I have culled through Wikipedia and assembled a list of all DII universities with over 10K enrollment. (In a couple instances I went just below, but only 10K+ Universities made the list for sure.) Certainly a university can move up to I-AAA or FCS with a smaller enrollment, but 10K is a pretty good minimum number if you have eventual FBS dreams or really want to have a better chance of success above the DII level. Anyway, I culled the list to fuel dream conference discussions. Where do you want to see these schools? The MAC? The Summitt? The Great West? The WAC? FCS? IAAA? FBS? Project a little into the future if you like...2020? 2030? Really just consider this a dream conference thread where the only criteria is that you have to use at least one of the schools off these lists.


Will one of these schools be the next FAU?

(Note: as others have pointed out below, a number of theses schools have part time students and computer learning remote students bumping up their numbers.)

Team  - Location - Affiliation - Enrollment - Conference - Football?
Wilmington University Wildcats - New Castle, Delaware - PRI - 11,500 - CACC - NO FB
Cal Poly Pomona Broncos - Pomona, California - PUB - 20,510 - CCAA - NO FB
Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros - Carson, California - PUB - 12,082 - CCAA - NO FB
Cal State East Bay- Hayward, California - PUB - 13,124 - CCAA - NO FB
Cal State LA Golden Eagles - Los Angeles, California - PUB - 21,051 - CCAA - NO FB
Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes - San Bernardino, California - PUB - 17,066 - CCAA - NO FB
Chico State Wildcats - Chico, California - PUB - 17,034 - CCAA - NO FB
SF State Gators - San Francisco, California - PUB - 30,125 - CCAA - NO FB
UC San Diego Tritons - La Jolla, California - PUB - 20,339 - CCAA - NO FB
Mercy College Mavericks - Dobbs Ferry, New York - PRI - 10,000 - ECC - NO FB
New York Institute of Technology Bears - New York City and Old Westbury, New York - PRI - 12,755 - ECC - NO FB
Queens College Knights - Flushing, Queens - PUB - 17,639 - ECC - NO FB
Ferris State University Bulldogs - Big Rapids, Michigan - PUB - 12,547 - GLIAC - FB
Grand Valley State University Lakers - Allendale, Michigan - PUB - 23,295 - GLIAC - FB
Northern Michigan University Wildcats - Marquette, Michigan - PUB - 9,400 - GLIAC - FB
Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals - University Center, Michigan - PUB - 9,565 - GLIAC - FB
Wayne State University Warriors - Detroit, Michigan - PUB - 33,000 - GLIAC - FB
Northern Kentucky University Norse - Highland Heights, Kentucky - PUB - 13,910 - GLVC - NO FB
University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles - Evansville, Indiana - PUB - 10,040 - GLVC - NO FB
University of Missouri–St. Louis Tritons - St. Louis, Missouri - PUB - 15,548 - GLVC - NO FB
University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves - Anchorage, Alaska - PUB - 16,242 - GNAC - NO FB
University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks - Fairbanks, Alaska - PUB - 9,380 - GNAC - NO FB
Central Washington University Wildcats - Ellensburg, Washington - PUB - 10,145 - GNAC - FB
Western Washington University Vikings - Bellingham, Washington - PUB - 13,069 - GNAC - NO FB
Valdosta State University Blazers - Valdosta, Georgia - PUB - 11,200 - GSC - FB
University of West Florida Argonauts - Pensacola, Florida - PUB - 10,516 - GSC - NO FB
University of West Georgia Wolves - Carrollton, Georgia - PUB - 10,611 - GSC - FB
University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos - Edmond, Oklahoma - PUB - 15,000 - LSC - FB
University of Central Missouri Mules and Jennies - Warrensburg, Missouri - PUB - 10,604 - MIAA - FB
University of Nebraska at Omaha Mavericks - Omaha, Nebraska - PUB - 14,903 - MIAA - FB
Southern Connecticut State University Fighting Owls - New Haven, CT - PUB - 12,326 - NE-10 - FB
University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks - Lowell, MA - PUB - 13,479 - NE-10 - NO FB
University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs - Duluth, Minnesota - PUB - 10,500 - NSIC - FB
Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks - Mankato, Minnesota - PUB - 14,036 - NSIC - FB
Saint Cloud State University Huskies - Saint Cloud, Minnesota - PUB - 16,000 - NSIC - FB
Grand Canyon University Antelopes - Phoenix, Arizona - PRI/BAP - 13,000 - PAC-W - NO FB
Academy of Art University Urban Knights - San Francisco, California - PRI - 14,000 - PAC-W - NO FB
Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks - Indiana, Pennsylvania - PUB - 14,200 - PSAC - FB
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Golden Bears - Kutztown, Pennsylvania - PUB - 10,200 - PSAC - FB
West Chester University of Pennsylvania Golden Rams - West Chester, Pennsylvania - PUB - 13,219 - PSAC - FB
Metropolitan State College of Denver* Roadrunners - Denver, Colorado - PUB - 21,109 - RMAC - NO FB
Barry University Buccaneers - Miami Shores, Florida - PRI/CATH - 12,809 - SSC - NO FB
Saint Leo University Lions - Saint Leo, Florida - PRI/CATH - 15,120 - SSC - NO FB
Nova Southeastern University Sharks - Davie, Florida - PRI - 33,135 - SSC - NO FB
The University of Tampa Spartans - Tampa, Florida - PRI - 10,515 - SSC - NO FB
Simon Fraser University Clan - Burnaby, BC, Canada - PUB - 30,313 - IND - CFB
Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez Tarzans y Janes - Mayaguez, Puerto Rico - PUB - 13,148 - IND - NO FB
Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras Roosters y Bantams - San Juan, Puerto Rico - PUB - 21,909 - IND - NO FB

