Example...Old Dominion starts football. They are Div I in every other sport within their conference, which they are. What do they do year one? Do they become independents or do they hop full-throttle into the conference?

I remember Southeastern Louisiana being an independent for two years with a limited SLC schedule and then coming into the conference the third year.

How does this work? I'm not talking about Div IIs moving up to I-AA. I'm talking about up-start I-AA programs from institutions already with a Div I footing...