What is the Future of GSC Football?

[Eagle74]

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[Eagle74]

So here we are in 2026 and there's no resolution or even discussions about what steps should be taken next in securing a position for any of the GSC teams in a legitimately recognized conference beyond the conclusion of the upcoming season. Who's talking, who's rejecting who, and will GSC football (as a conference) cease to exist beyond this year?

[Finchwidget]

So here we are in 2026 and there's no resolution or even discussions about what steps should be taken next in securing a position for any of the GSC teams in a legitimately recognized conference beyond the conclusion of the upcoming season. Who's talking, who's rejecting who, and will GSC football (as a conference) cease to exist beyond this year?

What's left to say? There's been numerous threads on the topic already, and I think by this point everyone has exhausted all the talking points and recognizes there's no good answers to this problem. The GSC proved it can function as a 4 team conference this past season, and unless UWF finally pulls the trigger on their long-rumored D1 move, very little will change to where they can't just operate in 2026 like they did in 2025.

[Eagle74]

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This is 100% the responsibility of the remaining GSC football schools to figure out. 2 options, including one without West Florida being in the equation.

Let me add, with the GSC seemingly dragging their feet, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Conference Carolina schools going ahead and looking at alternative options in shoring up their 2027 schedules.

[OldBison]

I think it’s time for all of the GSC supporters to face the obvious. As soon as the announcement has been made about West Florida’s acceptance into the ASUN, there will be announcement the remaining three GSC teams will play for at least two years as D2 independents. After that, who knows.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

I think it’s time for all of the GSC supporters to face the obvious. As soon as the announcement has been made about West Florida’s acceptance into the ASUN, there will be announcement the remaining three GSC teams will play for at least two years as D2 independents. After that, who knows.

I would think they reach out to the conference carolina's and make it a 10 team conference for football.

Either that or the LSC could accept them if one of their schools loses someone to D1 as well or one of the two GNAC schools tap out.

The LSC could be the D2 version of the Big 10 where they have Central Washington playing conference games against Valdosta State.

[Eagle74]

Looking at the options (geographically) for the 3 remaining GSC football programs, you can't rule out the Mountain East Conference as a potential partnership. They have stepped up and helped other programs in the past.

[Larold]

Looking at the options (geographically) for the 3 remaining GSC football programs, you can't rule out the Mountain East Conference as a potential partnership. They have stepped up and helped other programs in the past.

No idea what the future holds for the remnants of the GSC.
Sad in a way, ironic in another... that being for many years conferences have tried and failed to defeat The GSC, and it
turns out their defeat comes from death (football for now), brought on by incompetent leadership, not from opponent competition.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

No idea what the future holds for the remnants of the GSC.
Sad in a way, ironic in another... that being for many years conferences have tried and failed to defeat The GSC, and it
turns out their defeat comes from death (football for now), brought on by incompetent leadership, not from opponent competition.

Now that I look at it and think about it more, the remaining three schools may scatter different places to play football in another conference affiliation.

Delta State "could" go the the GAC, West Alabama the SAC, and Valdosta State the Conference Carolinas (all hypothetical of course).

The "issue" could be that Valdosta State and Delta State are good enough to win whichever conference they choose to affiliate with in football.

The LSC has that right now with Central Oregon and Western Oregon finishing the season playing for the LSC championship.

[Larold]

Now that I look at it and think about it more, the remaining three schools may scatter different places to play football in another conference affiliation.

Delta State "could" go the the GAC, West Alabama the SAC, and Valdosta State the Conference Carolinas (all hypothetical of course).

The "issue" could be that Valdosta State and Delta State are good enough to win whichever conference they choose to affiliate with in football.

The LSC has that right now with Central Oregon and Western Oregon finishing the season playing for the LSC championship.

Thinking you are correct in your observation. It will be interesting in UWA's case to see if the coaching staff will benefit from
a second year of coaching experience (sans the few who stayed on from Coach Gilligan)

[Eagle74]

If the GSC football teams fail to find a resolution to the lack of programs to have a legitimate NCAA football conference what are the preferred conference affiliation by each school. Options being the SIAC, the SAC, the Conference Carolinas, the GAC, or the MEC?

Delta State: reaches an agreement with the GAC.
West Alabama: the SAC or MEC.
Valdosta State: reaches an agreement with Conference Carolina.
West Florida: plays as an Indy, announces a move up, reaches an agreement with Conference Carolina.

[Bisonfan from FLA]

[QUOTE=Eagle74;n929729]If the GSC football teams fail to find a resolution to the lack of programs to have a legitimate NCAA football conference what are the preferred conference affiliation by each school. Options being the SIAC, the SAC, the Conference Carolinas, the GAC, or the MEC?

For Delta State an offer from the GAC would provide a conference of teams well within the current driving distance of the current footprint for playing in the GSC.

DSU to Valdosta is the furthest current GSC team with a driving distance of 555 miles. All but the two furthest west teams of the GAC (NW Oklahoma and SW Oklahoma) are less than the 555 mile drive to play Valdosta with NW Oklahoma (635 miles) only being 80 miles further in distance from DSU.

Five of the Arkansas GAC teams are less than the 217 mile driving distance from DSU to the University of West Alabama, with the furthest being Arkansas Tech at 252 miles.

I don't expect the GAC to come calling on DSU to join the conference, but if an expansion should occur DSU is an excellent addition travel wise for the GAC as well as for DSU.

[UNALions]

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[Predatory Primates]

[QUOTE=Bisonfan from FLA;n929747]

If the GSC football teams fail to find a resolution to the lack of programs to have a legitimate NCAA football conference what are the preferred conference affiliation by each school. Options being the SIAC, the SAC, the Conference Carolinas, the GAC, or the MEC?

For Delta State an offer from the GAC would provide a conference of teams well within the current driving distance of the current footprint for playing in the GSC.

DSU to Valdosta is the furthest current GSC team with a driving distance of 555 miles. All but the two furthest west teams of the GAC (NW Oklahoma and SW Oklahoma) are less than the 555 mile drive to play Valdosta with NW Oklahoma (635 miles) only being 80 miles further in distance from DSU.

Five of the Arkansas GAC teams are less than the 217 mile driving distance from DSU to the University of West Alabama, with the furthest being Arkansas Tech at 252 miles.

I don't expect the GAC to come calling on DSU to join the conference, but if an expansion should occur DSU is an excellent addition travel wise for the GAC as well as for DSU.

The Gac could bring in Delta and NSU to balance it out. Then do East and West Divisions.

[Argonut]

My Instagram feed has a report that Argos moving to UAC this year. They may have the year wrong.