Wednesday Mailbag: Conference Realignment, Places to Eat and More
Conference realignment news hit Monday, and it will impact the WAC, plus questions on places to eat and much more
Conference realignment shook the news cycle on Monday afternoon.
According to Brett McMurphy, the Big West Conference is set to hold a vote regarding an invite to both Utah Valley and California Baptist.
If the schools vote to send the invite, which would be for the start of the 2026-27 season, and both Utah Valley and California Baptist accept the invite, it very well could be the end of the Western Athletic Conference as we know it.
With GCU departing for the Mountain West Conference beginning most likely in the Summer of 2025, and Seattle U leaving for the West Coast Conference at the end of the 2024-25 season, the WAC is left with seven teams for the 2025-26 season.
If Utah Valley and California Baptist get an invite and accept the invite, the WAC will be down to five teams, with no additions really in sight
Many fans around WAC Hoops knew something was imminent. Conference realignment has really taken its toll on a once proud league that just three years ago was the fourth-best mid-major league in America according to KenPom.
So, there are some questions for this mailbag surrounding the realignment. Other questions are related to food, and another question is related to conference tournaments.
So, let’s get to them.
This is a great question.
My initial answer is NO. How do you take back a school that shunned you for a conference that was ‘bringing back’ football?
Is the Big Sky a fit for Southern Utah and Utah Tech? Absolutely.
The regional rivalries with Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Weber State, and Idaho State would be intriguing.
But, unless Sacramento State is set on leaving the Big Sky, I think the T-Birds are in a world of hurt. It's the same with Utah Tech.
Football drives all. The only league not named the Mountain West or Pac-12 that has football is the same as the T-Birds left two years ago to join the WAC.
You can do the math on that one.
Honestly…NO.
While I think UT Arlington could get to that point, I don’t think that will be the case immediately IF the Mavs go to the Summit League.
First, you have the Dakota schools that rule that league in the majority of sports.
Add in St. Thomas and you have competition for the top-half of that league.
Omaha, the newcomer to the Summit League, could win the Summit League regular season title.
I think UT Arlington could be in the mix year in and year out but I don’t think the Mavs would be the ‘big dog’ like GCU has been in the WAC in recent years and like New Mexico State was.
This is a great question.
There are so many choices in St. George. When I go down there for the play-in games in a week, I am going to go to Cliffside since I was told by Utah Tech women’s basketball head coach JD Gustin it is a great place to eat. One of his players, Emily Isaacson, even said it was one of the best.
I usually make a trip to Pizza Factory when in St. George. There is a Pasta Factory connected to it so you have options. Others may disagree with me but I love it.
In Cedar City, there are two places I really like. One of which I went to with my good buddy Spencer McLaughlin the last time I was in Cedar City.
I had the Bacon Cheeseburger and it was delicious. Highly recommend this little cafe-type restaurant.
DC Pub and Grill is another one…and it is a favorite of Southern Utah men’s basketball coach Rob Jeter. The Philly cheesesteak is really good. Messy, but good.
Oh, my buddy Tyler trying to put me on the spot. Love to see it.
Here are my answers:
WCC: Saint Mary’s will repeat. They have a stranglehold on the WCC this season and have dominated the Zags. The only concern is can they beat a team three times? We know how challenging that can be.
WAC: Grand Canyon will go to the NCAA Tournament in its final season in the WAC. Who beats GCU at Orleans Arena? The only answer to that is New Mexico State. And since New Mexico State is no longer in the WAC, we have seen what GCU does…they win. Utah Valley has lost three straight at Orleans Arena dating back to the NIT Final Four in 2022. So, I am sticking to the guns and picking GCU.
Mountain West Conference: Utah State will get it done. I believe in Jarrod Calhoun and the Aggies. They split with New Mexico, swept San Diego State, and just continue to win. Give me the Aggies at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Big West: Oh, this is such a loaded one. Everyone will say UC San Diego and why not? The Tritons have won 9 straight, are on the verge of winning the regular season title, and dominated UC Irvine in Irvine two weeks ago. But, I like UC Irvine. The Anteaters have four guys averaging double figures, they average nearly 75 points per game, and shoot 80 percent from the free throw line. Give me the Anteaters in a thriller over UC San Diego at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson.
Great question.
Honestly, I am not sure on Southern Utah and Utah Tech. They are kind of stuck right now if Utah Valley and CBU get and accept the invite to the Big West.
As mentioned above, both schools have football and that poses a problem. The Summit League doesn’t have football. The Big Sky would be a natural fit. But, will the Big Sky take Southern Utah back? And does it want Utah Tech, who at the moment, doesn’t add a ton of value in terms of tradition and winning?
The Summit League may be the best bet for both schools, as long as the UAC continues to stick together for football purposes. That is something to keep an eye on.
As far as the other WAC schools, I think Tarleton State will make the jump to FBS soon. I believe it will be either Conference USA or the Mountain West Conference for the Texans.
For UT Arlington, the ASUN or the Summit League makes sense. No football, more regionally based, and a natural fit for both leagues.
ACU is another interesting case. I don’t believe the Wildcats want to go back to the Southland Conference. But, with football, you just never know. I don’t know that ACU is ready to leap to the FBS ranks but never say never in today’s world of realignment.
Like Utah Tech and SUU, if the UAC sticks together, stay there for football while perhaps joining the ASUN or Summit League for all other sports.