MEAC Football: How the conference plans to rebuild

MEAC football could be headed for uncertain times.

Conference expansion and realignment always have winners and losers. When the Big Ten and Pac-12 expanded, it cost the Big 12 Nebraska and Colorado. SEC expansion cost the Big 12 Texas A&M. ACC expansion cost the Big East football altogether.

Realignment has happened with Conference USA, the AAC, and the Sun Belt. Now the MEAC is faced with the same issue.  The MEAC could inquire about non-HBCU programs joining the conference from FCS, but the conference will likely take schools from D-II and help them move to D-I.

Teams transitioning from D-II to D-I have been a mixed bag for the MEAC over the last decade and a half.

Hampton, who has since moved to the Big South Conference, moved up from the CIAA to the MEAC in 1994. Winston Salem State attempted the move and decided to move back to D-II. Savannah State also moved back to D-II.

North Carolina Central made a move to the MEAC near the same time as WSSU and has remained.

For current MEAC football members, their perception of the conference is essential. Some programs could see the conference as a gateway toward the FBS, as the rumor with North Carolina A&T has been for a few years.

Some of the smaller schools might not see the benefit of remaining and go back down to D-II. However, Delaware State might be in talks with the Northeast Conference, which would ease much of their travel.