Douglas C. Pizac-US PRESSWIRE

Two BYU football games have been moved to accommodate national television broadcasts, Mike Humes of ESPN announced today.

BYU’s season opener against Washington State has been moved to Thursday, Aug. 30 and will be televised by ESPN at 10:15 p.m. ET. The game was initially set for Saturday, Sept. 1.

A second game at LaVell Edwards Stadium has also been moved. The Cougars will now host the Hawaii Warriors on Friday, Sept. 28. The game, originally planned for Saturday, Sept. 29, will be televised by ESPN at 8 p.m. ET.

ESPN also announced today that the Utah State at BYU contest on Friday, Oct. 5 will be televised by ESPN or ESPN2 at 10:15 p.m. ET.

The announcement now gives BYU a total of five 2012 football games on national TV:

• Washington State – Thurs., Aug. 30, 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
• at Boise State – Thurs., Sept. 20, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Hawaii – Fri., Sept. 28, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Utah State – Fri., Oct. 5, 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN or ESPN2
• at Notre Dame – Sat., Oct. 20, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC

BYUtv will broadcast the Cougars’ home game against Weber State on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. ET.

Football Schedules:

• 2012 BYU Football Schedule
• BYU Future Football Schedules

Phil Sears-US PRESSWIRE

There’s been a lot of talk the past few days about Florida State possibly being interested in leaving the ACC for the Big 12.

Last week, Chip Brown wrote that the Seminoles should consider a move to the Big 12 for financial reasons. Saturday FSU Board of Trustees Chairman Andy Haggard openly blasted the new ACC television deal and said “…we would be in favor of seeing what the Big 12 might have to offer. We have to do what is in Florida State’s best interest.”

Then on Monday, FSU President Eric Barron released a statement in response to the rumors.

Putting all the rumors and statements aside, what if the Florida State Seminoles did move to the Big 12? What would their football schedule look like?

First of all, if the Big 12 added Florida State, they would likely add a 12th member as well. The team most likely to grab that spot is Louisville.

Then the Big 12 would split back into divisions in order to stage a championship game. This is what the Big 12 divisions might look like with Florida State and Louisville:

Big 12 East

• Florida State
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Louisville
• West Virginia

Big 12 West

• Baylor
• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• TCU
• Texas
• Texas Tech

For purposes of this alignment scenario, I went with an East-West designation. This pits Florida State with new rivals Louisville and West Virginia in the East. It also keeps Oklahoma and Oklahoma State together and the four Texas schools together in the West.

The placement of Florida State and West Virginia in the East also balances the divisions. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas continue to reside in the same division as they did from 1996 through 2010.

Since the Big 12 plays a nine-game conference schedule, that means Florida State would play every team in their division and four teams from the West each year.

Let’s say in 2014, Florida State draws Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas. That’s four tough games outside of their division to go along with games against Kansas State, Louisville and West Virginia.

Then there’s the non-conference slate. Florida State would surely keep in-state rival Florida on the schedule, a team they have played every year since 1958.

But FSU in the Big 12 could end or reduce the frequency of their match-up against the Miami Hurricanes. The Noles and Canes have played every season since 1969 and 56 times overall. More than likely, FSU wouldn’t play a Big 12 schedule with Florida and Miami every season.

The Citadel is already scheduled for 2014, so that leaves Florida State with one non-conference opening. That will probably be filled by a middle or lower tier FBS school.

Taking all of the above into account, here’s what a Florida State Big 12 football schedule could look like with 2014 non-conference games:

• FBS School (middle to lower tier)
• Iowa State
• The Citadel
• at Kansas State
• at Texas
• Oklahoma
• TCU
• Kansas
• at Oklahoma State
• Louisville
• at West Virginia
• Florida
• Big 12 Championship Game

That’s a very tough slate for the Seminoles. Granted, they may not face Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas all in the same season, but it could happen.

Although a move to the Big 12 would be more beneficial financially for Florida State, they will likely face a significantly tougher football schedule than what they currently see in the ACC.

Ball State will travel to face Northwestern at Ryan Field in Evanston on Sept. 26, 2015. The game will be the first ever meeting between the two schools.

The Cardinals now have two non-conference games scheduled for 2015. Ball State also hosts Middle Tennessee at Scheumann Stadium on Sept. 12.

Barring any changes, Northwestern’s 2015 non-conference slate is full. The Wildcats open the season at home against Stanford on Sept. 5. They also host Army and travel to face Duke.

