Even better, Penn joins the DAC thus keeping Valpo, drops Mishawaka, then add one school either from FW schools or HSE/Fishers/Westflied. Now you are talking a much improved schedule for Penn and also competitive DAC schools.
Logistically, LC would be the furthest travel time. Laporte, MC, Portage, Valpo, Chesterton are relatively close. Merrillville and CP are easy drives, all interstate.
I know this has been discussed a lot before but it makes too much sense. Penn already plays all these schools in other sports. There must be some strong commitment to the NIC by Penn.