WAC schools, others interested in new C-USA/MWC league
It's still unknown what the new Conference USA/Mountain West league will look like – or will be called – when C-USA and the MWC dissolve and create their new league, but one thing is certain: there are a lot of schools interested in joining.
College football industry sources told CBSSports.com that as many as 11 schools, including each member of the Western Athletic Conference, have contacted either C-USA or the MWC or has been contacted about their interest in the new league.
The schools that have been in contact with either league are: Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio and Utah State from the WAC; Florida Atlantic, Florida International and North Texas from the Sun Belt; and Charlotte from the Atlantic 10.
The proposed 18-to-24 team league is scheduled to start in the 2013-14 academic year.
In February when the league announced plans for the new conference, it indicated the league would consist of 18 to 24 members. In 2013 there are projected to be 16 C-USA and Mountain West members in 2013 – after Houston, SMU, UCF, Memphis, Boise State and San Diego State join the Big East after the 2012 season – leaving space for two to eight new schools.
C-USA and the Mountain West's projected membership in 2013 consist of East Carolina, Marshall, Rice, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB and UTEP from C-USA and Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada UNLV and Wyoming from the Mountain West.
The new conference indicated it not only wants to stage a conference championship football game, but also conference semifinals. To do so, the league would have to get approval from the NCAA.
College football industry sources told CBSSports.com that as many as 11 schools, including each member of the Western Athletic Conference, have contacted either C-USA or the MWC or has been contacted about their interest in the new league.
The schools that have been in contact with either league are: Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio and Utah State from the WAC; Florida Atlantic, Florida International and North Texas from the Sun Belt; and Charlotte from the Atlantic 10.
The proposed 18-to-24 team league is scheduled to start in the 2013-14 academic year.
In February when the league announced plans for the new conference, it indicated the league would consist of 18 to 24 members. In 2013 there are projected to be 16 C-USA and Mountain West members in 2013 – after Houston, SMU, UCF, Memphis, Boise State and San Diego State join the Big East after the 2012 season – leaving space for two to eight new schools.
C-USA and the Mountain West's projected membership in 2013 consist of East Carolina, Marshall, Rice, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB and UTEP from C-USA and Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada UNLV and Wyoming from the Mountain West.
The new conference indicated it not only wants to stage a conference championship football game, but also conference semifinals. To do so, the league would have to get approval from the NCAA.
