WAC expansion update

The tweets on WAC expansion seem to focus now on only 6 schools...

Montana
Montana State
Portland State
Sacramento State
Texas State
UTSA (Texas San Antonio)

Texas State and UTSA seem to be the most active. UTSA met with Karl Benson at WAC HQ on Tuesday.

Looks like a good short list.

My take...

Most of this is still in the rumor stage at this point, but this looks to me like the WAC is making a move to keep Hawaii. That is the only logic behind Portland State and Sacramento State. The WAC could then divide into divisions that would be travel-friendly for Hawaii. Montana, because they can succeed right away in this version of the WAC. Montana State to remove obstacles in bringing in their brother school. Texas State and USTA due to get a foothold in Texas for TV markets and for recruiting and to reduce travel expenses for Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State.

Texas State is a no-brainer for the WAC.

For Example:

West Division
Idaho
Hawaii
Portland State
Sacramento State
San Jose State
Utah State

Note: Idaho/Utah State are the schools in this division that is not reachable by direct flight from Honolulu. Logan (Utah State) is a 1 and 1/2 hour bus ride from Salt Lake City which is a direct flight from Honolulu. To get to Idaho, Hawaii would have to charter a flight to Spokane, and Moscow is a short bus ride from there (85 miles or an hour and a half).

East Division
Louisiana Tech
Montana
Montana State
New Mexico State
Texas State
UTSA

In this division, only UTSA would be a direct flight from Honolulu.

The expansion, if it goes down like this, would be a big blow to the Big Sky conference.