Conference Realignment: Can The WAC Survive?

Begin composing your obituaries for the WAC, the original super-conference. Long fallen from its glory days of BYU winning a football national title in 1984 and membership that's included TCU, Utah and Arizona, the former 16-team football league could very soon be down to only one or two football-playing members, along with three non-football members.

The Mountain West is reportedly continuing its decade-plus of raiding the WAC, with Conference USA swooping in for its second round of WAC imports. Even the Sun Belt might pick off a school. Here's the damage at the moment:

• Fresno St. Bulldogs: Leaving for Mountain West in 2012.
• Hawai'i Warriors: Leaving for Mountain West in 2012.
• Idaho Vandals.
• Louisiana Tech Bulldogs: Reportedly leaving for Conference USA in 2013.
• Nevada Wolf Pack: Leaving for Mountain West in 2012.
• New Mexico St. Aggies.
• Texas-San Antonio: Reportedly leaving for Conference USA in 2013.
• Texas State.
• San Jose St. Spartans: Reportedly leaving for Mountain West in 2013.
• Utah State Aggies: Reportedly leaving for Mountain West in 2013.

Texas State and New Mexico State have both looked to escape to MOUNT USA, while the Sun Belt could have interest in Texas State. Idaho, meanwhile, appears to lack any options whatsoever. The Vandals are likely going down with the ship.

All hope isn't lost, as the WAC can still look to replenish by calling up from the FCS ranks. Brian Murphy lists Utah Valley and Cal State Bakersfield as potential additions. The WAC has also previously courted local FCS teams, including Montana State and Sacramento State, only to withstand some uncounterable sass from the Big Sky commissioner.

Being put in one's place by a FCS conference is a thing that must be avoided at all costs, but remaining a FBS conference is going to require a mess one way or another.

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