Football Schedules:

• Ball State Future Football Schedules
• Northwestern Future Football Schedules

Douglas Jones-US PRESSWIRE

Florida State’s future football schedules are nearly complete through the 2015 season after the Orlando Sentinel obtained information on a few new games this afternoon.

The Seminoles will open the 2013 season at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee against the Wofford Terriers. FSU is 3-0 all-time against Wofford, but the two schools haven’t met since 1952.

The Noles will also host Nevada on Sept. 21 and travel to take on Florida on Nov. 30. The contest against Nevada has been on the schedule since 2007.

In 2014, Florida State will host The Citadel on Sept. 13 and Florida on Nov. 29. One more non-conference game is needed to complete the 2014 schedule.

Texas State, which will join the Sun Belt in 2013, will visit Tallahassee for the season-opener on Sept. 5, 2015. FSU has also recently scheduled a home game against the Chattanooga Mocs for Nov. 21. A road game at Florida on Nov. 28 closes out the non-conference slate in 2015.

With Pittsburgh and Syracuse entering the ACC in 2014, and possibly 2013, the conference will play a nine-game football schedule. That allows Florida State and other ACC schools to only play three non-conference games per year.

“As I look to the future, when we talk to this new bowl championship series, that I think is going to change, winning is going to be what gets you to the national championship,” FSU athletics director Randy Spetman said. “It always has been, but more than ever. So we have to balance our schedule that way to make sure that we’re very successful with wins.”

Florida State Future Football Schedules

Appalachian State has been a member of the Southern Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision since 1971. There they have won three national championships (2005-07) and won or shared the Southern Conference championship 11 times.

In a release dated May 8, 2012, Cobb wrote:

“Potential membership in Conference USA is one of the scenarios that Appalachian has been pursuing since the athletics feasibility committee made their recommendation last August. As you recall, the committee recommended that Appalachian seek membership in a conference that sponsors FBS football and the Board of Trustees approved that recommendation this past September. The committee’s mandate was that a new conference must create geographic rivalries and make financial sense for us.”

“Feedback that we have received throughout this process has been overwhelmingly positive with regards to our University’s and athletics department’s infrastructure. Our academic programs are top-notch, our financial base is strong, the data put forth by the athletics feasibility committee is solid and our facilities, fan support and success on the playing fields and courts are unparalleled among our peers.”

One of the hurdles for ASU to overcome is their location. They are located in Boone, North Carolina, a town with a population of 14,138 according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2009).

But Cobb accentuates the positives in his letter, stating that Appalachian State is “…in the coverage areas of four top-100 markets that serve over 3 million homes combined” and that they have “…103,000 living alumni and 76,000 of them live in the major population centers of North Carolina.”

In addition, Cobb points out that based on last years attendance, the Mountaineers would have finished 5th in Conference USA and second in the Sun Belt Conference.

Earlier this week, it was rumored that App State and New Mexico State would get invitations to join the Sun Belt Conference. That rumor was shot down by SBC commissioner Karl Benson, as least in regards to NM State.

The letter released by Appalachian State’s Charlie Cobb shows that the Mountaineers are more interested in joining Conference USA than the Sun Belt.

Yesterday, the ACC and ESPN announced an extension to their exclusive media rights package through 2026-27. Reports indicate that the revenue for football and basketball will rise from $13 million to around $17 million per school.

According to Brown, FSU is in a prime state (population of 19 million) to possibly create their own television network and gain an additional $5 million per year in media rights revenue. Add to that $2 million more that the Big 12 would bring and the Seminoles could rake in around $24 million per year.

Florida State may be content in the ACC, but the Seminoles need some cash. Several media outlets reported last week that the FSU athletics department is facing a budget shortfall of $2.4 million for 2012-13. Chip Brown also mentions that Florida State’s “basketball arena and football stadium are in desperate need of renovation.”

You can read the rest of Brown’s article over at OrangeBloods.com. He goes into more detail about the issues Florida State is facing.

What would happen if Florida State actually did make the move to the Big 12? Clemson has been rumored as a possible team to follow them. But BYU and Louisville have also been in the conversation a lot longer.

Those four schools would give the Big 12 a total of 14 schools. Stay tuned.

Update (5/11/12): Florida State athletics director Randy Spetman told the Orlando Sentinel this morning that the Seminoles are “committed to the ACC.”

