The Western Athletic Conference announced today its plan to form a new FCS conference.
The WAC, which currently sponsors 10 women’s sports and nine men’s sports, was an FBS conference from 1962 to 2012 before dropping football as teams left for other leagues.
The new-look WAC, right now, officially has seven teams for football:
- Stephen F. Austin (Texas) (Current Southland member)
- Sam Houston (Texas) (Current Southland member)
- Abilene Christian (Texas) (Current Southland member)
- Lamar (Texas) (Current Southland member)
- Southern Utah (Current Big Sky member)
- Tarleton State (Texas) (Current WAC member transitioning from D2)
- Dixie State (Utah) (Current WAC member transitioning from D2)
The four Southland teams are expected to join the WAC in 2021, while SUU is planning to join in 2022.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, a current WAC member, has “provided a letter of intent to begin an FCS program effective preferably with the 2023 season and no later than the 2024 season,” according to an email sent from SFA’s athletic director.
The WAC press release states, “It is anticipated that at least one more football-playing member will be added, but a timetable has not yet been established.”
New Mexico State, who is a WAC member, will continue to compete in the FBS as an independent.
Listen to the latest episodes of B-Mac and Herd’s FCS Podcast, which can also be found on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, iHeart and Spreaker.
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