The first domino falls - Denver to move to WCC in 2026

[TrueBlue82]

Our concerns of a major shake-up in the Summit League have come to fruition.  Denver is announcing its move to the West Coast Conference starting in July 2026.  Hopefully, the League has a plan in place and puts it in action quickly before other rats leave the ship. 
 

Frankly, this is a good move for Denver, as the geography difference is a wash, and the other schools in the WCC (Pepperdine, LMU, USF, Santa Clara, Portland, etc.) are more like-minded (private, no football) than Denver and the Summit schools.  
 

Fortunately, Denver does not play baseball, so the Pios’ departure doesn’t impact the Summit’s most “fragile” sport.
 

Worst case scenario is that the WCC needs a travel partner for Denver, and St. Thomas accepts an invite to join (some rumor mills are also reporting that this is imminent).  This doesn’t make much sense geographically, but neither does Stanford and Cal in the ACC.  
 

Get your popcorn ready, it’s going to be entertaining!  

[ORU40]

27 minutes ago, TrueBlue82 said:

Our concerns of a major shake-up in the Summit League have come to fruition.  Denver is announcing its move to the West Coast Conference starting in July 2026.  Hopefully, the League has a plan in place and puts it in action quickly before other rats leave the ship. 
 

Frankly, this is a good move for Denver, as the geography difference is a wash, and the other schools in the WCC (Pepperdine, LMU, USF, Santa Clara, Portland, etc.) are more like-minded (private, no football) than Denver and the Summit schools.  
 

Fortunately, Denver does not play baseball, so the Pios’ departure doesn’t impact the Summit’s most “fragile” sport.
 

Worst case scenario is that the WCC needs a travel partner for Denver, and St. Thomas accepts an invite to join (some rumor mills are also reporting that this is imminent).  This doesn’t make much sense geographically, but neither does Stanford and Cal in the ACC.  
 

Get your popcorn ready, it’s going to be entertaining!  

That is huge move for Denver in terms of conference upgrade. The West Coast Conference includes the teams TB82 mentioned, but it also includes perennial tourney team St Mary's and one of the best basketball programs in the country, Gonzaga.

I have to believe St. Thomas would jump at the WCC. For the Tommies to go from DIII to the WCC in 4 years would be incredible. The commitment of the University, and athletic dept. to the basketball program is paying off handsomely.     

[TrueBlue82]

31 minutes ago, ORU40 said:

That is huge move for Denver in terms of conference upgrade. The West Coast Conference includes the teams TB82 mentioned, but it also includes perennial tourney team St Mary's and one of the best basketball programs in the country, Gonzaga.

I have to believe St. Thomas would jump at the WCC. For the Tommies to go from DIII to the WCC in 4 years would be incredible. The commitment of the University, and athletic dept. to the basketball program is paying off handsomely.     

At the same time Denver joins the conference, Gonzaga will depart the WCC for the “new” PAC 12, made up of Washington State, Oregon State, Gonzaga, and several members of the current Mountain West. 

[Old Titan]

Will be stunned if Denver's replacement in the Summit is from below the 40th Parallel.  I'm guessing it will be yet another "transition to D1" northern school such as Augustana, Mankato State, St. Cloud, etc.

A wildcard would be landing a current D1 school from the fracturing Ohio Valley Conference, such as Lindenwood, SIU-Edwardsville, or even previous Summit member Western Illinois.  Depends on just how nervous one of those schools might be feeling about the future, but I'm guessing the OVC has a better "TV" deal then the Summit League (how could they/anyone not??) that makes it more likely they will wait till the bitter end of the OVC before jumping ship.  The Summit can't wait; a replacement is needed NOW.

Regardless of who it is, they won't be glamorous and it will not increase the profile of the league the way that surprising St. Thomas has.

[2014Grad]

And our soccer team rejoices .

[ORU82]

Should the Summit try to get either or both UT Arlington and/or UALR to join? 

[ORUJason]

If the Summit could get either UALR or UT Arlington, that would be great for ORU and the conference.  I am not holding my breath.  The drive from Arlington to Fargo is 15+ hours.