by VUGrad1314 » March 24th, 2018, 9:42 pm
Seems like that one's pretty much done. Good for the Bulldogs. And good for us as we may be able to schedule them and that conference's metrics will receive a nice shove upwards boosting our SOS. Now all that remains to be seen is what kind of bite the WCC wants to take out of the WAC. I have to assume they'll be adding GCU as that is their best shot at remaining relevant and recouping the lost strength and prestige, but maybe, especially with BYU probably looking for the exit and St Mary's as another possible defection candidate, they will embrace a 12 team model and take Seattle and Cal-Baptist. This way, if one or both of BYU and SMC leave, they'll still have 10 or 11 teams. I believe that both Seattle and Cal-Baptist have real potential and would be good fits for the WCC.
The WAC can absorb the loss of one school but with CSU-Bakersfield already having announced its decision to leave, I have to believe that other members are going to get nervous enough to seek more stable homes. UMKC will likely engage with the Summit League Utah Valley probably tries for a spot in the Big Sky joining Weber State and Southern Utah UTRGV probably looks for the Southland though the Summit could possibly be a landing spot for both UTRGV and Utah Valley as it appears to be shifting westward.
NMSU will try for the MWC but I doubt they'll gain much traction unless BYU gives up its independence in football They don't want the Big Sky The WCC won't take them. I think their choices dwindle down to the Summit the Horizon or the MVC but would Elgin really consider a program so far outside the footprint? Who would the corresponding add be? SFA? UTA? Oral Roberts? Would the other schools consent to such a massive travel increase? And what about Murray State?