Unless the PAC-12 completely collapses, which does not seem imminent, it appears that the Mountain West will have a decision on who to add. Unless they add Sacramento State, UC Davis and Portland State, there will be some smaller markets to choose from. Here are some schools that do not have football but if added would make good additions. Two have played football and two have not. I am not advocating for any specific school, nor am I predicting success. If these schools add football, there would likely be some lean years before they find success. Full disclosure, I am an UN Omaha alum.
1. Long Beach State.
Metro: Los Angeles CSA
Population: ~13 Million
Undergraduate Students: ~34,000
Last Played Football: 1991
Why they stopped playing football: Financial shortfalls, California budget crisis, lack of success on the field and the death of coach George Allen.
Does their stadium still stand? Yes, they used to play near campus at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach, but that is now too small for FBS football. But seats could be added to the north, south and east to make the stadium large enough. The team could also play at Dignity Health Sports Park (home of the LA Galaxy) or at SoFi Stadium (unlikely), at least temporarily. At one time, LB State played at Anaheim Stadium (home of the Angels), both Dignity Health and SoFi Stadiums are closer to the LB State campus.
Biggest Rival in the MWC: San Jose State (Assuming Fresno State and SDSU leave.)
Even though they are in the same metro as UCLA and USC, there is plenty of room for 49er football to come back as a member of the Mountain West Conference. Their facilities for other sports are top notch. LA is a large enough market to support another FBS program.
2. Nebraska Omaha
Metro: Omaha, Nebraska
Population: Almost 1 Million (Similar in size to Fresno)
Undergraduate Students: ~12,000
Last Played Football: 1990
Why they stopped playing football: A compromise when the school wanted to move to Division I for men's hockey. Football and wrestling were stopped.
Does the stadium still stand? Yes, Al F. Caniglia field still exists, but some of the stands have been demolished. There is likely room to rebuild a new stadium of 15,000+. However, there is also likely some storefront somewhere near campus where a new stadium can be built and replace some blight. There may be room near the basketball/hockey arena for a modest stadium. It is possible, but unlikely that they would be able to share Morrison stadium with Creighton. But it is possible and more likely that they could use Werner Park, home of the Omaha Storm Chasers of the International League (AAA).
Biggest Rival in the MWC: Wyoming and/or Air Force
Would Omaha Football be in the Shadow of UN Lincoln? Yes and no. UN Omaha would likely be a good landing spot for prospective Cornhuskers who are not satisfied with lack of playing time or who are not able to walk on. It is unlikely that someone who is offered by both schools would chose Omaha. There could be some successful underclassmen at UN Omaha who would transfer to UN Lincoln. When UN Omaha had football, there was a similar relationship that BYU had with Rick's College. The loss of UN Omaha football could be part of the reason UN Lincoln isn't as successful as they used to be. UN Omaha athletes would not get the NIL money that UN Lincoln gets. Lincoln is 50 miles to the east.
Omaha and Eastern Nebraska have had enough growth to again visit the question of returning UNO to the gridiron. As a member of the MWC, there were be enough money to add a women's Title IX sport, like gymnastics or Women's Hockey.
3. Utah Valley
Metro: Salt Lake City CSA
Population: 2.7 Million
Undergraduate Students: 40,500
Last Played Football: Never
Why they have not played football. UVU has not been a four year college for very long, it became a four-year college in 1987. It has grown to the behemoth college it is today, with the largest undergraduate enrollment in Utah. There has been talk of starting a football program many times.
Where would they play? Likely at the soccer stadium, or a local high school at first, or at BYU. (Not at LaVell Edwards Stadium, but at what used to be Provo High School.) The school has some space at what used to be a steel mill a few miles up I-15 where a stadium would likely be built. The university has built a soccer complex on the site
Biggest Rival in the MWC: Utah State
Coming in as an FCS program first and joining the Big Sky Conference is likely cost prohibitive, but the MWC and UVU could be a good match. But being in the shadow of BYU would be a detriment until the population grows a little more.
4. Alaska Anchorage
Metro: Anchorage
Population: ~400,000 (Larger than Reno, smaller than Honolulu.)
Undergraduate Students: 18,000
Last played football: Never
Why they have not played football: As a Division II program, the cost of football is too high, when considering the travel costs to Anchorage. They will not start football until they can be a Division I school and the MWC.
Where they would play? The Sullivan Arena is used for the Great Alaska Shootout. There is a small stadium to the west. When Anchorage was trying to host the Olympics, the plan was to expand that stadium for opening and closing ceremonies. It wouldn't be difficult or very costly to expand that stadium to 20,000. However, the goal may be to get a place similar to the Fargodome and take weather out of the equation. But for an Alaskan, if you let the weather get you, you have to move back to the lower 48. A real Alaskan would make a Packers fan look like a wimp.
Biggest Rival in the MWC: Hawai'i
This is a longshot, but could end up as a hidden gem. Recruiters from other colleges rarely visit Alaska unless there is a generational talent. Many talented kids in Alaska simply don't get the chance to play college football. According to NFL.com, there have been 10 former and current players who have hailed from Alaska. A local college football program would motivate more high school kids from Alaska to seriously consider football and increase the number of Alaskans in the NFL.
