SMU does not attract enough fans (at home or on the road from its alumni & students) to warrant continuing its program at the Div. 1 FBS level. Its fan base is on par with most (but not all!) Div. 1 FCS programs.
The Mustangs could compete against teams like Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and Texas State - San Marcos, all schools within the boundaries of the Lone Star State and within easy driving distance for 'road games' and SMU fans/alumni from Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.
Other schools in the SLC are the University of Central Arkansas (games within close driving distance for mrydel & arkpony!), Northwestern State, Nicholls State, McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana (2 schools close to the casinos for you Mustangs who gamble!), again all of them are schools within easy driving or traveling distance from Dallas for 'road games'.
The Southland Conference headquarters is located just north of Dallas and its commissioner lives just a few blocks from the SMU campus.
Ford Stadium - a beautiful football stadium - can become the location for the only 'true' national football championship game each year which attracts fans from around the nation from such schools as Appalachian State, North Dakota State, Furman and other schools that are only the same level as SMU when it comes to a football program. Who knows? The Mustangs might even claim a 'national champsionship' at the Div. 1 FCS level on their own turf!
