League realignment appears to be complete

Georgia linebacker faces rape charge

The Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday it will stand pat with its membership after examining expansion, just hours after Middle Tennessee State made known it was sticking with Conference USA.

“Following analysis and evaluation by the membership, it has been determined our best interests are served in the conference remaining at 12 full member institutions,” Commissioner Jon

Steinbrecher said in a statement. “While a number of institutions have expressed interest, we never requested any institution to apply for membership nor did we have a formal or informal vote concerning any institutions.”

The decisions by the MAC and MTSU appear to bring an end to a wave conference realignment at the FBS level of Division I that was triggered this summer by the Southeastern Conference inviting Texas and Oklahoma to leave the Big 12 and join the league.

The trickle down led the Big 12 to swipe three schools from the American Athletic Conference, which then turned to Conference USA for six new members.

The Sun Belt also added four new schools, three from C-USA.

Middle Tennessee and fellow C-USA member Western Kentucky had explored the possibility of leaving the conference.

But after C-USA announced last week the addition of four new members — New Mexico State, Liberty, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State — starting in 2023, Middle Tennessee State decided it was best to stay put in a conference that will now have nine schools.

MTSU president Sidney McPhee said in a statement posted on the school website Wednesday that the school appreciated the interest shown in its program.

GEORGIA: Star linebacker Adam Anderson has been arrested by Athens-Clarke County police and charged with rape. According to his lawyer, the senior from Rome, Ga., voluntarily surrendered to authorities. According to records, Anderson was booked into Athens-Clarke County jail Wednesday night. Currently there is no bond.

“Adam is innocent of the charge brought against him and intends to vigorously defend himself in court,” Steve Sadow, Anderson’s attorney, said in an email sent to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He will seek release on bond. Once again, Adam hopes and prays that the UGA community and the public keep an open mind and afford him the presumption of innocence that the law demands.”

Anderson has been under investigation by Athens police since Oct. 29. That’s the day that an alleged victim went to an east Athens police precinct to report that she had been raped by Anderson the previous night.

Anderson flew to Jacksonville with the team that day and played for the No. 1 ranked Bulldogs in their 34-7 win over Florida on Oct. 30. UGA officials said this week that neither coach Kirby Smart nor anybody from the athletic association was aware of the investigation until Nov. 1.