Championship Subdivision Football | FCS Football | Stadiums | Blogs | Forums

Hello everyone. With the recent additions of Cal Poly UC-Davis and (very likely) SUU and possibly the Dakotas i was wondering what everyones take will be on how the conferences will shape up. Will it become an East and West Format or a North and South one? Personally i believe it should be done in a way to create and also maintain rivalries, something like this (possibly a pre-mature idea however things are starting to sound like they are heading in this direction:)

BIG SKY NORTH
-Portland State
-EWU
-Montana
-Montana State
-North Dakota
-South Dakota
-Northern Colorado

BIG SKY SOUTH
-Weber State
-Idaho State
-UC-Davis
-Cal Poly
-Southern Utah
-NAU
-Sac State

With this format you keep several good rivalries alive such as:
-Montana vs Montana State
-North vs. South Dakota
-Portland State vs EWU
-Weber vs Idaho State (and the revival of the Weber vs Southern Utah game.)
- UC-Davis vs. Cal Poly & Sac State
-Southern Utah vs. NAU (Becomming somewhat of a rivalry game since we have played every year now for 3 seasons...now if SUU could only finish! )

Also in terms of geography this is the best i could come up with and at the same time maintain the rivalry games. I did notice that the travel for some Northern teams would be much larger then the Southern however it could easily work with the teams alternating between the Dakotas so they only have to go once a year. I think both conferences look pretty good and would be as competitive as the other. Cant wait for the conference to become a reality.

I envision this setup:

Mountain Division

Montana State
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Idaho State
Weber State
Northern Colorado

Pacific Division
Eastern Washington
Portland State
Sacramento State
UC-Davis
Cal Poly
Southern Utah
Northern Arizona

Rationale: Since I believe there are direct flights to the Dakotas from both Delta's hub in SLC and United/Frontier hubs in Denver, I think it makes the most sense travel-wise to group ISU, WSU, and UNC together with the Dakota schools instead of EWU and PSU. Of course, I'm not sure how common it is for football teams to fly commercially these days instead of chartering, but I think this works pretty well geographically even if everyone will just bus or take charter flights. It breaks up the two Utah schools, but I'm not aware of much a rivalry existing between Weber and SUU that would be broken up by doing this. It will be interesting to see how it all turns out!

For Football:

North:
Eastern Washington
Idaho State
Montana
Montana State
North Dakota
South Dakota
Northern Colorado

South:
Portland State
UC Davis
Sac State
Cal Poly
Weber State
Southern Utah
Northern Arizona

All Sports

East:
Idaho State
Montana State
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Northern Colorado


West:
Eastern Washington
Portland State
Sac State
Weber State
Southern Utah
Northern Arizona

MSU01 wrote:I envision this setup:

Mountain Division

Montana State
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Idaho State
Weber State
Northern Colorado

Pacific Division
Eastern Washington
Portland State
Sacramento State
UC-Davis
Cal Poly
Southern Utah
Northern Arizona

Rationale: Since I believe there are direct flights to the Dakotas from both Delta's hub in SLC and United/Frontier hubs in Denver, I think it makes the most sense travel-wise to group ISU, WSU, and UNC together with the Dakota schools instead of EWU and PSU. Of course, I'm not sure how common it is for football teams to fly commercially these days instead of chartering, but I think this works pretty well geographically even if everyone will just bus or take charter flights. It breaks up the two Utah schools, but I'm not aware of much a rivalry existing between Weber and SUU that would be broken up by doing this. It will be interesting to see how it all turns out!

This. I wouldn't want any part of a Division that kept us from playing games in California, which, outside of WA, is our biggest recruiting base.

EWURanger wrote: I wouldn't want any part of a Division that kept us from playing games in California, which, outside of WA, is our biggest recruiting base.

No matter the division breakdown, there would still potentially be some cross-divisional games in California each year. True, however, that you'd lose some exposure if you were in the opposite division of the Cali teams.

Perhaps EWU should focus first on keeping the Washington recruits from going to Missoula.

I would think the chances of playing more games in CA would be higher. You currently only play one game every other year in CA.

