Conference realignment as of 7/1/2026

[Bogus Smith]

As the calendar moves to July 1, there are numerous conference moves as well as a pair of conference name changes that go into effect.

• The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has changed its name to the Metro Conference (MC).
• The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is now the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The UAC has added Austin Peay (ASUN), Central Arkansas (ASUN), Eastern Kentucky (ASUN), Little Rock (OVC), North Alabama (ASUN) and West Georgia (ASUN).
• The ASUN has added West Florida from Division II.
• The Big West brought in Cal Baptist, Sacramento State and Utah Valley from the WAC.
• The Horizon League has added Northern Illinois (MAC).
• The Mountain West has added Hawaii and UC Davis from the Big West and Utah Tech from the WAC).
• The Pac-12 returns with Dallas Baptist (CUSA), Fresno State (MWC), Gonzaga (WCC), Oregon State (Independent), San Diego State (MWC), Texas State (SBC) and Washington State (MW).
• The Southern Conference (SoCon) brought in Tennessee Tech (OVC).
• The Sun Belt has added Louisiana Tech (CUSA).

[ORU82]

NIU moved its football team to the Mountain West from the MAC and as a result of that move, the MAC kicked the Huskies out in every other sport.  Northern Illinois did move its wrestling team to the PAC 12, as well as NDSU and SDSU who also moved their wrestling teams to the PAC 12.  And of course NDSU moved up to FBS in football only and will play in the MWC.  Meanwhile Sacramento State also moved up to FBS in football and will play in the MAC in football only.  Finally but not a done deal, the PAC 12 is looking at Ohio and possibly either Toledo or Miami of Ohio as full members, but again no official move on that front yet.

[ORU82]

UTA is also a full member in the UAC.

[theeagleman5]

So ORU is still in the Summit? 

[Bogus Smith]

34 minutes ago, ORU82 said:

NIU moved its football team to the Mountain West from the MAC and as a result of that move, the MAC kicked the Huskies out in every other sport.  Northern Illinois did move its wrestling team to the PAC 12, as well as NDSU and SDSU who also moved their wrestling teams to the PAC 12.  And of course NDSU moved up to FBS in football only and will play in the MWC.  Meanwhile Sacramento State also moved up to FBS in football and will play in the MAC in football only.  Finally but not a done deal, the PAC 12 is looking at Ohio and possibly either Toledo or Miami of Ohio as full members, but again no official move on that front yet.

All good information, @ORU82!  Thanks for the details.  Most of the items I noted above had to do with baseball.  However, everything in this thread goes to show us that there is a lot of mid-major movement happening right now.  The WAC has reimagined itself, the PAC-12 is attempting to remain relevant, and the MAC is looking to replace their school that had the Chicago media market. 

ORU would fit nicely in the footprint of the UAC with UCA and UALR in the mix (a natural rivary of sorts), but there would still be a huge amount of travel costs just like there is with the Summit League.

2 minutes ago, theeagleman5 said:

So ORU is still in the Summit? 

Lucky us, huh?? 

[Keenan Henderson]

What are your thoughts on NDSU moving football to the Mountain West and is basketball, baseball, etc not to far behind.  I think it could be but not 100 percent sure.  They have had a lot of success in basketball but think it be will be harder to reduplicate that in the Mountain West.  Asking that because if they were to leave, what would that mean to the Summit League, as they would drop to 7 teams?  We use to hear about D2 Augustana coming over but that seems to have fallen apart.

 

 

[ORU82]

NDSU had to persuade the MWC to take them.  Their invitation was specifically for football only and no other sports.  Further to make the jump to FBS they had to pay the NCAA $5,000,000.00 and the MWC required them to pay the conference $12,000,000.00 as an entrance fee paid upfront.  Lastly NDSU will not share in any of the revenue sharing of the MWC including TV $$$ for the next 5 years.  I could be wrong but basically the MWC's statement to NDSU was that we will take you for football only.

[Bogus Smith]

For all other sports, NDSU has a regional footprint with USD, SDSU, UND, UST within bus routes.  Why would they want to incur the cost of traveling across the country when it has been so expensive to do just football (and the charter travel that will incur)?