The "Conference Notes" section is the gift that keeps on giving. From page 63.
Big Sky Conference/Western Athletic Conference
Three years ago, Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton and WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd visited about the possibility of combining the two conferences, and having part of the league participate in FBS and the remainder in FCS for football. The idea did gain some interest, but was ultimately shot down. However, there could be an opportunity to rekindle these discussions. Here is a possible scenario should it gain traction:
Football
FBS – Idaho, New Mexico State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, South Dakota, Cal Poly and Northern Arizona (8 teams).
FCS – Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Portland State, UC-Davis, Sacramento State, Southern Utah and Northern Colorado (7 teams). If they can meet the academic criteria and budget criteria, and have an interest in "moving up" to FBS, they certainly would be considered.
Basketball
North Division – Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, South Dakota, Eastern Washington, Portland State, Idaho State, Seattle University and Idaho (9 teams).
South Division – Sacramento State, Southern Utah, New Mexico State, Northern Colorado, Weber State, Utah Valley, Grand Canyon State, UTRGV and CSU Bakersfield (9 teams).
Fullerton has talked about an FCS/FBS league for years with his members, but the surprise here is that it was talked about as a merger with the WAC.
The problem there is the same problem that killed a Conference USA/Mountain West merger around the same time in that the NCAA would only allow one auto-bid from the league.
The scenario includes South Dakota, which spurned North Dakota and the Big Sky at the 11th hour to join the MVFC and Summit League in 2010.