Edit: DIII schools over 10K enrollement (plus a few others)
Team   - Location - City   - Affiliation   - Enrollment   - Conference - Football? 
University of Texas at Dallas Comets - Richardson, TX - Public - 14,556 - ASC - NO FB
Baruch College Bearcats - Manhattan, New York - Public - 15,500 - CUNYAC - NO FB
Brooklyn College Bridges - Brooklyn, New York - Public - 15,385 - CUNYAC - NO FB
City College of New York Beavers - Manhattan, New York - Public - 13,244 - CUNYAC - NO FB
College of Staten Island Dolphins - Staten Island, New York - Public - 11,263 - CUNYAC - NO FB
Hunter College Hawks - Manhattan, New York - Public - 21,309 - CUNYAC - NO FB
John Jay College of Criminal Justice Bloodhounds - Manhattan, New York - Public - 14,000 - CUNYAC - NO FB
Lehman College Lightning - Bronx, New York - Public - 10,615 - CUNYAC - NO FB
New York City College of Technology Yellow Jackets - Brooklyn, New York - Public - 11,795 - CUNYAC - NO FB
Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers - Henrietta, New York - Private - 13,046 - Empire 8 - NO FB
Johnson & Wales University Wildcats - Providence, Rhode Island - Private - 16,000 - GNAC - NO FB
Rhode Island College Anchormen - Providence, Rhode Island - Public - 9000 - LEC - NO FB
University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons - Dorchester, Massachusetts - Public - 13,433 - LEC - NO FB
University of Southern Maine Huskies - Gorham, Lewiston & Portland, Maine - Public - 10,974 - LEC - NO FB
Bridgewater State College Bears - Bridgewater, Massachusetts - Public - 8800 - MASCAC - FB
Salem State College Vikings - Salem, Massachusetts - Public - 9254 - MASCAC - NO FB
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Engineers - Cambridge, MA - Private - 10,235 - NEWMAC - FB
Kean University Cougar - Union Township, Union County, New Jersey - Public - 13,200 - NJAC - FB
Montclair State University Red Hawks - Montclair, New Jersey - Public - 16,660 - NJAC - FB
Rowan University Profs - Glassboro, New Jersey - Public - 9300 - NJAC - FB
Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders - Newark, New Jersey - Public - 10,500 - NJAC - NO FB
William Paterson University Pioneers - Wayne, New Jersey - Public - 10,970 - NJAC - FB
Buffalo State College Bengals - Buffalo, New York - Public - 11,234 - NJAC - FB
State University of New York at Brockport Golden Eagles - Brockport, New York - Public - 8742 - NJAC - FB
Carnegie Mellon University Tartans - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Private - 11,006 - UAA - FB
Case Western Reserve University Spartans - Cleveland, Ohio - Private - 9952 - UAA - FB
Emory University Eagles - Atlanta, Georgia - Private - Methodist - 12,338 - UAA - NO FB
New York University Violets - New York, New York - Private - 40,870 - UAA - NO FB
University of Chicago Maroons - Chicago, Illinois - Private - 13,400 - UAA - FB
University of Rochester Yellowjackets - Rochester, New York - Private - 9027 - UAA - FB
Washington University in St. Louis Bears - St. Louis, Missouri - Private - 13,527 - UAA - FB
UW-Eau Claire Blugolds - Eau Claire, Wisconsin - Public - 11,140 - WIAC - FB
UW-La Crosse Eagles - La Crosse, Wisconsin - Public - 9880 - WIAC - FB
UW-Oshkosh Titans - Oshkosh, Wisconsin - Public - 12,753 - WIAC - FB
UW-Stevens Point Pointers - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - Public - 9163 - WIAC - FB
UW-Stout Blue Devils - Menomonie, Wisconsin - Public - 8839 - WIAC - FB
UW-Whitewater Warhawks - Whitewater, Wisconsin - Public - 10,962 - WIAC - FB


