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Western Kentucky Officially Joins Conference USA

An increased opportunity to land spots in football bowl games appears to be a major factor behind WKU's move to Conference USA.The school announced this afternoon it will leave the Sun Belt conference and compete in C-USA starting in the summer of 2014.Conference USA currently has five bowl game contracts, though those deals have to be re-negotiated heading into the 2014 season. WKU will join other former members of the Sun Belt in C-USA, including Middle Tennessee and Florida International.Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky compared the recent athletics realignments with a merry-go-around that he hopes is coming to a stop."Well, I hope we're going to maybe unplug the electricity on it for a little bit here, and just let it rest. It may get plugged back in, but my hope and expectation is that this may be it for this round," Banowsky said.WKU Athletic Director Todd Stewart says he's excited to reunite with former rivals such as Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, and Alabama-Birmingham in the new-look Conference USA.