Report: WAC Plans To Announce FCS League Including Southern Utah, Dixie State
Jan 6, 2021, 2:38 PM | Updated: 3:11 pm
Dixie quarterback, Judd Thompson, at left front, scrambles to avoid being tackled. Southern Utah University vs. Dixie State football game played in Cedar City, Utah, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. (Ravell Call, Deseret News)
(Ravell Call, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Western Athletic Conference plans to announce the former of its NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision league on January 14, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Pete Thamel.
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Southern Utah and Dixie State will reportedly be two of the seven initial members of the football league that will begin playing in 2022.
The Thunderbirds are currently members of the Big Sky Conference. The Trailblazers currently play football as an FCS independent.
According to Thamel, the following members will be the first members of the WAC’s FCS league:
- Abilene Christian
- Lamar
- Sam Houston
- Stephen F. Austin
- Southern Utah
- Tarleton State
- Dixie State
Sources: The WAC plans to announce on Jan. 14 at NRG Stadium in Houston the formation of its FCS league, which starts play in football in 2022. The initial 7 WAC members: Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin. Southern Utah, Tarleton State and Dixie State. 1/2
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 6, 2021
“The WAC is expected to add two more schools in the coming months. There’s a mix of DII and current FCS institutions being vetted by commissioner Jeff Hurd. The long-term goal of the league is to elevate the WAC back to FBS football later this decade,” Thamel tweeted. “The league should also have a strong basketball presence, as current member New Mexico State is a basketball power, Stephen F. Austin a consistent NCAA Tournament team and there’ll be star power with Bryce Drew at Grand Canyon and Billy Gillispie at Tarleton State.”
The league should also have a strong basketball presence, as current member New Mexico State is a basketball power, Stephen F. Austin a consistent NCAA Tournament team and there’ll be star power with Bryce Drew at Grand Canyon and Billy Gillispie at Tarleton State.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 6, 2021
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The WAC hasn’t participated in football since it dropped the sport following the 2012-13 season.
After not playing in the fall of 2020, Southern Utah is slated to begin its 2021 season against Cal Poly on February 27.
Dixie State is scheduled to start its season against Tarleton State on February 27.
The Trailblazers first joined the WAC in its other sports on July 1, 2020.