With cross divisional games, and three teams, you may be playing there every year, or at minimum, every other year like now.

The conference alignment won’t make a difference to us Sac fans imo. We will most likely be grouped with CP and cal-davis and quite frankly those will be the only big attendance games. I would like to have PSU in our division though; Portland is a cheap short flight from Sac so the travel wouldn’t be all that bad. WURanger brings up a good point. I wonder if any schools are very concerned about not getting enough games in CA in the future for recruiting purposes. This could make the divisional splits not be based on geography as there will only be a possibility of 3 cross division conference games scheduled in CA (after 6 interdivision games, 2 cross divisional games being a home-away split) each year. I can’t see the schools in the other division too happy about that. 7 schools will be fighting for 3 trips to CA. Figure in UM will always get at least 1, so 6 schools will be fighting for 2 open dates in CA. Good luck with that guys.

Slo, I don’t think they will split ISU and WSU for all other sports. From what I hear that has been a rivalry that has been around a long time. It’s more likely (and unfortunate) that UNC and WSU would swap in that scenario, but who knows, it’s all just a guess at this point. I’m just hoping that Sac State can somehow avoid traveling to the Dakota’s.

Big "if", but if Montana remains in the BSC, it would be weird having our closest competitor and best rival in another division.

its insane to try to breakup the conf in 2 divisions, what each team should do is play the closest conf teams.

For example:
EWU vs UM
EWU vs MSU
EWU vs PSU
EWU vs ISU
EWU vs CSUS
EWU vs UCD
EWU vs CPU

NON CONF
EWU vs UNR
EWU vs CWU
EWU vs CSUF

East West or how MSU01 said it Mountain/Pacific


East/Mountain
Montana
Montana State
North Dakota
South Dakota
Northern Colorado
Idaho State
Weber State

West/Pacific
Eastern Wash
Portland State
Sac St
UC Davis
Cal Poly
Southern Utah
Northern Arizona

Just like what MSU01 said, Thats the way I would see it going to

MSU01 wrote:I envision this setup:

Mountain Division

Montana State
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Idaho State
Weber State
Northern Colorado

Pacific Division
Eastern Washington
Portland State
Sacramento State
UC-Davis
Cal Poly
Southern Utah
Northern Arizona

Rationale: Since I believe there are direct flights to the Dakotas from both Delta's hub in SLC and United/Frontier hubs in Denver, I think it makes the most sense travel-wise to group ISU, WSU, and UNC together with the Dakota schools instead of EWU and PSU. Of course, I'm not sure how common it is for football teams to fly commercially these days instead of chartering, but I think this works pretty well geographically even if everyone will just bus or take charter flights. It breaks up the two Utah schools, but I'm not aware of much a rivalry existing between Weber and SUU that would be broken up by doing this. It will be interesting to see how it all turns out!

Weber and SUU have stopped scheduling each other, Why? nobody knows , so it is actually a dieing rivalry, not dead just dieing, but if SUU joins it would respark the "Civil War" North vs South. Even if SUU is in a different division, The WIldcats and Thunderbirds could still play every year, if they are willing to schedule each other.

What everyone needs to realize is that Cal Poly and UC Davis are football only members. They will most likely be in the same division for football. If the conference does go to 12 full members they will most likely split into 2 division for some of the other sports like basketball. Those divisions will likely be different from the football divisions because of Poly and Davis being in the same football division. If not you will have 7 in one division and 5 in the other.

SloStang wrote:What everyone needs to realize is that Cal Poly and UC Davis are football only members. They will most likely be in the same division for football. If the conference does go to 12 full members they will most likely split into 2 division for some of the other sports like basketball. Those divisions will likely be different from the football divisions because of Poly and Davis being in the same football division. If not you will have 7 in one division and 5 in the other.

Hmm very true,

How bout this? A north south (if dakotas join as full members)

North South
EWU ISU
PSU WSU
UM UNC
MSU SUU
UND CSUS
USD NAU

The only problem with this is the separation of the original 4 Big Sky Members.

Of course if SUU is the only one to join as a full member, then there is no worry about divisions.

Where do New Mexico and New Mexico St. fit in?

