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Conference realignment: MAC releases statement after Middle Tennessee announces it’s staying in Conference USA
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
After considering a move to the Mid-American Conference from Conference USA, Middle Tennessee opted to remain where they were and not make a move right now. The MAC had been prepared to add Western Kentucky had MTSU joined the conference.
Following MTSU’s announcement on Wednesday, the MAC released a statement of its own, stating that “it will not pursue expansion at this time”.
“For some time we have been examining the FBS landscape, and certainly our discussions have been more focused over the past several months as our Conference was contacted by other institutions,” MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in the statement. “While a number of institutions have expressed interest, we never requested any institution to apply for membership nor did we have a formal or informal vote concerning any institutions.”
C-USA has already seen 6 schools – Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA – announce respective moves to the AAC, while Marshall announced its own departure for the Sun Belt. However, it will add Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, and Sam Houston State in all sports, with all 4 universities set to have their football programs move from FCS to FBS as a result.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
