travel.
Question in OVC would be changes to recruiting base.
Being in Southland opened up new areas in Texas, and La.
Not sure that would continue in OVC.

ASUN Plan to Explore Expansion
https://collegead.com/asun-expansion-plan/

A super conference of around 20 teams with Jax State, UNA, and others.
Would be a BIG step up in sports other than football.
Maybe would include McNeese and other LA schools if Southland breaks apart.

I honestly think at this point if you are from the Ark La Tex area, you have probably seen UCA's name flashed somewhere. Would it probably decrease our recruits from Texas and La? Possibly, but think it opens the door for other states as well. UCA gets so many D1 FBS transfers now it seems like that I feel like they would do just fine. I would only think this could help for the level of competitiveness for others sports on the national stage out of conference.

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2020/11 ... l-arkansas

Report: ASUN ‘likely’ to add Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, and Central Arkansas
The move would be in time for the 2021-22 season.
By Lance Hartzler Nov 16, 2020, 1:15pm PST

Can someone explain why moving to the Atlantic Sun Conference would be a good idea? I would think higher travel costs, plus having to find a different conference for Football would be a no go. As well as the Ohio Valley seeming like the better option. For basketball it would seem fun though. Not sure about how competitive the conference is in other sports.

guess the site got fixed...

this is probably pre-emptive with the WAC making a hard rum at the western most TX schools in the conference. also, the A-Sun has an agreement with the Big South to house its football playing members. if the recent headline is true and all 3 join, that will give the A-Sun enough to start its own football conference. i would imagine it could attract others as well (jacksonville st, EKU and UNA are good and up and coming programs).

HBU and UIW were terrible additions to the conference and the LA schools are getting weaker. the southland is a dying conference

I struggle to see what SFA, SAM, Lamar, & Abilene see in this deal. Anyone get excited to play Dixie State? Tarleton? is this going to lead to more donors? Stadium expansions? TV Revenue? Suspect this is a total gamble hoping 5-10 years down the road another realignment will occur and a few reputable schools join the wac.

Basically think they will miss Southland after they depart.

chatter in TX is the deal for ACU, SHSu, Lamar and SFA to the wac is done. the WAC is waiting on other pieces to fall in place before announcement.

ACU commented on the WAC interest and basically said they are going to do what’s for their school. sounds like major realignment is about to begin in the FCS

tartleton sounds better than uiw and hbu. theyve got some really nice facilities now