John Reed-US PRESSWIRE

The Arkansas State Red Wolves will play at the Auburn Tigers in 2013, ASU announced today.

Arkansas State will travel to Jordan Hare Stadium on Sept. 7, 2013. It will be the third meeting between these two schools in the last seven years. Auburn leads the series 2-0 after wins in 2006 (27-0) and 2010 (52-26).

Auburn will pay ASU $1.1 million for the game, which is the largest payment ever received by the Red Wolves.

The 2013 game will match new Arkansas State head coach Gus Malzahn against his former boss Gene Chizik of Auburn. Malzahn was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Auburn from 2009 through 2011.

Auburn is the second announced non-conference game for Arkansas State in 2013. The Red Wolves also travel to Memphis on Sept. 21.

The Tigers now have three non-conference games in 2013. Auburn also hosts Jacksonville State and Washington State, both on dates to be announced. One of those will likely be the season opener.

Football Schedules:

• Arkansas State Future Football Schedules
• Auburn Future Football Schedules

Rice was slated to host Navy at Rice Stadium in Houston on Sept. 13, 2014. The game would have been the 13th overall meeting in a series that is tied at six games each.

Owls beat reporter Joseph Duarte reported that the 2014 match up was part of a four-game series. The other three years in that series are currently unknown.

Last week, the Midshipmen cancelled a four game, home-and-home series against UNLV. They also have four games set against SMU which will drop off their schedule since, like Navy, SMU is joining the Big East.

Navy now has ten games on their 2014 football schedule after the Rice and UNLV cancellations. Although Navy is set to join the Big East in 2015, they could be clearing their 2014 slate to enter the Big East earlier as the Las Vegas Review-Journal suggested last week.

Rice is down to two games on their 2014 non-conference schedule after they postponed a 2013-14 home-and-home series against Wake Forest. The Owls are set to travel to Army on Oct. 11 and Notre Dame on a date to be determined.

The Owls were scheduled to face the Demon Deacons at BB&T Field in Winston-Salem, NC on Sept. 7, 2013. According to Rice athletics director Rick Greenspan, a new date is “being negotiated.”

The postponement of one game on Rice’s 2013 schedule was inevitable after the Owls announced last week that they were opening the season at Texas A&M and that the Bayou Bucket with Houston would continue.

Rice is also scheduled to host Wake Forest in 2014 on a date to be announced. It’s possible the game could be pushed back if the Bayou Bucket continues past 2013.

The only other non-conference game on the 2013 schedule for Rice is a home game against Kansas on Sept. 14. The Owls were slated to travel to UTSA on Oct. 12, but the Roadrunners enters Conference USA in 2013. That game will either become a conference game or it won’t be played.

Update (5/6/12): Chron.com reports that the 2014 game has also been postponed.

Football Schedules:

• Rice Future Football Schedules
• Texas A&M Future Football Schedules

The addition of San Jose State and Utah State brings the total number of football members in the MWC to 10. The others are Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV and Wyoming.

“We are pleased to announce the addition of San José State University and Utah State University to the ranks of the Mountain West,” said Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson. “As we have developed the strategy for the future of the Conference, the long-standing rivalries with our current members and the fit within our geographic footprint made these two institutions the optimal choices to strengthen our membership and position ourselves for the next steps.”

San Jose State has been a member of the WAC since 1996. The Spartans never won a conference title, but did win their most recent bowl appearance 20-12 over New Mexico in the 2006 New Mexico Bowl.

Utah State has competed in the WAC since 2005. They too have never won a WAC conference title. Their last bowl appearance was in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they lost to Ohio 24-23.

With San Jose State and Utah State moving to the MWC, the WAC’s days as a football conference are numbered. Earlier today, WAC members Louisiana Tech and UTSA announced they are joining Conference USA in 2013. And on Thursday, Texas State announced they are joining the Sun Belt Conference.

That leaves the WAC with just two football members: Idaho and New Mexico State. To date, neither school has been mentioned as a serious candidate for another conference. But that could change at any moment.

Here is what the Mountain West will look like in 2013:

Mountain West

Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming

Florida International and North Texas are moving from the Sun Belt while Louisiana Tech and UTSA are coming from the WAC. Charlotte, which begins their football program in 2013, will move up from the Football Championship Subdivision.

