Expanding the SoCon

[FU Hoopla]

Well it's about time we discussed growing the SoCon again lol

I would love to see 5 realistic additions of William & Mary, College Of Charleston, Elon, UNC Wilmington and Eastern Kentucky...

That would add 5 new hoops schools and 3 new football schools all well within the footprint of the SoCon and strengthen the league with a good mix of new private and state schools...

[Sad Din]

Well it's about time we discussed growing the SoCon again lol

I would love to see 5 realistic additions of William & Mary, College Of Charleston, Elon, UNC Wilmington and Eastern Kentucky...

That would add 5 new hoops schools and 3 new football schools all well within the footprint of the SoCon and strengthen the league with a good mix of new private and state schools...

definitly no to Elon. Others ok with SD

[FU Hoopla]

Well it's about time we discussed growing the SoCon again lol

I would love to see 5 realistic additions of William & Mary, College Of Charleston, Elon, UNC Wilmington and Eastern Kentucky...

That would add 5 new hoops schools and 3 new football schools all well within the footprint of the SoCon and strengthen the league with a good mix of new private and state schools...

definitly no to Elon. Others ok with SD

Sounds good, would bring the SoCon to 14 hoops schools and 11 of those with hoops and football

[paladinfan12]

I'd be open to adding Davidson (if they wanted to add scholarship football), Belmont, or Richmond as well.

[FU Hoopla]

I'd be open to adding Davidson (if they wanted to add scholarship football), Belmont, or Richmond as well.

I definitely considered Davidson and Richmond, but think they consider A10 Basketball too important to them to leave for the SoCon...

I also considered Belmont but not sure they would want to join SoCon over MVC...

Basically all the schools I chose I am 99% sure we could actually get to join...

[Sad Din]

might want to re-think Davy...

[apaladin]

As long as no one leaves keep it as is. Currently we play everyone in football and everyone twice in basketball. That is perfect. Bigger is not always better.

[FU Hoopla]

As long as no one leaves keep it as is. Currently we play everyone in football and everyone twice in basketball. That is perfect. Bigger is not always better.

Agree 100%, I was just looking at it from a sustainability side as those would be good additions to keep the league solid if anyone else does eventually leave, like maybe ETSU or UTC (both would be stupid to leave however)

[FU Hoopla]

Are we all in agreement on if the league would add only 1 new school it should be W&M?

[Paul C]

Off the cuff, I'd trade UTC and ETSU for W&M and Richmond.....

[FU Hoopla]

Off the cuff, I'd trade UTC and ETSU for W&M and Richmond.....

Same, but Richmond will not pull hoops out of the A10...

[FU Hoopla]

Not SoCon expansion but could have some trickle effect across the country (certainly will out West):

Boise State among 4 schools joining Pac-12 for 2026-27 season
https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... oin-pac-12

[Affirm]

Not SoCon expansion but could have some trickle effect across the country (certainly will out West):

Boise State among 4 schools joining Pac-12 for 2026-27 season
https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... oin-pac-12

Trickle down effect across the country possibly could include Mountain West bringing in the following:
Nevada-Reno (because of the state legislature pressure if UNLV and the Mountain West want to hook up but the legislature blocking that if the MWC will not bring in an upgraded (to FBS) Nevada-Reno also
North Dakota State
South Dakota State
South Dakota
North Dakota
Montana State
Montana
Then ... some of the next dominoes might fall with subsequent moves involving schools in conferences including Missouri Valley Conference, United Athletic Conference, Big South Conference, and, yes, Southern Conference, etc.

[youwouldno]

Going from FCS to G5 is not very appealing without knowing what the rules will even be. Very unlikely to see a short term surge of western programs moving up.

[FU Hoopla]

Going from FCS to G5 is not very appealing without knowing what the rules will even be. Very unlikely to see a short term surge of western programs moving up.

Could be true...
All depends on the $$$ of course