Although this time, its not quite as drastic.
The WAC has announced that it will add three teams to offset the loss of Boise State, Fresno State, and Nevada beginning in 2012-12 -- Denver University, Texas-San Antonio, and Texas State.
Denver plays football at the FCS level, meaning that their football program will not be joining the WAC. This means that the conference has nine basketball teams and eight football teams, a reason that many expect Montana to join the WAC as well. The Grizzlies, who currently have a powerhouse FCS level football program, would have to move up to the FBS.
Obviously, this is a big step down for the WAC as an athletics conference. Boise State, obviously, is a terrific football program, while Nevada, and to a lesser degree these days Fresno State, is a nationally recognized basketball program.
Denver, UTSA, and TSU?
They won’t exactly be raising the conference RPI.
Looks like Utah State head coach Stew Morrill is going to have to schedule more power conference road games.
Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @ballinisahabit.