It's Official...

Cal Poly and Cal Davis have accepted invitations to join the Big Sky Conference in Football. For now, they remain in the Big West for other sports.

http://www.bigskyconf.com/index.aspx

Welcome to the Big Sky Conference to the Mustangs and the Aggies.

Questions:

1. Is this a proactive move ahead of WAC plans?

My take is no, this is not. Cal Poly and Cal Davis are mentioned by many as possible WAC candidates along with many Big Sky Conference schools including Montana, Montana State, Sacramento State, Portland State, Northern Arizona and Weber State. This was likely in the works for a while and a reality of the expanded format for the FCS playoffs. If the Big Sky can field 3 playoff teams in a field of 16, why not 4 in a field of 20? The Big Sky needs more teams to justify four invitations, like the CAA with it's 12 members gets four playoff teams every season.

I am surprised that the BSC is taking football only members, but this locks up the Sacramento Valley and the Central Coast for recruiting purposes. It should pay dividends in other sports. For Cal Poly and Cal Davis it means lower travel costs and a chance to build a rivalry with schools they play every year anyway.

2. Does the BSC split into divisions for football?

Since there is no room for a conference championship game in the FCS, splitting into divisions will help reduce travel costs and provide a framework for scheduling. It is not necessary to divide into divisions to accomplish these goals, but it does simplify the work.

3. Is this the end of Great West Football?

The Great West is left with Southern Utah, North Dakota and South Dakota for football. Without a replacement for the two schools that have left, they are done with football.

4. Is Southern Utah left out in the cold again?

As of 2011, the Cedar City school is without a football conference and if not invited to the BSC, will be independent or forced to hunt for another conference. In basketball and most other sports, the T-Birds compete in the Summit Conference where they are, by nearly 500 miles, the western-most member. They are well outside of the geographic footprint, and can save a ton of money by joining the Big Sky Conference. Currently the BSC sits at 11 for football and 9 for other sports. But 10 is a good number for basketball and 11 is not a good number for FCS-level football. Commissioner Fullerton said that a 12th member is in the works. SUU may finally get into the Big Sky.

There are other candidates, but there are only two FCS programs left west of the great divide. Southern Utah and San Diego are all that is left. Some Division II programs could make the jump up including Central Washington. Dixie State is still in their transition to Division II, but could move up in 2014-2015. The Red Storm is in one of the fastest growing communities in the US, and if DSCU joins the Big Sky then they would bring in the 4th largest city in the conference.

Big Sky Trivia Question:

Name the two Big Sky Conference schools east of the Continental Divide.