The Conference USA is on life support after seeing its programs get snatched during the conference realignment period.
Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Mississippi have already departed for the Sun Belt this season. Next season, UAB, UTSA, Florida Atlantic, North Texas and Rice are expected to head to the American Athletic Conference.
It's anticipated that Jacksonville State, Liberty, New Mexico State and Sam Houston State will join the Conference USA in 2023.
For this season it will be an 11-team league — without divisions — that sees the top two programs play for the championship. UAB, UTSA and Western Kentucky are the frontrunners, but the middle six programs are all live to make a run at the Conference USA title this season.