“We are excited about adding these new members as part of our bold strategy that focuses on growing institutions in large media markets,” Banowsky said. “There is a tremendous upside here. This is an opportunity for us to add a mixture of established and emerging programs. We also remain committed to divisional scheduling models that are student-athlete and fan-friendly. The more we analyzed it, the more it made sense.”

Conference USA also announced today that they will “…continue to discuss a future affiliation that could begin as early as 2013″ with the Mountain West Conference. The two entities had been planning to merge, but will now explore a partnership that shares resources.

Listed below details on the five new members of Conference USA:

Charlotte

The Charlotte 49ers (University of North Carolina at Charlotte) are set to start their football program in 2013 as an FCS Independent. They will begin C-USA football competition in 2015 after completion of the mandatory two seasons at the FCS level. All other sports will join C-USA in 2013.

“The invitation to join Conference USA is momentous in what it can do for our university,” Chancellor Dr. Philip Dubois said.  “As stewards of this university, it is incumbent upon us to provide the best leadership for today and the best promise for tomorrow.   We have yet to take a snap on McColl-Richardson field, yet to play our first game, yet to have even our first practice – but because of who we are, because of what we’ve done, and because of the great community we live in – we have the unique opportunity to become one of the first programs in history to go from no football to FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) football in the minimum time allowed by NCAA regulations.”

Florida International

The Golden Panthers started their football program in 2002 and joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2005. FIU was recognized as Sun Belt Co-Champions in 2010.

“This move to Conference USA is about providing greater opportunity for our student-athletes and our fans,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg.  “A successful, visible athletics program is an integral part of building tradition and affinity in a young university such as ours. This is part of that journey. I want to thank Dr. Scott Cowen and the rest of the Conference USA CEOs for extending the invitation. I would also like to thank Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson, former commissioner Wright Waters and the rest of the Sun Belt Conference for being terrific partners the past 14 years.”

Louisiana Tech

The Bulldogs have been a member of the WAC since 2001. Last season, Tech won the WAC Championship and played in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl where they fell to TCU 31-24.

“This is the dawn of a new era for Louisiana Tech University and a goal we have worked very hard over the past several years to achieve,” President Dan Reneau said. “I want to publically acknowledge the efforts of Bruce Van De Velde and his team as well as dedicated alums such as Terry Bradshaw and the Davison family, who were instrumental in helping tell our story and promote our vision for the future of Louisiana Tech Athletics. 

“Above all, I want to thank the Tech Nation for their loyal support and commitment to the athletics program. You are the spirit of Louisiana Tech and an inspiration to our coaches and student-athletes.”

North Texas

The Mean Green have been a member of the Sun Belt Conference since 2001. They were SBC Co-Champions in 2001 and Champions in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

“This is validation that the progress we have made in our athletic programs in conjunction with our university’s academic reputation has made us a suitable fit for the high standards of Conference USA,” Director of Athletics Rick Villarreal said.  “Conference USA provides a great partnership with several schools in our geographic proximity and will help all of us create outstanding regional rivalries.  It is a tremendous opportunity for North Texas athletics.”

UTSA

UTSA (The University of Texas at San Antonio) played their first football season in 2011 as an FCS Independent. For the 2012 season, the Roadrunners will be a member of the WAC.

“Today is another outstanding day to be a Roadrunner,” said president President Dr. Ricardo Romo. “We are very excited about our new partnership with Conference USA. It is a great fit for us, and it is a significant step forward for the University and the entire city of San Antonio.”

“This is yet another historic day for UTSA,” Athletics Director Lynn Hickey said. “Today’s invitation is a realization of a lot of hard work by so many different people, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of the city and its community leaders. This truly was a collaborative effort. It’s another great moment for the city of San Antonio, our University and the athletics department. Everyone truly is excited to be moving to Conference USA.”

Georgia State will host the Charlotte 49ers at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sept. 3, 2015. The two schools are also discussing a game in 2016, but a contract has yet to be finalized.

Charlotte, which begins their football program in 2013, will officially announce tomorrow that they are joining Conference USA in all sports. The 49ers football team will likely have to play two years at the FCS level before they can move up to the FBS.

Georgia State has also had discussions for future games against the Florida Gators and the North Carolina Tar Heels. GSU was talking to Florida about a game in 2015, but the talks appear to have broken off.

The Panthers have talked with North Carolina about playing in Chapel Hill on Sept. 14 or Sept. 21, 2013, but there is no signed agreement yet for that contest.

