Five possibilities to replace UAB in Conference USA

With the news of UAB cutting their football program, Conference USA now has an opening in their conference line up. Per C-USA rules, any athletic program wanting to participate in Conference USA must participate in football. So, with UAB cutting their program they will have to surrender all participation in the conference and leave accordingly. With the open spot, we at Wave the Red Towel will explore five possibilities of who could replace the Dragons.

1.) Texas State Bobcats

Sep 20, 2014; Champaign, IL, USA; Texas State Bobcats quarterback Tyler Jones (2) scores a touchdown during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Texas State Bobcats at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

My favorite option to replace the Blazers comes from the Sun Belt in Texas State. The Bobcats are the only football eligible team in the Lone Star State who compete in the Sun Belt. According to the UTSA Wikipedia page, the Bobcats are the top rival to the Roadrunners, so that would automatically set up an even fiercer element to the rivalry. The Bobcats have been a member of FBS football since 2011, in 2013 they joined the Sun Belt and became a conference member in all sports. In two seasons under their current head coach Texas State has posted a 10-14 record. While those numbers don’t stand out the program would gain tremendously from their move and also create more natural rivalries with the C-USA schools in the state of Texas. [ed. note – and continue the short-lived rivalry with WKU.]

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