and NAIA
Team - Location - City - Affiliation - Enrollment - Conference - Football? 
Lindenwood University Lions - St. Charles, MO - Private - 14500 - HAAC - FB
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds - Vancouver, BC - Public - ~44,000 - IND - CFB
University of Alberta Golden Bears - Edmonton, AL - Public - 33500 - IND - CFB
CS San Marcos Cougars - San Marcos, CA - Public - 9159 - IND - NO FB
University of Regina - Regina, SK - Public - 11554 - IND - CFB
University of Victoria Vikes - Victoria, BC - Public - ~19,000 - IND - No FB
Davenport University Panthers - Grand Rapids, Michigan - Private - 12471 - WHAC - No FB
Savannah College of Art and Design Bees - Savannah, GA - Private - 11897 - Sun - No FB
UTB/TSC Scorpions - Brownsville, TX - Public - 17247 - RRAC - NO FB
Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats - Marion, IN - Private- Wesleyan - 15442 - MCC - NO FB

CS East Bay has 9,213 and are moving to D-II.

_________________

WRANGLERS 153-55-1 CVFL CHAMPS '04 '05 '09 '12

NFL CHAMPS '29 '30 '31 '36 '39 '44 '61 '62 '65 '66 '67 '96 '10

BW/WAC/MWC CHAMPS '77 '82 '85 '88 '89 '91 '92 '93 '99 '12
'08 NCAA BASEBALL CHAMPS

I'll start the thread

"The Cold Northern Conference..."

The summit is faced with mass defections to the GW and southern conferences in 2022. Oakland, W. ILL, UMKC, IUPUI, NDSU & SDSU reach out to E. Michigan --- which after years of struggling to draw fans at the FBS level --- decides to go be an FCS power. EMU agrees to join, but only if the Summit enlarges it's mission to include FCS football AND all FB playing members play. realizing this would stop the instability of their conference, the Summit agrees and starts prowling DII. To please EMU, they raid the GLIAC of GVSU, Ferris St., & SVSU. The conference insists on the inclusion of fellow Detroit area school Wayne St. due to it's large alumni base and it's large DMA location. They would not want a snubbed Wayne State, abandoned at D3, to start pumping money into it's athletic program to upgrade in order to take EMU's place as the MAC's Detroit entry.

To ease NDSU & SDSU's travel they raid the NSIC of St. Cloud St. (minne DMA) & Minne-Duluth (duluth/sup DMA) & the WIAC of Wisc-Whitewater (Madison DMA), Wisc- Oshkosh (Green bay DMA), Wisc-La Crosse & Wisc-Eau Claire (La Crosse/EuaClaire DMA). (I have those last two rated about even, and they are in the same DMA, but frankly I need 2 schools, so they both get in. Likewise, to balance the conference, non-football member N. Kentucky would be added to the East division (Cinnci DMA). W. ILL and Wisc-Oshkosh would need to take it on the chin a bit regarding travel.

Football (two 7 team divisions playing all D-mates plus 2 OOD opponents)
West
NDSU
SDSU
St. Cloud St.
Minne-Duluth
Wisc - Whitewater
Wisc - Lacrosse
Wisc - Eau Claire

East
EMU
GVSU
SVSU
Wayne St.
Ferris St.
W. ILL
Wisc - Oshkosh

all sports (2 9 team divisions effectively playing as seperate conferences).