Check out PantherTalk.com for more good info on the Georgia State Panthers.

West Virginia has agreed to pay Florida State $500,000 for the cancellation of the 2012 game which was to be played in Tallahassee on Sept. 8. FSU had to scramble to replace the game and ended up scheduling Savannah State.

The 2013 game, which was slated for Sept. 14 in Morgantown, was also canceled as part of the agreement.

The Mountaineers canceled the games due to their move into the Big 12 Conference. The Big 12 plays a nine-game conference schedule, which leaves only three non-conference games.

West Virginia had four games scheduled in both 2012 and 2013 and opted to cancel FSU. That left the Mountaineers with 2012 non-conference games at home against Marshall and Maryland and vs. James Madison at FedEx Field.

In addition to the game against Savannah State, the Seminoles host Murray State and Florida and travel to face USF.

Football Schedules:

• Florida State Future Football Schedules
• West Virginia Future Football Schedules

Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

The Arkansas-Texas A&M series is now officially set for campus sites in 2012 and 2013 and could return to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington in 2014.

The two schools will meet at Kyle Field in College Station on Sept. 29, 2012 and at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Sept. 28, 2013.

Arkansas and Texas A&M first played at Cowboys Stadium in 2009 in a series that was dubbed the “Southwest Classic.” The Razorbacks won all three games: 47-19 (2009), 24-17 (2010) and 42-38 (2011). The two teams signed a 10-year contract to play the game in Arlington when Texas A&M was still a member of the Big 12.

With Texas A&M entering the SEC, the game was moved back to campus sites. Both schools are in negotiations to return the game to Cowboys Stadium:

The two institutions have played in the Southwest Classic at Cowboys Stadium in each of the last three years. After Texas A&M officially joined the Southeastern Conference, the Dallas Cowboys worked with both institutions to help address scheduling difficulties created for the Aggies with their entry into the SEC. Discussions between both institutions and the Dallas Cowboys are ongoing and are focused on returning the series to Cowboys Stadium for the 2014 season and beyond.

Texas A&M opens the 2012 season vs. Louisiana Tech in Shreveport (Aug. 30) while Arkansas hosts Jacksonville State (Sept. 1).

Football Schedules:

• Arkansas Future Football Schedules
• Texas A&M Future Football Schedules

Texas State is currently an FCS Independent and becomes a member of the FBS when they join the WAC on July 1, 2012.

The Bobcats are the first team to officially announce their move from the WAC for 2013. Louisiana Tech and UTSA are likely moving to Conference USA while San Jose State and Utah State appear headed to the MWC.

Texas State is the fifth largest university in Texas. The Bobcats, led by head coach Dennis Franchione, play their games on campus at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos. The stadium currently seats 15,968 but will ultimately seat 34,800. It also has the distinction of being used in scenes for the NBC series “Friday Night Lights.”

With Georgia State joining the Sun Belt in 2013 and Florida International and North Texas rumored to be leaving for C-USA, here is what the SBC will look like in 2013:

Sun Belt Conference

Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy, Western Kentucky, UL Lafayette, ULM

“Texas State is a great addition to the Sun Belt Conference as the Bobcat athletic program is destined for success in the Football Bowl Subdivision,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson. “The Sun Belt Conference’s rise to prominence will continue with Texas State as part of our league.”

“We are very excited about becoming a member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2013,” said Texas State Director of Athletics Dr. Larry Teis. “We know that our student-athletes will be eager to succeed in the Sun Belt, and we will enter the conference ready to compete. We look forward to building new rivalries with some Sun Belt schools and renewing rivalries with others. The Sun Belt Conference encompasses eight states from Texas to Florida that are rich in college athletic traditions, especially in the sport of FBS football.”

Related Stories:

• Report: San Jose State, Utah State to join MWC in 2013
• Report: UTSA to join Conference USA in 2013
• Conference USA, Mountain West unlikely to merge
• Georgia State Panthers to join Sun Belt in 2013

Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

The 2012 LSU at Arkansas football game has been set for Friday, Nov. 23 in Fayetteville, CBS and the SEC announced today. The game will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by CBS.

This years game will be only the second time that the two schools have met in Fayetteville. The only other time was back in 1992, Arkansas’ first year in the SEC. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 30-6.

LSU and Arkansas first met in 1901 and have played a total of 57 times. The Tigers lead the overall series 35-20-2, but the Razorbacks have won three of the last five games.

