Okay, long post ahead so I apologize in advance.

As we've previously discussed on this board, under the current NCAA rule governing FBS transition, an FCS school can move up to FBS by joining a conference that qualifies as an FBS conference or by joining a conference that previously qualified as an FBS conference. Since the WAC fits the latter description, Liberty could begin the transition process to FBS by joining the WAC. Apparently that's the option the OP is referring to, and regardless of how other posters may interpret the rule it is still on the books.

What's not clear to me is whether Liberty would be required to join the WAC for all sports to take advantage of the rule, or could get away with joining as a football affiliate only. I think most of us assume the former, but only the latter option would be practical for Liberty.

That leads me to wonder whether the WAC and Liberty have figured out a loophole or technicality under which the conference could resume sponsoring FBS football as a conference sport -- and therefore could offer Liberty affiliate membership in that sport -- even though the WAC no longer qualifies as an FBS conference. For example, the WAC could assert that resuming sponsorship of football is a planned first step toward reestablishing the WAC as an FBS conference and that schools that play football in the WAC in the interim should be viewed as FBS or transitioning to FBS by the NCAA because otherwise the reference in the FBS transition rule to a previously qualified conference serves no practical purpose.

If the NCAA agreed with that interpretation, the WAC could announce that:

-- it will resume sponsoring FBS football in 2018 with NMSU playing as a full member and Liberty as an affiliate member, and meeting annually in a home-and-home series (which would help both schools meet the FBS home scheduling requirement);

-- WAC member UTRGV will start football in 2018 and begin conference play in 2019 or 2020, following the same accelerated path to FBS status that UTSA did a few years ago; and

-- it intends to make itself available as a future home to other schools looking to establish new FBS programs (e.g. Wichita State) or move up from FCS to FBS status (fill in the usual suspects here), with the long-term goal of eventually requalifying as an FBS conference by reaching the NCAA minimum of having eight full-sports members playing FBS football.

Of course the WAC lacks the TV and CFP cash to attract a bunch of new football-playing members anytime soon. Only FCS schools with a very strong commitment to moving up, sufficient self-generated financial resources to cover the incremental costs of playing at the FBS level, and a location west of Chicago would find the WAC full-membership option appealing. The rebuilding process could take decades.

Fantasy? Probably. But granting the WAC a liberal interpretation of the current FBS transition rule that allows it to resume sponsoring FBS football would reduce the NCAA's susceptibility to criticism that the rule is too restrictive. That may be more appealing to the NCAA powers-that-be than taking a chance on actually amending the rule, which could result in a relaxation of requirements that opens the door to many more move-ups.