Conference Realignment Becomes Official Today

Today is July 1 when many schools begin affiliation in their new conferences.  Here is a breakdown of the mid-major schools who have decided to find a new home.

Appalachian State

Old: Southern Conference
New: Sun Belt Conference

This move is 100% football but it'll be interesting to see how former Davidson assistant Jim Fox rebuilds the Mountaineer's program, especially in a tougher conference.

Davidson

Old: Southern Conference
New: Atlantic 10

The Wildcats are done terrorizing the SoCon and will now turn their eyes to the Atlantic 10. The Wildcats fill the North Carolina void left by Charlotte and it will be very interesting to see how Bob McKillop's squad adapts to a much tougher schedule.

Elon

Old: Southern Conference
New: Colonial Athletic Association

The Phoenix are another school that is jumping ship in the SoCon and will look to fill some voids left in the CAA after the plundering of ODU, VCU, George Mason, and others. Elon has been on an upward swing the past few years and will look to keep that going.

East Tennessee State

Old: Atlantic Sun
New: Southern Conference

Once told to take a hike by the SoCon for dismantling their football program, the Bucs are back and helping fill the void of the football schools who left for the Sun Belt. This is a pretty perfect fit for the SoCon with Chattanooga and Western Carolina pretty close to Johnson City.

Georgia Southern

Old: Southern Conference
New: Sun Belt Conference

Appalachian State's partner in realignment will move onto the Sun Belt while Mark Byington is building a solid program in Statesboro. Georgia Southern could make some noise off the gridiron in the coming years.

Idaho

Old: WAC
New: Big Sky

Who isn't trying to get out of the WAC? The Big Sky is a perfect fit for the Vandals all the way around and they should be a perfect fit for the conference as well.

Mercer

Old: Atlantic Sun
New: Southern Conference

Losing Davidson is a big blow for the SoCon but Mercer is a really solid addition. The Bears have been building to what culminated to a big upset over Duke in the NCAA Tournament last year. The only bad news is that the squad will be rebuilding in Macon this year.

Oral Roberts

Old: Southland
New: Summit League

Basically nothing went right for the Golden Eagles in the Southland Conference and now they have decided to go back to their old home...the Summit League.

VMI

Old: Big South
New: Southern Conference

VMI said over a decade ago that they were leaving the SoCon for the Big South so that they could be more competitive, 11 years later and they have no Big South titles in any sports. The Keydets leave a conference with three other opponents in Virginia for their traditional roots in the SoCon with a lot more travel.

Western Kentucky

Old: Sun Belt Conference
New: Conference USA

Tulane, Tulsa, and ECU all leave Conference USA for the American and the Hilltoppers are a perfect fill in and will be competitive right away.