Valdosta State moving to FCS?

[615dawg]

If the rumors are true, Delta State is screwed. Also, total ripoff of ole Banner M here.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Another example of a program moving UP. No programs are intentionally moving down.

Which makes that Louisiana guy's comment yesterday even more bullshlt.

 

[vhdawg]

D2 is doomed....there's no place for it in modern football.

 

[615dawg]

D2 is doomed....there's no place for it in modern football.

Yep. Mississippi College took a lot of heat for dropping football, but they saw the writing on the wall.

This would leave the Gulf South Conference, once the premier conference in D2 sports, with just two football playing members - Delta State and West Alabama.

 

[The Peeper]

If the rumors are true, Delta State is screwed. Also, total ripoff of ole Banner M here.

If they want that "STATE" toilet paper banner by all means let 'em have it

 

[patdog]

Yep. Mississippi College took a lot of heat for dropping football, but they saw the writing on the wall.

This would leave the Gulf South Conference, once the premier conference in D2 sports, with just two football playing members - Delta State and West Alabama.

I expect they’ll both be moving up soon.

 

[biscuit.sixpack]

Having a degree from Delta State, I wonder if they have the resources to move up, or join another D2 conference.

 

[615dawg]

Another example of a program moving UP. No programs are intentionally moving down.

Which makes that Louisiana guy's comment yesterday even more bullshlt.

Moving up to FCS because D2 is dying /= moving down to FCS to save

I expect they’ll both be moving up soon.

Delta State can't afford to move to FCS. They are drowning as it is. The median D2 athletic budget is around $7 million. Delta State is at $5 million and losing their asses.

FCS median is $25 million.

 

[patdog]

Moving up to FCS because D2 is dying /= moving down to FCS to save

Nobody is moving down. I-AA schools are moving up to I-A every year. Nobody ever moves down. The revenue in I-A is just so much greater, even for the G6 schools.

 

[615dawg]

Having a degree from Delta State, I wonder if they have the resources to move up, or join another D2 conference.

The only conference that makes sense for Delta State is the GAC, which has a perfect setup with 12 teams (6 in Oklahoma and 6 in Arkansas). They have no interest in adding anyone.

The Lone Star Conference is primarily Texas, but has schools in New Mexico and Oregon. I doubt they would add a Mississippi school to that weird footprint.

Conference Carolinas is the next closest, and all of their schools are in North and South Carolina. The Great Midwest is Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

There just is not a good fit for Delta State. They can't go D3 either because the Southern D3s are private and will not accept a public school. Thats why MUW is in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Conference.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Nobody is moving down. I-AA schools are moving up to I-A every year. Nobody ever moves down. The revenue in I-A is just so much greater, even for the G6 schools.

Yep they either move up or cut sports.

 

[patdog]

The only conference that makes sense for Delta State is the GAC, which has a perfect setup with 12 teams (6 in Oklahoma and 6 in Arkansas). They have no interest in adding anyone.

The Lone Star Conference is primarily Texas, but has schools in New Mexico and Oregon. I doubt they would add a Mississippi school to that weird footprint.

Conference Carolinas is the next closest, and all of their schools are in North and South Carolina. The Great Midwest is Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

There just is not a good fit for Delta State. They can't go D3 either because the Southern D3s are private and will not accept a public school. Thats why MUW is in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Conference.

It really sounds like Drlta St is screwed. I think they only found a 10th football game this season a week before the season started. They need to get in the GAC, but doesn’t look like that’s an option for them.

 

[Bucksnort_Dawg]

Delta State is also 1-3 this year with three pretty convinving losses. Their only win, ironically, was over FCS Mississippi Valley, which may be the woest FCS program in the country. Just three years removed from a 10-2 season, and two subsequent winning seasons. This coaching hire following the departure of Todd Cooley has seemingly tanked them.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Leaving for the Peach Belt

https://www.wctv.tv/2026/10/02/valdosta-state-athletics-make-move-compete-peach-belt-conference/

They will be an independent in football

 

[615dawg]

Leaving for the Peach Belt

https://www.wctv.tv/2026/10/02/valdosta-state-athletics-make-move-compete-peach-belt-conference/

They will be an independent in football

Thats probably a smarter move for Valdosta, but an independent football schedule is tough in Division II with the way they give playoff bids. Tough to recruit kids to come to rural Georgia with virtually no chance of making the playoffs.

if I am Delta State (or West Alabama) right now, short of the GAC adding teams, I'm thinking about dropping football. I cannot see any other reasonable outcome. Do you consider joining the SIAC (HBCU conference)?

The GAC could add Northeastern State and Delta State and go to 14 and preserve the East/West feel, but I don't believe they want to.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Thats probably a smarter move for Valdosta, but an independent football schedule is tough in Division II with the way they give playoff bids. Tough to recruit kids to come to rural Georgia with virtually no chance of making the playoffs.

if I am Delta State (or West Alabama) right now, short of the GAC adding teams, I'm thinking about dropping football. I cannot see any other reasonable outcome. Do you consider joining the SIAC (HBCU conference)?

The GAC could add Northeastern State and Delta State and go to 14 and preserve the East/West feel, but I don't believe they want to.

Maybe the Great Lakes Valley?

 

[615dawg]

Maybe the Great Lakes Valley?

Possibly, but they would want all sports. The travel all the way to Iowa for non-football sports would be tough.

The Gulf South is actually good for them in other sports. They have five road trips that are shorter than some high school region games.