Basically, Benson said the Idaho's potential membership is contingent on LaTech going to CUSA!

If UTEP leaves, the expansion would most likely come from the Sun Belt in order to keep LaTech.

He did not come out and say anything that we did not already know.

I heard it too. Prater followed by saying that he was confident that Idaho was going to be in the WAC BEFORE they interviewed Benson. He is saying now that Idaho probably will not get into the WAC if UTEP goes to CUSA.

Idaho fans better hope that UTEP stays in the WAC and LaTech leaves.

I have to think it goes down like this:

C-USA
UTEP

WAC
UNT
ARK State
ULL

MAC
Middle Tenn
Troy (Only because theres no viable conf)

Stay I-AA
Florida AM
Florida I.

Dropping I-AA
LA Monroe
Idaho (If WAC doesn't take them)

And the SunBelt dies. Which it's needed to for a while

HerdZoned Wrote:I have to think it goes down like this:

C-USA
UTEP

WAC
UNT
ARK State
ULL

MAC
Middle Tenn
Troy (Only because theres no viable conf)

Stay I-AA
Florida AM
Florida I.

Dropping I-AA
LA Monroe
Idaho (If WAC doesn't take them)

And the SunBelt dies. Which it's needed to for a while

I could live with that!

Me too. Just don't want Idaho in the same league as Boise State.

But here is what needs to happen:

CUSA - UTEP (done deal)

WAC: Fresno St, Hawaii, San Jose St, Boise St, Utah State, New Mexico St., Nevada & Idaho

Sun Belt: ASU, UNT, ULL, ULM, LTU, Troy, MT, FIU, FAU

This scenario needs to stay this way for 3-5 years and allow these schools to prepare for the next go-around of realignment. Next on the horizon is the MWC and Big East expansion and the WAC and SBC will be picked apart again. Then the remainder of both the SBC and WAC will have to merge. We need all schools mentioned above to be as healthy as can be so no one gets left behind.

MWC may take 3 of the top WAC schools in future years and maybe as many as 5 if the PAC 10 goes to 12 by picking off 2 of the current MWC members.

When the Big East finally goes to 12, as many as 4 more CUSA teams bolt. That means as many as 4 SBC schools could go to CUSA. That leaves 3 WAC and 4 Current SBC schools to form a conference...there will probably be a few new I-A members by then to survive.

JSinLR Wrote:But here is what needs to happen:

CUSA - UTEP (done deal)

WAC: Fresno St, Hawaii, San Jose St, Boise St, Utah State, New Mexico St., Nevada & Idaho

Sun Belt: ASU, UNT, ULL, ULM, LTU, Troy, MT, FIU, FAU

This scenario needs to stay this way for 3-5 years and allow these schools to prepare for the next go-around of realignment. Next on the horizon is the MWC and Big East expansion and the WAC and SBC will be picked apart again. Then the remainder of both the SBC and WAC will have to merge. We need all schools mentioned above to be as healthy as can be so no one gets left behind.

MWC may take 3 of the top WAC schools in future years and maybe as many as 5 if the PAC 10 goes to 12 by picking off 2 of the current MWC members.

When the Big East finally goes to 12, as many as 4 more CUSA teams bolt. That means as many as 4 SBC schools could go to CUSA. That leaves 3 WAC and 4 Current SBC schools to form a conference...there will probably be a few new I-A members by then to survive.

Or their could be quite a few less D1A schools by then. The new requirements were set up to reduce the number of D1A schools.

The future is very grey, but a WAC/Sun Belt merger may be very close. Get the 12 strongest schools in one league and they may weather the raids from the MWC and CUSA better.