Conference realignment is set to give Conference USA a much different look.

Starting in 2013, Memphis, UCF, Houston and SMU are set for the Big East, leaving CUSA a much different look in the coming year.

But 2012 isn’t 2013, and with one more competitive season set, it’s all eyes on what Memphis does for an encore after a one-loss season.

Right now, the Tigers are the favorites, but counting out other programs like UCF, Colorado College and SMU would be foolish. Here’s a look at how things break down this fall:

Brief Conference Bio:

2011 League Champions: Memphis
2011 Tourney Champions: Memphis
Offensive Player of the Year: Christabel Oduro, Memphis
Defensive Player of the Year: Lizzy Simonin, Memphis
Midfielder of the Year: Jessie Ayers, Colorado College
Freshman of the Year: Jessie Ayers, Colorado College
Coach of the Year: Brooks Monaghan, Memphis

Teams (Overall/Conference Record)

Memphis (22-1-1/10-0-1)

The 2011 campaign for the Tigers was one for the ages.

The team lost just one game all year – its second round matchup in the NCAA tournament to Louisville- was hardly the appropriate time.

What it does for an encore depends a lot on how some of the biggest losses are handled.

“We lost some very good players,” head coach Brooks Monaghan told TopDrawerSoccer.com earlier this year. “We challenge the group and challenge players to step up because we have some big shoes to fill.”

Among the departures include Lizzy Simonin, a defensive stalwart and All American, and midfielder Lizzy Hildebrandt graduating after last season’s dream run.

As a result, the team is going to have a younger look this year, with success hinging on how the newcomers adapt to the new level. Along with that, the loss of prolific goal scorer Christabel Oduro to U20 World cup duty is going to leave a bit of a gap at the season’s start.

However, despite the losses, the Tigers should have enough talent to boss Conference USA, a year before jumping ship.

Colorado College (10-7-3/8-2-1)

Perhaps no team looks as close to being able to hang with Memphis in the conference as Colorado College.

The budding program is led this year by the returning Freshman of the Year midfielder Jessie Ayers, who enjoyed a superb debut in 2011 notching 4 goals and 1 assist on the year. Taking the pressure of Ayers is senior forward Brittney Lyman, who will also need to be a fixture in the attack.

A strong start to this season is key, as Colorado College lost its first three games of the season last year and couldn’t quite maintain consistency throughout the year. Turn some of those draws and close losses into wins, and they’ll be in business in 2012.

UCF (13-5-6/6-2-3)

After a very solid 2011 campaign, the question facing UCF heading into the new season is whether or not they can keep pace with or even challenge Memphis.

The team doesn’t lack talent – with forward Tishia Jewell set to lead the attack her senior year, the Knights have the scoring punch required, and defensively are stout at the back, including the Preseason Conference Defensive Player of the Year in Marissa Diggs.

The pair won’t have to do it all alone, as they are complimented by the likes of Nicolette Radovcic, Kristina Trujic and Bianca Joswlak.

SMU (11-8-1/7-3-1)

There’s a new coach in town, as Robert Erwin left his post to take over as men’s assistant coach with SMU.

Chris Petrucelli, formerly of Texas, is the man in charge now after losing his job with the Longhorns with the conclusion of the 2011 season. He’ll take over a program that has a decent amount of talent, and just needs to stay healthy in 2012 in order to compete.

Of course, Petrucelli only came on board in June and is playing catch up as he tries to evaluate his best options and prepare for a new season with a new team in a conference that is unfamiliar to him.

“I like the way we look going forward,” he told TopDrawerSoccer.com over the phone. “We’re going to be inexperienced in the back, we have some new players in the back that haven’t played there that much – we’ll see how that works out but I know the kids we're putting back there are pretty good athletes.”

Midfielder Mallory Baum is the spark in midfield, while Kenzie Scovill is coming off a strong freshman season, and Courtney Smith continues to impress and improve with each season. Petrucelli is confident that the team will be able to count on Briana Gaines  to become a dangerous, consistent goal scorer as well.

East Carolina (11-8-1/5-6-0)

The graduations of midfielder Kimmy Cummings and forward Amanda Malkiewicz leaves a void from last year’s team that put together an excellent campaign.

But with players like Caty Butler and Kelley Johnson back, the Pirates can’t be counted out in the preseason.

Rice (10-7-4/4-5-2)

Second-year standouts lead the way for this Texas school, as the sophomore duo of midfielder Quinney Truong and goalkeeper Amy Czyz will aim to improve on solid starts to their collegiate career. Lauren LaGro and Jessica Howard will also be instrumental in any success this year.

The team was solid on both ends of the field last year, but it’s going to take a little bit more from the attack and defense if the Owls are to prove themselves as contenders for both an NCAA spot and a conference challenge.

UTEP (11-8-4/4-5-2)

Can UTEP mount a title charge this season?

A high scoring attack from a year ago (41 total goals scored), the Miners return leading scorer Brittany Kindzierski but won’t have the services of the graduated Katie Dorman.

However, talents like Azia Nicholson, Tess Hall and Lauren Katada will join up with Kindzierski to try and push their side closer and closer to the top of Conference USA.

Tulsa (10-8-3/4-5-2)

Top heavy with talent and experience, don’t be surprised to see the Hurricanes make a charge up the ladder in Conference USA.

Forwards Claire Nicholson and Lindsay Kirch both return after finishing first and second respectively in scoring. Plenty of other talent remains, including midfielder Jordan O’Brien and defender Claire Hulcer, both All Conference talent from 2011.

Houston (6-11-2/3-6-2)

With a significant amount of upperclassmen talent on this fall’s roster – including experienced contributors such as Jasmine Martinez, Sami Sackos and Katelyn Rhodes – there’s reason for Houston to be optimistic.

However, the talent drain was significant, and the transfer of the strong Sharis Lachappelle to Texas is a big blow.

UAB (6-12-1/3-7-1)

Things never really got going for the Blazers last season, and the team will just have one senior on this fall’s team. She’ll be important, of course, as midfielder Emma Smith played significant minutes a year ago.

But improvement this year is likely to hinge on how the less experienced players – freshmen included – adjust to more responsibility and can contribute both consistently and effectively.

Marshall (4-12-3/2-7-2)

What kind of a year the Thunder Herd can put together is largely going to be determined by how they replace All Conference midfielder Angela DeSumma, a focal point in the attack last fall.

Big seasons are need from players such as defender Paige Oechsle and midfielder/forwad Annabelle Bramwell, just to name a few, if things are to get better in conference.

Southern Mississippi (4-13-3/1-9-1)

Finding the back of the net was troublesome for this team last year, and 15 goals didn’t cut it on the way to a last place conference finish. Senior forward Jordan Wagner was one of the bright spots, scoring a third of the goals, and she’ll need help if things are too improve.