An interesting collaboration...

Not too different than the WAC/ASUN collaboration that led to the AQ7 getting an automatic bid. Would presume this would be somewhat similar and actually free up an FCS playoffs autobid.

The Big South Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference announced today that they have signed a letter of intent to create an association of their football member institutions, to begin with the 2023 NCAA Division I football season.

The unique agreement combines the two conferences’ football membership to ensure NCAA championship access. It will provide the football member institutions a schedule of games against all the teams in their multisport conference and additional games against schools from the other conference. This new model for FCS football also creates more stability for the multisport conferences.

Details of the association’s overall structure and administration have been outlined and are expected to be finalized, along with the 2023 schedule, in the coming months.

Dr. J. Bradley Creed, Chair of the Big South Council of Football Members, Chair of the Council of Chief Executive Officers, and President of Campbell University, and Dr. David Glassman, President of Eastern Illinois University and Chair of the OVC Board of Presidents, made the announcement, expressing their enthusiasm for this distinctive structure.

http://ovcsports.com/news/2022/2/22/big-...ement.aspx

This makes me think that the Southland is more stable than some say. They must feel confident they will have ample teams to retain their auto bid.

(02-23-2022 12:08 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  This makes me think that the Southland is more stable than some say. They must feel confident they will have ample teams to retain their auto bid.

Or the OVC teams would rather play teams from the Big South instead?

(02-23-2022 12:08 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  This makes me think that the Southland is more stable than some say. They must feel confident they will have ample teams to retain their auto bid.

Seriously, do you really believe that? Look at what's left and others are looking to leave. Commerce will bolt as soon as transition has passed. Foregone conclusion.

Sounds similar to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, a permanent alliance among schools whose members play other sports in several conferences.

(02-23-2022 12:15 AM)BlueDragon Wrote:  

(02-23-2022 12:08 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  This makes me think that the Southland is more stable than some say. They must feel confident they will have ample teams to retain their auto bid.

Seriously, do you really believe that? Look at what's left and others are looking to leave. Commerce will bolt as soon as transition has passed. Foregone conclusion.

They are really pushing New Orleans to add a football program. If that happens combined with the Commerce add I think they will be sustainable short term. It feels like it's got momentum

https://www.nola.com/sports/article_5f6c...f1a2f.html

There are a lot of question marks about New Orleans adding football. Seems quite a few of them will work their way out as we get into the fall (the student vote referenced in November being a huge domino particularly at a campus that has a large commuter base and very few students living on campus.

Southland needs to add from outside the league still to address their issues as they need more programs in a few sports that are under or literally at the six sports threshold