Since 1996, the game has been dubbed “The Battle for the Golden Boot.” The trophy is over 4 feet tall, made out of 24-karat gold and resembles the outline of each state. The Golden Boot is currently in the possession of LSU after their 41-17 victory in Baton Rouge last November.

Football Schedules:

• 2012 Arkansas Football Schedule
• 2012 LSU Football Schedule

Washington State will host Idaho at Martin Stadium in Pullman on Sept. 21, 2013. The two schools have a long standing rivalry that dates back to 1894. The Cougars lead the overall series 70-18-3.

From 1998-2007, the Cougars and Vandals played ten times with nine of those games being played in Pullman and one in Seattle. The last time these two met in Moscow was way back in 1966.

Washington State will also host BYU and travel to face Auburn in 2013. Dates for those games will be announced at a later date.

Idaho opens the 2013 season at Ole Miss on Aug. 31. The Vandals also travel to Wyoming (Sept. 7) and host Northern Illinois (date TBA).

Football Schedules:

• Idaho Future Football Schedules
• Washington State Future Football Schedules

Set to join are Florida International and North Texas from the Sun Belt Conference, Louisiana Tech and UTSA from the WAC, and Charlotte and Old Dominion from the Football Championship Subdivision.

The Charlotte 49ers (University of North Carolina at Charlotte) are set to begin their football program in 2013 as an FCS Independent. It’s doubtful that they would immediately play a full Conference USA football schedule.

Old Dominion is also an FCS program and may have a transition period into C-USA. The Monarchs revived their football program in 2009 and joined the Colonial Athletic Association in 2011.

Conference USA, which is losing Houston, Memphis, SMU and UCF to the Big East in 2013, would have a total of 14 members in 2014. That will allow them to continue their conference championship game. They will also keep their East/West division alignment, which is expected to be as follows:

East Divison

Charlotte, East Carolina, Florida International, Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, UAB

West Division

Louisiana Tech, North Texas, Rice, Tulane, Tulsa, UTEP, UTSA

The Sun Belt Conference is expected to add Texas State in 2013 and already has Georgia State coming up from the FCS. Those two schools will replace FIU and North Texas.

San Jose State and Utah State are expected to bolt the sinking WAC for the Mountain West Conference. With Louisiana Tech and UTSA heading to C-USA, that will leave the WAC with only Idaho and New Mexico State in football. There hasn’t been much speculation yet as to where those two schools will end up.

The Bobcats haven’t even played a game as a WAC member yet. They officially join the conference on July 1 and the 2012 season will also be their first in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Texas State joins a long list of schools jumping from the WAC ship. Louisiana Tech and UTSA are moving to Conference USA and San Jose State and Utah State heading to the MWC.

With Georgia State joining the Sun Belt in 2013 and Florida International and North Texas rumored to be leaving for C-USA, here is what the SBC might look like next season:

Sun Belt Conference

Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy, Western Kentucky, UL Lafayette, ULM

Related Stories:

• Report: San Jose State, Utah State to join MWC in 2013
• Report: UTSA to join Conference USA in 2013
• Conference USA, Mountain West unlikely to merge
• Georgia State Panthers to join Sun Belt in 2013

Although nothing is official yet, multiple sources told The Salt Lake Tribune that Utah State will join the MWC next year and that an official announcement could come in 7-10 days. The Aggies have been a member of the WAC since 2005.

USU athletics director declined to call it a “done deal,” but did tell the Tribune that “things have progressed even since yesterday.”

The San Jose State Spartans are also expected to receive an invitation to join the Mountain West, the San Jose State Mercury News reported on Sunday. Their invitation could come this week with a formal announcement to follow afterwards.

With San Jose State and Utah State now rumored to be moving on, the WAC’s days as a football conference could be numbered. Over the weekend, news broke that new WAC member UTSA was likely headed to Conference USA, along with the possibility of Louisiana Tech.

That would leave the WAC with just three football members: Idaho, New Mexico State and Texas State. With the Sun Belt possibly losing FIU and North Texas to C-USA, they could snap up two of those three. Idaho and New Mexico State were members of the SBC from 2001-04.

With the most recent news, here is what Conference USA and the Mountain West could look like for football in 2013:

Conference USA

East Carolina, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, North Texas, Rice, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UTEP, UTSA

Mountain West

Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming