UTPA should be #1 on the Southland's radar once the FBS upgrades start happening-they are already a Division I school. Also, unlike Houston Baptist, Dallas Baptist, and even Centenary, UTPA is a public school. Even if Arkansas-Little Rock and New Orleans join the Southland from the Sun Belt, UTPA should get in for sure if three schools leave the Southland.
Southland (*no football)
West - UALR*, Texas-Pan American*, Texas-Arlington*, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi*, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin State
East - Central Arkansas, McNeese State, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, New Orleans*
That still leaves 7 for football even if no one else picks up an FCS pigskin.
The best chance for the Great West to become an all-sports conference would be for the Summit to expand to 12, wait five seasons, and then split 6-6:
Great West: (*non-football member)
North Dakota State (from Summit/Missouri Valley Football)
South Dakota State (from Summit/Missouri Valley Football)
*Utah Valley (from Summit)
Southern Utah (other sports from Summit)
*Denver (from Summit via Sun Belt)
*Oral Roberts (from Summit)
Oklahoma City (post-split expansion; from Division II)
North Dakota (post-split expansion; other sports from Independent)
South Dakota (post-split expansion; other sports from Independent)
*Seattle (from independent)
Cal Poly-SLO (football only)
California-Davis (football only)
The only odd couple for travel purposes are Denver and Seattle.
Summit:
Centenary
Missouri-Kansas City
Western Illinois
IPFW
IUPUI
Oakland
Texas-Pan American (post-split expansion; from Independent)
Houston Baptist (post-split expansion; from Independent)
Western Illiniois is the only school that plays football, and they do that in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. This might have a better chance at attracting new members (such as a Bellarmine, Northern Kentucky, or Central Missouri) than the existing Summit League.
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