Conference Realignment: C-USA and Mountain West Considering All-Sports Merger

With the losses of Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, SMU and UCF to the Big East, Conference-USA and the Mountain West are now reportedly considering an all-sports merger instead of the original football expansion.

C-USA and the Mountain West originally planned on combining as a football-only league with between 20 to 24 members.

Instead, via Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com, an all-sports merger would include: East Carolina, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB and UTEP from C-USA and Air Force, Colorado State, New Mexico, UNLV and Wyoming from the Mountain West.

It would also include Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada for a 17-team conference, although Air Force may still join the Big East.

The Mountain West was thinking about adding San Jose State and Utah State earlier to make up for the loss of the five schools, but that plan has reportedly been put on hold.

Conference realignment has been a focal point for the Big East, C-USA and the Mountain West after schools were announced to be transferring to the Big East.

It also marks the dawn of a new era for college football, where more superconferences are being constructed to remain valid in football's BCS discussion and in basketball.

The days of tradition appear to be vanishing before our eyes with widespread change afoot.

Is this good for college football?

Well, if it means more competitive play then you would think so.

It marks a tough time for traditionalists, who have enjoyed seeing longtime rivals square up. But it also must be said that you can't live in the past and remaining in the current format could doom some conferences, including the Big East, C-USA and the Mountain West.

Now more than ever conference commissioners need to be creative and flexible.