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If and when the FAI's proposed merger with the eircom League happens, it will have serious repercussions for the one true nursery club at that level.
UCD played Dundalk in the eircom League Cup on Monday night. Four of Dundalk's players once played for the Belfield club - Aidan Lynch, Robbie McAuley, Robbie Dunne and Seán Finn. It's not a once-off statistic.
For the past 27 years, some of the best players in the league have been nurtured by Pete Mahon and the managers who came before him.
Paul Doolin cut his managerial teeth in Stillorgan and Martin Moran, Theo Dunne and the late Dr Tony O'Neill all guided such talents as Jason Sherlock, Ken O'Doherty, Alan O'Neill, Barry Ryan, Joe Hanrahan, Mick O'Byrne and Ciarán Martyn.
Gary Dicker, currently being tracked by Charlton, is the latest to emerge in a team brimming with potential.
As Mahon says, the club is primarily about the development of young players, who are also given the opportunity to further their off-field education.
UCD remain the only university team to compete in the top division of a national league in Western Europe - but now the club's hard-earned Premier Division status is under thread.
There's still no indication that there will be promotion and relegation this year - as the FAI eye up the creation of a new-look top-flight aimed at certain catchment areas.
If that's the basis for invites to the party, UCD - attracting minimal crowds in a crowded market-place in the capital - would appear to have no chance.
Mahon is trying not to allow the situation affect his squad. It's difficult, but Mahon, being who he is, won't go down without a fight.
In fact, he's scathing of the notion the Blazers could swipe the Students off the top table so easily, making their hugely successful scholarship system less attractive.
"Of course it affects us," he stressed. "If everyone was up front, they would say 'We don't want UCD in the league.' But it won't be done that way.
"With the FAI as it is, it would be difficult for UCD to be given a Premier Division slot.
"We don't have a support in the proper meaning of the word. We might get a couple of hundred down to watch the games. We wouldn't have a hard-core.
"But there is a lot more to it. What amazes me is that people talk about big clubs - but only one big club owns their ground, and that's Bohs. No wonder they all want to groundshare! [PS - well, only one wants to groundshare...]
"There's so much talk about clubs moving to new grounds but I haven't seen anything yet. UCD, though, will be moving to another Belfield site next year; we have planning permission.
"And what I see here at UCD is the best-run club. Every club has been in financial trouble, but I don't remember seeing UCD in that position.
"The club's officers do things properly. Everyone is paid on time, everything is in order. Is that the case with the so-called bigger clubs?
"Nevertheless, we are very vulnerable."
Newly-promoted Dublin City are in the same boat, and their chief executive Ronan Seery has threatened legal action if a worst-case scenario occurs.
Mahon says UCD have some of the best legal minds to call upon. They will surely follow suit.
He can see it coming. He saw it last year, when he sensed the negative attitude to the Students reaching the League Cup final and hosting it at Belfield.
He claims the club was given the impression that victory in the competition, or finishing runners-up to Derry - who went on to finish second in the league - would qualify UCD for the Setanta Sports Cup.
"I was fairly sure that was what was going to happen", he recalled. "But then, in these people's minds, what would UCD bring to the Setanta Cup?
"We showed, by hosting the final, that our organisational skills, facilities and pitch are as good as can be had here."
He maintains that if the FAI are really serious about transforming the league, then they should have more radical plans.
"There should only be two clubs in Dublin. One north, one south of the Liffey", he said.
"Milan has two teams, as does Barcelona, Madrid, Munich, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow.
"But that won't happen and this new Premier Division will be by invitation only. The least they should do is ensure there is no relegation and promotion this season.
"As Dermot Keely has said, will they wait until July to see if UCD and Dublin City are in the bottom positions and hope to get rid of us that way?
"In the unlikely event that Shels or Derry or Cork are bottom, will they relegate any of those clubs? I don't think so."
Meanwhile, they will get on with it on the pitch.
Mahon and Eddie Wallace held a team meeting four days after the "abysmal" showing against St Patrick's a fortnight ago (a 1-0 defeat), where the players were reminded of their obligations.
He wants UCD to finish as high up the table as possible - to make it difficult for them to be whitewashed from the Premier Division.
And so he told some of his younger players to stop believing their publicity.
"They are very privileged", said Mahon. "They have the chance to further their careers and leave UCD with a degree.
"Four have got international recognition, and a couple more are capable of it.
"We got a brilliant response after the meeting and our first win in Waterford last week. We have a good bunch, arguable the best group of all."
UCD drew 14 games and endured 6 1-0 losses over the course of last season, and most of their contests were close.
But the stand-out defeat was a 5-1 loss to eventual champions Cork City.
Mahon holds his hands up ahead of the sides' meeting tonight.
"They were far superior", he admitted.
"The Cork team are well-organised and, although they are not scoring many goals, they are not letting many in. But we have to be up for every game now."
Mahon knows, and his players know, there could be an awful lot at stake.
