Where is South Alabama?

[natetcu]

South Alabama is joining the FBS this year as the 10th team in the Sun Belt and the 124th team at the FBS level (UTSA (WAC), Texas St (WAC), and UMass (MAC) are also entering the FBS this year). But they are not listed on the team ratings chart. Did EA forget to add them to the game? In one of the interviews Ben referred to 123 FBS teams, I think there should be 124.

Other teams coming to the FBS in the future include:
Georgia St, Sun Belt, 2013
Charlotte, C-USA, 2015
Old Dominion, C-USA, 2015

Further, the WAC appears to be dissolving as a FBS conference after the 2012 season (maybe dissolving all together). Will we be able to dissolve the WAC in conference realignment after the 2012 season, in dynasty mode?

[roccogator]

I remember hearing/reading somewhere that EA thought they were only going to be provisional members this year, and by the time they found out they were going to be full fledged it was too late to add them.

[gschwendt]

I remember hearing/reading somewhere that EA thought they were only going to be provisional members this year, and by the time they found out they were going to be full fledged it was too late to add them.That's not quite accurate. All four teams (UTSA, TSU, UMass & USA) are provisional members this year, however EA was told that the first three were full-fledged this year. By the time they realized that was a mistake, it was too late to add USA to the mix or (rightfully so) remove the other three teams. Provisional members have not been included in the past so in actuality, none of them should have been added this year.

[natetcu]

That's not quite accurate. All four teams (UTSA, TSU, UMass & USA) are provisional members this year, however EA was told that the first three were full-fledged this year. By the time they realized that was a mistake, it was too late to add USA to the mix or (rightfully so) remove the other three teams. Provisional members have not been included in the past so in actuality, none of them should have been added this year.

But you almost have to add TxSt and UTSA or the WAC only has five schools. Also provisional members count as a FBS towards the win total for making a bowl game, so it sucks for all the SBC teams playing two FCS schools and wrecking their conference schedule. Will they leave the SBC scheduling like it was last year? With USA as an FCS school, not counting as a conference game, most schools will have a 7 game conference slate and one school will have an 8 game slate. This is will be a mess for SBC fans.

[natetcu]

From the Demo FIU is playing FCS Southeast for the South Alabama game. This means Arkansas St, FAU, FIU, MTSU, North Texas, Troy, ULL and ULM have 7 conference games. Western Kentucky will have 8 conference games. North Carolina St, Mississippi St, Arkansas St, FAU, MTSU, North Texas and ULL will all have 2 FCS schools on the schedule, meaning they will need 7 wins to be bowl eligible.