Scenario D: Northern teams from the CIAA’s Scenario B/C leaves CIAA to form new Mid-Atlantic based conference, 15/13 team SIAC remains from Scenario C
- Lincoln (PA), Delaware State, UMES, Coppin State, Morgan State, Bowie State, UDC, Howard, Virginia Union, Virginia State, and Norfolk State leave their respective leagues to form a new Mid-Atlantic based conference. For instance, I’ll name this new HBCU league, the Chesapeake Athletic League (CAL). The CAL’s title origin is based on the 11-member’s proximity to the Chesapeake Bay.
- The 8 CAL Football teams play a seven-game conference schedule that leads into a conference championship game between the two highest ranked CAL teams hosted at Audi Field in Washington, DC.
- The CIAA shrinks to seven members that span both Carolinas.
- The CIAA sticks to the Carolinas footprint by adding South Carolina State and UNC-Pembroke to increase membership to 10 teams and 10 football schools.
- Chowan keeps its CIAA Football associate status.
- The CIAA North and South Divisions remain intact.
- The 8 CIAA Football teams play a seven-game conference schedule that leads to the CIAA Football Championship Game at the highest seed.
- The CAL/CIAA Football Challenge is established as a scheduling agreement so that each respective member can play a countable non-conference game towards the NCAA Tournament. This agreement can also lead to filling other HBCU sport non-conference schedules in order to keep generated revenue within our communities.
- Central State (OH) and Kentucky State cuts travel budgets by moving from the SIAC to the midwestern based, Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC).
- The SIAC adds Bethune-Cookman and Edward Waters. We end at 15 SIAC members and 11 SIAC Football teams.
- The SIAC Football becomes divisionless.
- The SIAC’s 2 best football teams based on record advance to the SIAC Football Championship Game at the higher seed.
To be honest, I feel like the most realistic scenarios that may manifest are CIAA Scenario A and SIAC Scenario C/D solely based on the minimal conference travel averages. My dream scenario is all three versions of Scenario D based on the true definition of compacted geographic conferences, ability to maximize conference ticket revenue, and a chance for more HBCUs to compete in the respective NCAA Tournaments.
For more HBCU conference realignment news and analysis, keep it tuned here at HBCU Gameday!
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