West
NDSU
SDSU
St. Cloud St.
Minne-Duluth
Wisc - Whitewater
Wisc - Lacrosse
Wisc - Eau Claire
Wisc - Oshkosh
UMKC

West
EMU
GVSU
SVSU
Wayne St.
Ferris St.
W. ILL
IUPUI
Oakland
N. Kentucky

DMA - teams - TV Households
Detroit-2(all sports)+1(non-football)-1,925,460
Minneapolis-St Paul-1-1,706,740
Kansas City-1-927,060
Cincinnati-1-904,340
Grand Rapids-Kalmzoo-B Crk-1-739,640
Flint-Saginaw-Bay City-1-469,980
Green Bay-Appleton -1- 439,940
Madison-1-372,990
Traverse City-Cadillac-1-247,690
Sioux Falls (Mitchell)-1-251,000
Fargo-Valley City-1-237,140
La Crosse-Eau Claire-2-212,210
Duluth-Superior-1-172,350

FCS struggles in big cities. By having 3 schools with large alumni bases in Detroit we'd be able to do what most FCS conferences cannot---carve out a local following. The 3 Detroit schools have a combined enrollment of just under 74,000. By EMU dropping down, we are also more or less stealing the MAC influence from that area. EMU may not have great facilities for an FBS school, but they are phenominal for FCS. EMU draws a little under 10K per game at FBS vs. their more distant MAC competition. Considering an immediate jump in competitiveness, I do not think it is unreasonable to imagine that bumping attendance into the 15K region. Additionally, they will get to host a pretty decent Wayne State program every 2 years. Wayne State has 33K students, draws well at DII and is 30 miles away. EMU could legitimately sell out their 30K seat stadium. Plus GVSU would almost certainly be an FCS power too, so another large (23K enrollment) top rival with a well supported program only 114 highway miles away. Alternating hosting the two each season could put EMU at a very healthy 20K per game. It just seems a much healthier position for EMU than the bad FBS school on the UM's doorstep.

It is entirely possible this conference could split in the future, but by yoking the conference to 11 upgrading schools, the conference would likely be stable for 10+ years. No one would want to add more teams and there is a lesser demand for non-core members. The TV money would be good enough to keep teams around.

With 8,606,540 TV households in their local markets and firm support in their largest Market, I think this conference could quickly stabilize somewhere around the MVC level and could easily become the premeire FCS conference.

Nova Southeastern University Sharks - Davie, Florida - PRI - 33,135 - SSC

Wow, huge school yet I never heard of them.

Nova Southeastern advertises/underwrites nationally on Christian radio-count me surprised if their on-campus enrollment is that big, I could see that including online students.

Central Oklahoma could be only one vacancy away from getting in the Southland, unless if Tarleton (TX) State beats them out for that slot.

Western Washington just dropped football, but if they get that program back up and running, WWU and Central Washington could probably move up to the Big Sky, especially as Division II disentegrates west of the Rockies. Perhaps by then Southern Utah will be Big Sky material as well.

The Summit also loses ORU to the Missouri Valley, UMKC to the Horizon, and Centenary to the Southland (decimated by FBS move-ups), and Western Illinois to the Ohio Valley. They replace the defectors with Chicago State, Central Missouri, Nebraksa-Omaha, Minnesota State-Mankato, and St. Cloud State.

Big Sky
Pacific - WWU, CWU, EWU, Portland State, Idaho St, Sacramento St
Mountain - Northern Arizona, Southern Utah, Weber St, Montana, Montana St, Northern Co

Summit
North - North Dakota, North Dakota St, South Dakota, South Dakota St, Minnesota St, St. Cloud St
South - Nebrakska-Omaha, Central Missouri, Chicago State, IUPUI, IPFW, Oakland

Southland
North - Sam Houston St, Central Arkansas, Centenary, UALR, UT-Arlington, Northwestern St
East - TAMU-CC, New Orleans, Stephen F. Austin St, McNeese, Nicholls, SE Louisiana

Great West
Denver, Grand Canyon, Seattle, Utah Valley, Houston Baptist, UTPA, Central Oklahoma, Dallas Baptist, Cal Poly-Ponoma, Cal State-LA, San Francisco State, UC San-Diego

thank you, I initally left them off the list because I think you have to do more to overcome public perceptions in california, so I was pretty hard core about the 10K limit. I recently dug up enrollment numbers that show them well over 10K though, so I added them to the main list.