The GSC Football in 2025 / Changes Coming

[BisonBones]

They should merge to become Delta Valley State in D1.

Saddest part would be losing either Delta Devils or Fighting Okra as a mascot. They'd probably decide on a 3rd option even more bland than "Statesmen".

Maybe the Okra Devils? Devil Okras?

[UNALions]

Delta St - for once, I think the merger with Valley makes sense athletically

They should merge to become Delta Valley State in D1.

[LegalRam]

I wonder if that could have come from the narrative I've been pushing here? As you know I started with the idea that the Georgia schools should join the GSC (football only) but once I realized that the GSC is younger than I am and that the SIAC is ancient, maybe it should be the other way around. Either way works and it's good to know one side is amicable.

Continuing on your previous narrative, in my perfect world the two conferences could come together for football and divide into two separate conferences or two separate divisions of one conference. If my math is correct I think there would be 17 teams.

In the GSC/Gulf South division you take the 4 current GSC teams and add Lane, Tuskegee, Miles, Albany State, and Fort Valley State. This would be a pretty impressive and tough conference/division outside of Lane, but from a geographic perspective they make sense.

The other SIAC conference/(fill in the blank) division would be Central State, Kentucky State, Allen, Benedict, Savannah State, Edward Waters, Clark, and Morehouse. Not a strong conference/division but a lot of parity for these teams because most of them are usually down save for a random run of a good season or two.

If it's a division setup then have a conference championship game in week 11. If it's two conferences it still leaves enough open spots for the traditional SIAC teams to schedule crossover games against each other.

[BisonBones]

https://hbcugameday.com/2024/12/02/h...aldosta-state/

HBCU Gameday reporting that Valdosta State is considering a move to the SIAC. I can't find any other instances online of the "multiple sources" they reference that are apparently indicating this, so take it with a grain of salt, but it might be something to keep an eye on

I wonder where this leave Delta State and West Alabama (assuming West Florida is just going to go FCS soon anyway).

I don't think that Delta State has the required sports to join the GAC, but I would love to see them join. However, I think West Alabama is just too far from the Oklahoma schools and I don't see the GAC ever accepting them. But maybe the SIAC is an option for them as well?

[SkegeeGrad151]

https://hbcugameday.com/2024/12/02/h...aldosta-state/

HBCU Gameday reporting that Valdosta State is considering a move to the SIAC. I can't find any other instances online of the "multiple sources" they reference that are apparently indicating this, so take it with a grain of salt, but it might be something to keep an eye on

Probably in the minority, but I like the move because it will allow SIAC teams to play a playoff contender on a more regular basis.
How would VSU fan base react to such a move?

[boyblue]

https://hbcugameday.com/2024/12/02/h...aldosta-state/

HBCU Gameday reporting that Valdosta State is considering a move to the SIAC. I can't find any other instances online of the "multiple sources" they reference that are apparently indicating this, so take it with a grain of salt, but it might be something to keep an eye on

I wonder if that could have come from the narrative I've been pushing here? As you know I started with the idea that the Georgia schools should join the GSC (football only) but once I realized that the GSC is younger than I am and that the SIAC is ancient, maybe it should be the other way around. Either way works and it's good to know one side is amicable.

[Finchwidget]

https://hbcugameday.com/2024/12/02/h...aldosta-state/

HBCU Gameday reporting that Valdosta State is considering a move to the SIAC. I can't find any other instances online of the "multiple sources" they reference that are apparently indicating this, so take it with a grain of salt, but it might be something to keep an eye on

[canadarican]

As a fan I would love to see us play teams we don’t normally but I know the price tag that comes with that.

And you always have the other factors

1. School only wants to do 2 homes, not a home & away swap
2. Schools canceling on return trips. There's some schools i know others will not schedule again after canceling return trips

[ctrabs74]

For the next two seasons, actually. This was posted in this thread less than a month ago and discussed.

I'd suspect that alliance will have to be adjusted since it was announced before MCU's announcement that they were dropping football.

[ctrabs74]

Have you ever visited an HBCU? I have (the three I mentioned) back in the eighties, had a blast, it was so much fun but... Back then, before they became a part of the Georgia State University System the conditions were really bad, I'd say deplorable. I'm sure if you were to visit today they would be properly maintained and a pleasure to visit. All I'm saying is that if you're going to pour millions of dollars into an institution, you should have some say; like let's have the equally funded schools compete in one conference. Let's not let ASU, SSU & FVSU beat up on the little guys. If we can do it in high school, why is college a non starter/asinine?

If we're talking about football success, Tuskegee has 9 SIAC titles since 2000, Albany State has 7, Miles has 5, Benedict has 2 and Fort Valley has 1. I don't know that the "beat up on the little guys" argument pans out on the field when private schools have won 16 out of the 24 SIAC titles this century (recall there being no SIAC football season in 2020).

[getnastyblazers]

I haven't seen that since playing in Middle School.

Not really good at all for winning recruiting battles again programs with legit full Division 2 College Football schedules.

It may come down to setting up a long term scheduling alliance with another conference, or be prepared for some long distance games to be able to play enough games to qualify for the playoffs.

As a fan I would love to see us play teams we don’t normally but I know the price tag that comes with that.

[Rational Observer]

Two-year agreements make sense as situations may change.

[Eagle74]

Yep, had to be reminded that it was for 2 years
👍🏻

Maybe they can put together a much longer scheduling alliance. Say, for a renewable 5 to 10 years.

[UNALions]

I was just reminded that Conference Carolinas (gotta change that name now they've added programs in Georgia and Virginia) has a scheduling agreement with the GSC for next year which could be extended, potentially for years to come.

For the next two seasons, actually. This was posted in this thread less than a month ago and discussed.

GSC, Conference Carolinas Announce Scheduling Partnership

BIRMINGHAM, Ala./GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Gulf South Conference and Conference Carolinas mutually announce a two-year football scheduling partnership. The agreement coordinates a total of 18 non-conference football games to be played during the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Per the agreement, teams from Conference Carolinas will host five events in 2025, while GSC teams will be at home five times in 2026.

[Eagle74]

As a whole, the teams that are left are too good to expect that any of the conferences in the region would agree to a scheduling agreement. We have a better chance of doing as we have been doing and having individual teams pick up the odd game here and there.

I was just reminded that Conference Carolinas (gotta change that name now they've added programs in Georgia and Virginia) has a scheduling agreement with the GSC for next year which could be extended, potentially for years to come.