It sounds like Mascoutah and Triad are joining the conf this fall and Granite City will be returning. It will be interesting to see how the split the conference for football. I can't see a scenario where they would entertain going to a 9 game closed conf.
SWC Realignment
- Thread starter jha618
- Start date
Wonder if Flyer football would look to leave if a closed SWC happened?
All.... Looking at this possible move I don't see much of an upside for the Indians and the Knights who do as a rule well in the MVC to make the jump. Now Granite City who has struggled for years might want back in after playing as an Independent which is a major headache getting a regular season schedule filled.
Speaking of scheduling if a nine team conference did occur that would have all the schools searching for one non con game. The CS8 went through that for a few years and those NC games were very difficult to find. So they decided to go with a ten team closed conference. (hated it.)
Have you come across any news articles on this yet? Ratsy
No. I've only spoken to some admin and coaches of current swc schools who believe this going to happen. Likely for the start of the 25-26 school year.
A closed conf doesnt appear to be in consideration. Likely 2 5 team divisions.
All.... And the mystery of possible teams moving expands. The South 7 and the MVC met a couple of weeks ago about a possible merger of some sort. That get together was described as "productive." No other details available as in what sport(s) Travel concerns would be an issue. But if for football only a better fit for Mascoutah and Triad if the MVC for football is disolving. Ratsy
Sounds like there will be two divisions: Large and Small schools
Large: East, West, East Side, Edwardsville and O'Fallon
Small: Collinsville, Granite, Triad, Mascoutah and Alton
There may be some crossover games but one would think East Side would want to keep at least Weeks 1 and 2 open to play other teams.
Large: East, West, East Side, Edwardsville and O'Fallon
Small: Collinsville, Granite, Triad, Mascoutah and Alton
There may be some crossover games but one would think East Side would want to keep at least Weeks 1 and 2 open to play other teams.
Mascoutah School Board approved and announced the move to SWC last night starting in 2026-2027 cycle.
I wouldn't be surprised if some of the bigger Cahokia Conference schools (Columbia, Freeburg, Breese Central) are involved in some type of discussion to merge or join the Mississippi Valley.
Also, if there is a consolidation between the Mississippi Valley and South Seven, Jerseyville would likely be looking for a new home due to travel.
Random rumors I have come accross on this subject:
- Triad, Collinsville, Granite City, & Mascoutah all joining SWC.
- Making 2 football divisions: 1 (ESL, O’Fallon, Eville, BW, BE) & 2 (Alton, GC, Collinsville, Mascoutah, Triad)
- Civic Memorial & Waterloo to Cahokia conference
- Highland / Jersey in limbo
- Possible South 7 Candidates: Highland, Salem (would leave Cahokia), & Breese Mater Dei
- Triad, Collinsville, Granite City, & Mascoutah all joining SWC.
- Making 2 football divisions: 1 (ESL, O’Fallon, Eville, BW, BE) & 2 (Alton, GC, Collinsville, Mascoutah, Triad)
- Civic Memorial & Waterloo to Cahokia conference
- Highland / Jersey in limbo
- Possible South 7 Candidates: Highland, Salem (would leave Cahokia), & Breese Mater Dei
Swc schools reached out to highland about joining but they declined.
I heard collinsville was uninterested in rejoining for football. But they probably like the idea of split conf where they are matched up with the smaller school.
Just a thought. Highland, Civic Memorial, Waterloo, Cahokia, Mater Dei, Althoff, Salem. Makes way more sense. Really you could add Breese Central, Roxana, Columbia, and Freeburg into that mix too.
From the Alton Telegraph: Jersey and Civic Memorial highs are expected to join the Cahokia Conference.
Wasn't Granite City in the SWC before going independent?
Yes , would be nice if highland would join
I am fairly sure this is all about making as close as possible to a closed conference to eliminate traveling long distances for non-conference games.
But what is this going to do to East Side in terms of scheduling non-conference games against some of the best teams in the nation.
I know I enjoy seeing how one of the best programs in our state stacks up against some of the other nation's powerhouses.
Especially when they hold their own. They did fine last season.
The game against IMG last season was awesome. And even when they got routed by Atascocita a few years ago, it was interesting just to see how good the football in Texas is.
