Meanwhile, Conference USA is still planning for those three to compete next year.Īnd neither side seems prepared to back down. Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Mississippi have all announced their intention to leave the conference this June. What’s happening right now in Conference USA goes beyond that, with the league and three of its nine outgoing schools at a standoff regarding when exactly that exit is going to occur. It’s often not a problem, though sometimes it makes headlines when a bitter conference seeks to punish outgoing member schools or student-athletes. Even if it’s not at the Power 5 level, schools switch leagues all the time, across NCAA divisions. Strap yourselves in and hold on.Īcross the wide world of college sports, conference realignment - or straight-up consolidation, in some cases - is always happening. All rights reserved.Southern Miss, Old Dominion, and Marshall want to leave Conference USA early - but the league is not about to let that happen peacefully. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information / Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. ^ Back to Top ^ © 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures. We have been deliberate in our efforts for the past few weeks to get us to this point and will continue to evaluate and consider our additional options for membership." "This is a quality mix of established and emerging universities that provides us with a compelling group to continue to build with, focusing on competing for and winning championships well into the future. "We are incredibly excited about adding these four new members and feel there is tremendous upside in these moves for our conference," Conference USA commissioner Judy MacLeod said in a statement. Sam Houston State, which is coming off an FCS national championship, is part of the newly restarted WAC football league, which is competing in the FCS this year. New Mexico State is also an FBS independent and is a member of the Western Athletic Conference for basketball and other sports. Liberty and Jacksonville State are members of the ASUN Conference for most sports, although Liberty is an FBS independent and Jacksonville State has been a successful FCS program. The newest Conference USA schools will keep the league far-flung, from New Mexico to Virginia. James Madison is expected to announce that it will join the Sun Belt at a news conference Saturday morning.Īll the Sun Belt's new schools are expected to join by 2023.
James Madison, a perennial FCS championship contender, was given approval by the state of Virginia on Friday to move up to FBS, where the Sun Belt competes. The last piece of the Sun Belt's plan to expand to 14 football members should be in place soon. The Big 12 responded by adding four schools, three from the American Athletic Conference, which led the American to poach six schools from Conference USA.Ĭonference USA has also lost three members to the Sun Belt in recent weeks. The NCAA requires FBS leagues to have at least eight teams.Īll of these conference realignment moves are a trickle down from what started in July with the SEC inviting Texas and Oklahoma to leave the Big 12 and join the powerhouse league by 2025. Including Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State, Conference USA has only five members that have not announced plans to leave in the next few years. Mid-American Conference presidents were meeting Friday with possible expansion on the agenda and Conference USA members Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State as potential options, a person familiar with the situation told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because the league discussions are private. The Conference USA overhaul might not be done.
CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL TEAMS 2023 UPGRADE
You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĬonference USA to add Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State beginning in 2023Ĭollege Football, Men's College Basketball, Women's College Basketball, NCAA - Other, Liberty Flames, Liberty Flames, Liberty Flames, Jacksonville State Gamecocks, Jacksonville State Gamecocks, Jacksonville State Gamecocks, New Mexico State Aggies, New Mexico State Aggies, New Mexico State Aggies, Sam Houston Bearkats, Sam Houston Bearkats, Sam Houston BearkatsĬonference USA announced Friday that it will add Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State and Sam Houston State on July 1, 2023, as the league tries to replenish its ranks after having nine schools announce plans to leave in the past month.
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