by mvfcfan » April 27th, 2017, 10:17 am
Here is my prediction for this wave of conference realignment.
The MVC adds Murray St, Valpo, and Milwaukee to make a 12 team league.
The Horizon League in response adds IUPUI and IPFW to go back to 10 teams. The two IUP-- schools fit in the Horizon League better geographically. I have no idea why those two schools are even in the Summit League.
The Summit League adds UMKC and remains at 8 members (they already added N Dakota). The Summit League is better for UMKC geographically. The WAC is a mess (Chicago St might be dropping sports, NM ST might leave eventually, teams everywhere) and I have no idea why UMKC left the Summit League for that in the first place. The WAC is like the D1 reject conference where if you literally have no place to go, you go there so you can get an auto bid to the NCAAs.
The Ohio Valley might try to add someone, but they might not either. Lipscomb is located in Nashville and is currently in the A-SUN. I could see them maybe going to the OVC. The only downside is that they don't have football, but the OVC will still have eight teams for football no matter what they do.
The Atlantic Sun is adding North Alabama in 2018, so they are set and they really wouldn't need to add anyone else. They would still have 8 teams even without Lipscomb.
The WAC is adding California Baptist so they would also still be at 8 even without UMKC.