The other contenders.... I think the only other contender will the team who relegates from the IPBL. I hope he doesn't end up in my conference(Big 8 and Great 8 are conferences, not divisions ;) ) Whichever conference he ends up in the other guy will get the advantage.
Next season will be interesting like you said. But in what measure?? That is the question. I think that will depend on what kind of build each team opts for(balanced,inside focused or outside focused) So if I opt for an outside based team, you, a balanced team and the relegee an inside focused team the matches will be immensely interesting!