"AQ7" is the "conference name" given to a one-year scheduling alliance (the "WAC-ASUN challenge") among seven teams which will participate in two conferences in 2022 (the Western Athletic Conference, which will be sponsoring football for the first time since 2012, and the Atlantic Sun Conference, which will have football for the first time). The conference champion of AQ7 will receive an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs in 2021.
Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston State, and Stephen F. Austin will be in the Western Athletic Conference in 2022 (along with Southern Utah). Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and Jacksonville State will compete in the inaugural Atlantic Sun Conference football season in 2022 (along with Kennesaw State and North Alabama ).Bryant is a new member of this conference in 2022, while four other teams (Hampton, Kennesaw State , Monmouth, and North Alabama) have departed to join other conferences.
