https://www.app.com/story/sports/college...572218002/

As the specter of conference realignment in college athletics looms, the trickle down is likely to reach the Jersey Shore.

And if that happens, it could have an impact on the future of Monmouth University athletics.

As a refresher, when Monmouth jumped from its long-time home in the Northeast Conference to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Association in 2013, the move was driven by the desire to place its men’s basketball program in a better conference.

But the MAAC doesn’t play football, so Monmouth's football team ended up in the Big South. And while there's been success on the field, the understanding was that they’d seek a better geographic fit, since Monmouth is one of only two Big South schools north of Southern Virginia.

The CAA would be a perfect fit for football, placing the Hawks, looking for a third straight Big South title, in one of the country’s top FCS football conferences where multiple teams land in the FCS Playoffs each year.

But does the move make sense for Monmouth men's basketball and the rest of the school's athletic programs?