Feasibility Study & Conference Affiliation
Wichita State considered bringing football back, which also led to conference realignment discussions.
Challenge
In early 2016, then-President John Bardo hired CSS to conduct a feasibility study to consider bringing football back to Wichita State.
Solution
CSS completed the football feasibility study, presenting information on options at both the FCS and FBS levels. Research and benchmarking was also conducted, comparing Wichita State to institutions in its current conference (Missouri Valley Conference), as well as both football and non-football schools in other conferences.
Results
The information in that report led to WSU’s decision to forego the football initiative, at least at that time. However, the study and those discussions morphed into successful efforts to move the school to the American Athletic Conference. In April 2017, the institution announced their transition to the American Athletic Conference, becoming the first and only institution in the Conference without the sport of football. Conference membership began in fall of 2017.