Hopefully, whatever they come up with, they will allow the Flyers two or three open weeks where they can venture outside of the conference to battle the nation's best.
It's good for the entire state.
But what is this going to do to East Side in terms of scheduling non-conference games against some of the best teams in the nation.
I know I enjoy seeing how one of the best programs in our state stacks up against some of the other nation's powerhouses.
Especially when they hold their own. They did fine last season.
The game against IMG last season was awesome. And even when they got routed by Atascocita a few years ago, it was interesting just to see how good the football in Texas is.
Hopefully, whatever they come up with, they will allow the Flyers two or three open weeks where they can venture outside of the conference to battle the nation's best.
It's good for the entire state.
All.... If the Intelligencer article is correct I don't see the five schools in the other SWC division going out of their way to schedule the Flyers in a crossover. So they could continue those big games of notoriety.
The conference voting and telling ESTL they can't petition up past 6A in postseason play is one thing. (bad as that is) Forcing crossovers games would take it to a whole other level. Ratsy
Under no circumstances are those team interested in playing ESL in football every year. I would also add E'ville to the list as well.
Would Quincy consider leaving Western Big 6? There are 7 teams in that conference. Add Quincy to the large schools and Highland to small school division. 12 team conference.
It will be interesting to see how everything unfolds.
It will be interesting to see how everything unfolds.
All.... That would be a good fit for your Bulldogs but I don't know if Quincy would consider something along those lines. The last few seasons doing quite well with a loaded team they don't see that often. Past history in the Western Big Six is decent but as a rule they are not the favored to win their conference. Overall postseason record has been pretty tough as well.
Basketball is still king in the town. Coach Little has done well with the football program. Looking forward to see if he can continue that high level of play after the group he graduated. Ratsy
My other suggestion would to bring Cahokia in with Highland and keep Alton up with the big division.
I think Highland pairs well in the S7 just the travel headaches for all sports outside of football is going to be tough.
Wonder if joining S7 for football and SWC for all other sports is an option.
I think Highland pairs well in the S7 just the travel headaches for all sports outside of football is going to be tough.
Wonder if joining S7 for football and SWC for all other sports is an option.
I heard a rumor that althoff would be interested in joining the small division as well. Bump Alton back to the big division and bring highland and althoff along in the small division.
I heard a rumor that althoff would be interested in joining the small division as well. Bump Alton back to the big division and bring highland and althoff along in the small division.
I wouldn’t do that. If you add two, add a small and a large. Why would Alton be bumped up because others don’t want to compete. It’s perfect the way it is now and adding more teams shouldn’t create additional issues.
Alton is already a part of the large group before the other teams agree to come back is he only reason I say that. They never left the SWC
0% chance Quincy even considers a move away from the WB6 at this time, or ever really. They're a founding member of that conference and hold a very strong allegiance to the name and the members (other than Alleman, none of them care about Alleman, kidding, but not really).
Highland is/was reconsidering joining the swc. But they would need to find another school to come with them to make 12 members
HIGHLAND JOINING THE SOUTH-7
The board of education at Highland High School has made it official, as they have approved the addition of the Highland Bulldogs Athletic Programs to become a new member of the South-Seven Conference, effective in the 2026-2027 school year. Highland was the final school in the dissolving Mississippi Valley Conference that had not made a commitment to join any other area Athletic Conference. Highland has an enrollment of 898 students and should be a great fit with the other schools in the Conference, that includes Centralia, Mt Vernon, Cahokia, Carbondale, and Marion who are all eager to welcome Highland into the Conference.
Highland High School is always very competitive in every sport they compete in, both in boys and girls sports. They have excellent facilities at Highland and their Athletic Director, Clint Hamilton, does an excellent job promoting their programs and their coaches. Highland is the host of the Annual Highland Basketball Shootout each year that sells out quickly. Their ability to attract top-notch basketball talent to their event is a huge feather in their cap. The Highland Bulldogs football program has not only made deep runs in the playoffs, but they have also produced some high-level talent, including current NFL Tight End, Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions, who we have spotlighted on this page many times. Nice move, Highland. Welcome to the South-Seven Conference.
Besides travel, Highland is a great fit for that conference.
Football-wise, I'd rank the South 7 (including Highland) above the small-SWC division / new MVC.