Pitz wrote:Where do New Mexico and New Mexico St. fit in?

About where half the Sun Belt and MAC are, as well as where Duke and Minnesota--at the bottom of the FBS.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but wasn't SUU supposed to make a big announcement by now?

webfan wrote:Correct me if i'm wrong, but wasn't SUU supposed to make a big announcement by now?

webfan wrote:Correct me if i'm wrong, but wasn't SUU supposed to make a big announcement by now?

I was wondering that as well. I just checked their athletics website and their twitter page, and...............nothing.

ZOMG!

Everybody won't be playing everybody else!!!

How will you ever crown a champion?

I think they announced an anti-cancer campaign but it might have been the new undergrad in legal studies.

http://www.suu.edu/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The idea their announcement was accepting a Big Sky invite seems to be false.

I agree, im not to sure why i have not heard anything about the announcement just yet and i have not seen anything on the Big Sky website either. Really hoping that this is no false alarm as we more then deserve to be in the Big Sky. However dont be surprised to not see anything on our website as we always seem to take forever posting anything. Maybe the Big Sky is waiting to announce SUU and the Dakotas together?
Least Superhornet is happy, he can bring up the Colorado Mines joining argument again and how they would really make the conference strong .

SDHornet wrote:The conference alignment won’t make a difference to us Sac fans imo. We will most likely be grouped with CP and cal-davis and quite frankly those will be the only big attendance games. I would like to have PSU in our division though; Portland is a cheap short flight from Sac so the travel wouldn’t be all that bad. WURanger brings up a good point. I wonder if any schools are very concerned about not getting enough games in CA in the future for recruiting purposes. This could make the divisional splits not be based on geography as there will only be a possibility of 3 cross division conference games scheduled in CA (after 6 interdivision games, 2 cross divisional games being a home-away split) each year. I can’t see the schools in the other division too happy about that. 7 schools will be fighting for 3 trips to CA. Figure in UM will always get at least 1, so 6 schools will be fighting for 2 open dates in CA. Good luck with that guys.

Slo, I don’t think they will split ISU and WSU for all other sports. From what I hear that has been a rivalry that has been around a long time. It’s more likely (and unfortunate) that UNC and WSU would swap in that scenario, but who knows, it’s all just a guess at this point. I’m just hoping that Sac State can somehow avoid traveling to the Dakota’s.

Assuming 2 cross divisional games, it would actually be 6 trips - 2 per team.

93henfan wrote:ZOMG!

Everybody won't be playing everybody else!!!

How will you ever crown a champion?

I came here to say this.

catbooster wrote:

SDHornet wrote:The conference alignment won’t make a difference to us Sac fans imo. We will most likely be grouped with CP and cal-davis and quite frankly those will be the only big attendance games. I would like to have PSU in our division though; Portland is a cheap short flight from Sac so the travel wouldn’t be all that bad. WURanger brings up a good point. I wonder if any schools are very concerned about not getting enough games in CA in the future for recruiting purposes. This could make the divisional splits not be based on geography as there will only be a possibility of 3 cross division conference games scheduled in CA (after 6 interdivision games, 2 cross divisional games being a home-away split) each year. I can’t see the schools in the other division too happy about that. 7 schools will be fighting for 3 trips to CA. Figure in UM will always get at least 1, so 6 schools will be fighting for 2 open dates in CA. Good luck with that guys.

Slo, I don’t think they will split ISU and WSU for all other sports. From what I hear that has been a rivalry that has been around a long time. It’s more likely (and unfortunate) that UNC and WSU would swap in that scenario, but who knows, it’s all just a guess at this point. I’m just hoping that Sac State can somehow avoid traveling to the Dakota’s.

Assuming 2 cross divisional games, it would actually be 6 trips - 2 per team.

Unless the CA schools get an extra home conference game (which is fine by me) it will only be 3. I was assuming 8 conference games, 4 home (3 interdivision, 1 cross division) and 4 away (3 interdivision, 1 cross division). Unless I am still seeing something wrong, I see 1 available home cross division game per CA school for a grand total of 3 cross divisional games in CA.

Damn, Blackfalkin.

Who is that beautiful woman you have as your avatar?