The Southern Conference, which will have two spots to fill after Appalachian State and Georgia Southern leave it for Sun Belt Conference, has announced that it will not be considering Division II schools in its search for replacements.

That leaves UNA, which had expressed interest in the Southern Conference, out of the mix.

“I think that’s good to know; it allows us to know what the landscape is,” said Mark Linder, UNA athletics director. “I don’t see that as that big of a negative.”

Linder pointed out that, while the Southern Conference may not be looking to D-II schools for replacements, whatever decision is made will create a “ripple effect” on the overall landscape of D-I and D-II schools.

“We just have to remain committed and not get rattled and see where this ripple effect goes,” Linder said.

The Ohio Valley Conference, which decided last fall not to expand, is still of interest to UNA.

Linder said another conference that UNA could end up in is the Atlantic Sun Conference.

The ASC does not currently sponsor football but may be adding the sport, according to collegesportsinfo.com.