The Official Thread of Austin Peay State University Governors Athletics

[GVF]

Can anyone tell me how this benefits an athletic program like Austin Peay's?

FCS Realignment Watch: WAC and ASUN to form United Athletic Conference

The past few years have brought massive wholesale changes to College Football as the landscape of the sport continues to shift. In FBS Football, Conference Real

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They (along with EKU) ditched the OVC to start up ASun football, but now instead of playing their long-time regional rivals they'll be trekking out to Abilene Christian and Tarleton.

ACU alum of two years here in the mid-80's. Degreed back down south closer to home. Loved ACU and keep up with what goes on there.

FCS level requires minimum of 6 conference football teams to qualify for playoffs.

I'm late to this party, but there is alot of back story to this alignment between the 2 conferences for football. 4 of The Texas FCS schools in the Southland had left to be a part of the re-start of WAC football at the FCS level. The WAC had put together quite a few teams then it started falling apart and teams were leaving back to their original conferences before it got off ground. Sam Houston being one of them that moved up to FBS and never played a WAC game. Etc., etc. So, before WAC football ever even got back off hte ground, they were short teams in football.

ASUN had similar thing going on. and in football didn't meet the minumum. Soo...2 or 3 years ago the WAC and ASUN formed a football only alliance that had a couple different hyphenated acronyms and gave both conferences the qualifications needed for post season playoff berths. Either last year, or for this season they came up with the name UAC (United Athletic Conference) that is a more palatable cover name for the two conference football alliance. Somehow, without this alliance and some other technical NCAA stuff these teams would not bw able to avoid those waiting periods for post-season. So, after all the dust has settled, you basically ended up with a South Central/Southeast conference alliance in football only so these teams can go to the playoffs. Which ACU did last year and lost in the 2nd round.

It's just been a mess for both conferences trying to get football going and this was the short term solution. But, it doesn't explain why Peay felt the need to leave the OVC in the first place.

And incidentally since no one asked, ACU's former QB, Maverick McIvor is extremely talented (his dad played for the Longhorns & St. Louis Cardinals briefly). Rode the pine at Texas Tech for 3 years. Followed a coach to ACU that became HC there, and threw for about 8000 yards in 3 seasons at ACU, including over 500 against Texas Tech last year. Portaled to Western KY for his last season this year and just threw for over 400 in the opener win against Sam Houston. I'm really surprised he didn't get picked up by a bigger program. The kid is an undiscovered baller. But, I bet some pro scouts have noticed. Wouldn't surprise me to see him at worst get a UFA agreement next spring. ACU has had a knack for putting guys in the NFL in spurts, even in their DII days. The class of Johnny Knox sent 3 that year. Of course historically, Wilburt Montgomery would be the most famous. Back in my days there ACU was a track Juggernaut wth 6 olympic medalists, 4 in sprints and long distance, and was maybe the only D2 school running in the Texas Relays back then. God knows how many indoor/outdoor track natty's over the years. Loads. Two of those medalists were Silvers from the Jamaican 4x400 relay team, and Egyptian shot putter, a south African 800 and distance specialist. They also had Billy Oleson, though not an olympian, did trade world pole vault titles back and forth with some Russian pole vaulter. Lot of money at ACU too. Few years back they finally built a super cool on campus stadium/football compex.

I feel better now that my ACU diatribe is fulfilled.

As for Peay's travelling, ACU and Tarleton are short trips compared to the two Utah teams still in the WAC-ASUN/UAC. Outside those 4 schools most everyone else is greater southeast.

 

[GVF]

He's done a good job. Not surprised he's getting looked at by bigger schools.

Eh. I may not know much with this opinion, but I think I'd rather stay at AP than go to Marshall. Don't know much about him, and not much more about AP athletics other than he has elevated the name and made it maybe as attractive and competitive as one can in Clarksville.

 

[YankeeVol]

Eh. I may not know much with this opinion, but I think I'd rather stay at AP than go to Marshall. Don't know much about him, and not much more about AP athletics other than he has elevated the name and made it maybe as attractive and competitive as one can in Clarksville.

I’m sure the money is way different. FCS vs. FBS

 

[bamawriter]

ACU alum of two years here in the mid-80's. Degreed back down south closer to home. Loved ACU and keep up with what goes on there.

FCS level requires minimum of 6 conference football teams to qualify for playoffs.

I'm late to this party, but there is alot of back story to this alignment between the 2 conferences for football. 4 of The Texas FCS schools in the Southland had left to be a part of the re-start of WAC football at the FCS level. The WAC had put together quite a few teams then it started falling apart and teams were leaving back to their original conferences before it got off ground. Sam Houston being one of them that moved up to FBS and never played a WAC game. Etc., etc. So, before WAC football ever even got back off hte ground, they were short teams in football.

ASUN had similar thing going on. and in football didn't meet the minumum. Soo...2 or 3 years ago the WAC and ASUN formed a football only alliance that had a couple different hyphenated acronyms and gave both conferences the qualifications needed for post season playoff berths. Either last year, or for this season they came up with the name UAC (United Athletic Conference) that is a more palatable cover name for the two conference football alliance. Somehow, without this alliance and some other technical NCAA stuff these teams would not bw able to avoid those waiting periods for post-season. So, after all the dust has settled, you basically ended up with a South Central/Southeast conference alliance in football only so these teams can go to the playoffs. Which ACU did last year and lost in the 2nd round.

It's just been a mess for both conferences trying to get football going and this was the short term solution. But, it doesn't explain why Peay felt the need to leave the OVC in the first place.

