We have a penchant for looking into a crystal ball and speculating on potential realignment possibilities at the collegiate level. We started by looking at some FCS to FBS moves and then followed it up with some possible D2 to FCS changes. Since then, we have looked at a few more teams and conferences. In total, we have delved further into the prospects of over two dozen teams moving from the FCS to the FBS, from Division II to the FCS, and from Division III to Division I. We have even looked at the possibility of a team leaving Division I for a lower Division.

Given the numerous articles posted about the WAC (here, here, and here), we decided to make a master list of all the teams we have looked at as potential realignment fodder.

The list will include only teams that were discussed in length. For example, an article discussing a potential WAC return briefly listed Angelo State, Colorado Mines, Colorado State-Pueblo, and Texas A&M-Commerce as potential targets. These programs are not included in the list below as they were listed in brevity without an in-depth analysis.

The table below is sorted alphabetically and can be sorted by article date and our final verdict. As we publish more articles, the table will be updated to reflect the newly discussed teams.


TeamArticle Date(s)Division Change
(Conference Change)
Abilene Christian10/23/2020FCS to FCS/FBS
(Southland to WAC)
Army6/29/2019FBS to FBS
(Indy to AAC)
Belmont3/31/2022New Program
Cal Poly10/7/2020FCS to FCS
(Big Sky to WAC)
Cal State Fullerton7/13/2019Restarted to FCS
(Big Sky)
Central Arkansas12/11/2020FCS to FCS
(Southland to Big South/OVC)
Chattanooga7/15/2021FCS to FCS
(SoCon to OVC)
Chicago State4/13/2021D1 to Multiple
Colorado7/23/2021FBS to FBS
(Pac-12 to Big Ten)
Creighton3/31/2022Restarted Program
Eastern Washington8/29/2018FCS to FBS
(Big Sky to Mt. West)
Gonzaga6/15/2022West Coast to Multiple
Grand Canyon7/13/2019New Program
(Big Sky)
Iona3/31/2022Restarted Program
(Pioneer Football League)
Iowa State7/23/2021FBS to FBS
(Big 12 to Big Ten)
Jacksonville State8/29/2018FCS to FBS
(OVC to Sun Belt)
James Madison8/29/2018FCS to FBS
(CAA to C-USA)
Kansas7/23/2021FBS to FBS
(Big 12 to Big Ten)
Kennesaw State1/15/2022FCS to FBS
(ASUN to Multiple)
Kentucky State5/11/2021D2 to FCS
(SIAC to MEAC)
Lamar10/23/2020FCS to FCS/FBS
(Southland to WAC)
Loyola Chicago3/31/2022Restarted Program
Marquette3/31/2022Restarted Program
Missouri7/23/2021FBS to FBS
(SEC to Big Ten)
Mount Union3/15/2021D3 to D2/FCS
(OAC to multiple)
New Mexico State10/7/2020FBS to FCS
(Indy to WAC)
North Dakota State8/29/2018
1/14/2021
FCS to FBS
(MVFC to Multiple)
Northern Arizona10/7/2020FCS to FCS
(Big Sky to WAC)
Northern Colorado10/7/2020FCS to FCS
(Big Sky to WAC)
Northern Kentucky7/13/2019
7/15/2021
New Program
(Ohio Valley)
D1 to D1
(Horizon to OVC)
Northwest Missouri State7/13/2019D2 to FCS
(MIAA to MVFC)
Notre Dame7/23/2021FBS to FBS
(Independent to Big Ten)
Providence3/31/2022Restarted Program
Sacramento State10/7/2020FCS to FCS
(Big Sky to WAC)
Sam Houston State8/29/2018
10/23/2020
FCS to FCS/FBS
Southern Utah10/23/2020FCS to FCS/FBS
(Big Sky to WAC)
St. John's3/31/2022Restarted Program
Stephen F. Austin10/23/2020FCS to FCS/FBS
(Southland to WAC)
Texas-Arlington8/29/2018Restarted Program
(Sun Belt)
UC Davis10/7/2020FCS to FCS
(Big Sky to WAC)
Valdosta State7/13/2019D2 to FCS
(Gulf South to SoCon)
VCU8/29/2018
3/31/2022
New Program
(C-USA)
Vermont3/31/2022New Program
(CAA)
Virginia State5/11/2021D2 to FCS
(CIAA to MEAC)
West Texas A&M10/1/2020D2 to FCS
(Lone Star to WAC)
Western Illinois7/15/2021FCS to FCS
(MVFC / Summit to OVC)
Wichita State3/31/2022Restarted Program
(AAC)
Winthrop3/31/2022New Program
(Big South)
Wright State2/15/2022Remain in D1
Xavier3/31/2022Restarted Program
Youngstown State7/15/2021FCS to FCS
(MVFC / Horizon to OVC)


So what’s ahead in terms of volume, frequency, and format?

Well… it depends. We hope to put out at least one article every few months starting in 2021, maybe more frequently, but the format will vary depending on the crux of the article. Will it be focused on a team or group of teams? Or will it be focused on an entire conference? Those questions will help shape the format.

For example, it makes sense to look at the WAC as a whole instead of focusing on each team individually. On the other hand, evaluating a team like Army and whether it should join a conference doesn’t require an entire game of conference dominos to take a closer look.

That’s why each article’s format will vary. One thing that probably won’t change is the evaluation criteria for these articles. We believe that geography and costs are the biggest factors for smaller conferences. They matter for the Power 5 conferences as well but to a lesser extent given the greater revenues and budgets. For them, it’s more about media markets, hence why Maryland (DC/Virginia/Atlantic footprint) and Rutgers (NYC footprint) are in the Big Ten now.

Other aspects we will attempt to include are costs and revenues as reported by the Knight Commission or the NCAA’s own database on athletic departments. Yet another caveat is required, however. Only public institutions are available for the Knight Commission, which can complicate some calculations. Further research will be required and provided when researching private institutions.

Furthermore, we tend to start with the football program for each school. We are well aware that other sports exist and may be pertinent to the discussion as part of the overall profile of the school. Generally speaking, football is the highest-grossing revenue for most schools, thus the starting focal point. Olympic sports are typically referenced in the context of travel in a potential new conference and also factor into the conclusion. Every once in a while, we’ll take a look at programs that don’t have a football program like Chicago State for example.

One final note, these speculative articles are just that: speculation. They are not grounded based on any sources or insider knowledge. They are fun little exercises to see how teams might change the collegiate sports landscape by jumping between conferences, subdivisions, or divisions.

We hope you have enjoyed the articles so far and we look forward to providing a more in-depth analysis of any speculative realignment moves in the future!

Photo courtesy of Sam Hodde/Associated Press

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