And incidentally since no one asked, ACU's former QB, Maverick McIvor is extremely talented (his dad played for the Longhorns & St. Louis Cardinals briefly). Rode the pine at Texas Tech for 3 years. Followed a coach to ACU that became HC there, and threw for about 8000 yards in 3 seasons at ACU, including over 500 against Texas Tech last year. Portaled to Western KY for his last season this year and just threw for over 400 in the opener win against Sam Houston. I'm really surprised he didn't get picked up by a bigger program. The kid is an undiscovered baller. But, I bet some pro scouts have noticed. Wouldn't surprise me to see him at worst get a UFA agreement next spring. ACU has had a knack for putting guys in the NFL in spurts, even in their DII days. The class of Johnny Knox sent 3 that year. Of course historically, Wilburt Montgomery would be the most famous. Back in my days there ACU was a track Juggernaut wth 6 olympic medalists, 4 in sprints and long distance, and was maybe the only D2 school running in the Texas Relays back then. God knows how many indoor/outdoor track natty's over the years. Loads. Two of those medalists were Silvers from the Jamaican 4x400 relay team, and Egyptian shot putter, a south African 800 and distance specialist. They also had Billy Oleson, though not an olympian, did trade world pole vault titles back and forth with some Russian pole vaulter. Lot of money at ACU too. Few years back they finally built a super cool on campus stadium/football compex.

I feel better now that my ACU diatribe is fulfilled.

As for Peay's travelling, ACU and Tarleton are short trips compared to the two Utah teams still in the WAC-ASUN/UAC. Outside those 4 schools most everyone else is greater southeast.

I get all the history. But it really goes back to why AP and EKU wanted out of the OVC to start up football in a conference that has been nothing be a revolving door throughout its history. How did they think this was going to end in the ASun? And as a result they kicked off the attrition that absolutely wrecked the OVC.

 

[GVF]

I get all the history. But it really goes back to why AP and EKU wanted out of the OVC to start up football in a conference that has been nothing be a revolving door throughout its history. How did they think this was going to end in the ASun? And as a result they kicked off the attrition that absolutely wrecked the OVC.

I get that completely. Never was aware of anything that would cause them all to leave as far as conference grumblings. I get that J'ville State ultimately moved to FBS, but that'd be the only departure that made since for that reason. It was a pretty competitive leaugue as far as FCS conferences go. What was it, 4-6 teams that bailed. Now we got schools like Linwood filling the gaps. With AP and JSU gone, it's no wonder TTU was able to share the title last year. The latest coach has made some noticeable roster and on field improvements, but if the rest of the conference had been intact they wouldn't have fared so well. And on the Baseball side, Belmont bailed. As far as revolving doors, the WAC and ASUN have a lot in common.

And there's still more leaving the WAC. After this season they will officially rebrand as UAC and only ACU and Tarleton will remain from the western schools. Might be football rebrand only though. Other sports will remain ASUN or WAC I think.

 

[YankeeVol]

I get that completely. Never was aware of anything that would cause them all to leave as far as conference grumblings. I get that J'ville State ultimately moved to FBS, but that'd be the only departure that made since for that reason. It was a pretty competitive leaugue as far as FCS conferences go. What was it, 4-6 teams that bailed. Now we got schools like Linwood filling the gaps. With AP and JSU gone, it's no wonder TTU was able to share the title last year. The latest coach has made some noticeable roster and on field improvements, but if the rest of the conference had been intact they wouldn't have fared so well. And on the Baseball side, Belmont bailed. As far as revolving doors, the WAC and ASUN have a lot in common.

And there's still more leaving the WAC. After this season they will officially rebrand as UAC and only ACU and Tarleton will remain from the western schools. Might be football rebrand only though. Other sports will remain ASUN or WAC I think.

WAC Rebranding and Membership Realignment: The WAC will rebrand as the United Athletic Conference (UAC) in July 2026, with intended membership of eight (8) institutions including Abilene Christian University, Austin Peay State University, the University of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky University, the University of North Alabama, Tarleton State University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the University of West Georgia.

The ASUN will maintain a roster of seven (7) members: Bellarmine University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Lipscomb University, the University of North Florida, Queens University of Charlotte, and Stetson University.

Atlantic Sun Conference and Western Athletic Conference to Forge Strategic Alliance

Atlantic Sun Conference and Western Athletic Conference to Forge Strategic Alliance

uacfootball.com

 

[GVF]

WAC Rebranding and Membership Realignment: The WAC will rebrand as the United Athletic Conference (UAC) in July 2026, with intended membership of eight (8) institutions including Abilene Christian University, Austin Peay State University, the University of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky University, the University of North Alabama, Tarleton State University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the University of West Georgia.

The ASUN will maintain a roster of seven (7) members: Bellarmine University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Lipscomb University, the University of North Florida, Queens University of Charlotte, and Stetson University.

Atlantic Sun Conference and Western Athletic Conference to Forge Strategic Alliance

Atlantic Sun Conference and Western Athletic Conference to Forge Strategic Alliance

uacfootball.com

So the ASUN after an attempt to start football returns to a non-football conference. And the UAC will only have 7 footballers as UTA is non football. All of the other current western schools have found new homes after this season so they won't be footing the bill for cross country travel on FCS budgets. Never understood those Texas schools leaving the Southland either. Pretty competitive league with easy regional Texas/Louisianna travel. And you have a rebranded west coast league with the WAC name in all sports going defunct and no west cost schools left at all. Sounds like pages from the FBS re-alignment handbook. Wonder where the conference offices will be. California? With the closest school being a 24 hour drive non-stop to the league office? Weird ain't the word.

Edit:
TTU is leaving the OVC now as well and will join the SoCon in July.