BIG EAST (1991-)
Cincinnati (2005)
Connecticut (2004) Connecticut State
Louisville (2005)
Pittsburgh (1991) Western
Rutgers (1991)
South Florida (2005)
Syracuse (1991)
West Virginia (1991)
--------------------------------
Boston College (1991-2005)
Miami (FL) (1991-2003)
Temple (1991-2004)
Virginia Tech (1991-2003)
--------------------------------
My previous note here had stated "No teams have left." Boy, was that anti-prophetic, as three
schools jumped to the ACC the following year. Temple was basically thrown out for the dual crimes
of remaining in another conference for basketball and sucking at football. To make up the numbers,
Cincinnati, Louisville, and South Florida were brought in for all sports, along with non-football
schools Marquette and DePaul.
BIG SKY (I-AA) (1963-)
Eastern Washington (1987)
Idaho State (1963)
Montana (1963)
Montana State (1963)
Northern Arizona (1970) Arizona State-Flagstaff; Flagstaff State
Northern Colorado (2006)
Portland State (1996)
Sacramento State (1996)
Weber State (1963)
--------------------------------
Boise State (1970-1995)
Cal State-Northridge (1996-2001)
Gonzaga (1963-1979)
Idaho (1963-1995)
Nevada (1979-1991) Nevada-Reno
--------------------------------
Formed by several of the teams left over when the WAC was formed in 1962.
BIG SOUTH (I-AA) (2002-)
Charleston Southern (2002) Baptist (SC)
Coastal Carolina (2003)
Gardner-Webb (2002)
Liberty (2002) Liberty Baptist
Presbyterian (2007)
SUNY-Stony Brook (2008)
Virginia Military (2003)
--------------------------------
Elon (2002 only)
Elon left after only one season, and Coastal Carolina and VMI moved in. Later began
expanding beyond the "south". Basketball conference trying to establish football.
BIG TEN (1895-) WESTERN CONFERENCE (1895-1911), BIG NINE (1940-1953)
Illinois (1895)
Indiana (1899)
Iowa (1899)
*Michigan (1917)
Michigan State (1953) Michigan Agricutural
Minnesota (1895)
Northwestern (1895)
Ohio State (1912)
Penn State (1993)
Purdue (1895)
Wisconsin (1895)
--------------------------------
Chicago (1895-1940)
*Michigan (1895-1907)
--------------------------------
The second oldest surviving conference.
BIG TWELVE (1928-) BIG SIX (1928-1947), BIG SEVEN (1948-1957), BIG EIGHT (1958-1995)
Baylor (1996)
Colorado (1948)
Iowa State (1928) Ames Normal
Kansas (1928)
Kansas State (1928)
Missouri (1928)
Nebraska (1928)
Oklahoma (1928)
Oklahoma State (1960) Oklahoma A&M
Texas (1996)
Texas A&M (1996)
Texas Tech (1996)
--------------------------------
The Big Six was formed by a split in the Missouri Valley. No team has ever left the
Big Twelve/Eight/Seven/Six. Technically, this was a merger, but due to the total retention
of Big Eight teams, I have classified it as a continuation.
COLONIAL (I-AA) (2007-) ATLANTIC TEN (I-AA) (1946-2006) YANKEE (1946-1996)
Delaware (1983)
Georgia State (2012)
James Madison (1993) Madison (VA)
Maine (1946)
Massachusetts (1946) Massachusetts State
New Hampshire (1946)
Old Dominion (2011)
Rhode Island (1946)
Richmond (1984)
Towson (2004)
Villanova (1985)
William & Mary (1993)
--------------------------------
Boston University (1971-1996)
Connecticut (1946-2000) Connecticut State
Hofstra (2001-2009)
Holy Cross (1971-1972)
Northeastern (1993-2009)
Vermont (1946-1974)
--------------------------------
In 2001, Northeastern departed the America East Conference for the Colonial Athletic
Association in all sports other than football. This gave the Colonial six football-playing
members -- the minimum number required for the conference to sponsor the sport on its own --
Delaware, Hofstra, James Madison, Northeastern, Towson, and William and Mary. Seizing the
opportunity, the Colonial then invited Richmond (an all-sport member of the Atlantic Ten)
to join the CAA as a football-only member to preserve its historical rivalries with James
Madison and William and Mary. Upon Richmond's acceptance, the Atlantic Ten dropped to five
members -- leaving it unable to continue to sponsor the sport. Maine immediately applied to
join the CAA as a football-only member, and the remaining four schools soon followed. This
bizarre series of machinations had the net effect of simply renaming the conference once the
dust had settled, as all twelve members were still in place.
In 2005, Old Dominion voted to begin a football program, which will begin conference
play in 2011. Georgia State did likewise, and will join in 2012. After these announcements,
however, Hofstra and Northeastern disbanded their programs, leaving the conference still with
12 members.
CONFERENCE USA (1996-)
Alabama-Birmingham (1999)
Central Florida (2005)
East Carolina (1997)
Houston (1996)
Marshall (2005)
Memphis (1996) Memphis State
Rice (2005)
Southern Methodist (2005)
Southern Mississippi (1996) Mississippi Southern
Texas-El Paso (2005) Texas Western
Tulane (1996)
Tulsa (2005)
--------------------------------
Army (1998-2004)
Cincinnati (1996-2004)
Louisville (1996-2004)
South Florida (2003-2004)
Texas Christian (2001-2004)
--------------------------------
No teams had left Conference USA, a basketball conference comprised mostly
of refugees from the old Metro Conference (which never officially sponsored
football, although occasionally one would see Metro Conference standings in
newspapers on Sunday morning) until the domino effect caused by the ACC's decision
to expand started rolling forward. Cincinnati, Louisville, and South Florida
jumped at the chance to replenish the Big East, and CUSA turned around and staged
their own raid, picking up Central Florida, Marshall, Rice, SMU, and Tulsa --
which, incidentally, would finally allow them to take their long-desired step of
hosting a conference championship game beginning in 2005. Additionally, Army
decided to drop out after 2004 and take its usual independent route. After
the initial shake-up, one more shift occurred; Texas Christian accepted an invite
to the Mountain West, while Texas-El Paso chose to move to CUSA from the WAC.
GREAT WEST (I-AA) (2004-)
Cal-Davis (2004)
Cal Poly-SLO (2004)
North Dakota (2008)
South Dakota (2008)
Southern Utah (2004)
---------------------------
North Dakota State (2004-2007)
Northern Colorado (2004-2005) Colorado State College
South Dakota State (2004-2007)
---------------------------
Comprised of western independents making the jump from Division II,
plus long-time I-AA independents Cal Poly and Southern Utah. The two Dakota State
schools were trying desperately to get into the Big Sky, while the Big Sky and
Northern Colorado reached such an arrangement. The Dakota State schools then
moved to the new Missouri Valley conference (formerly the Gateway), with their places
being taken by their in-state rivals.
IVY LEAGUE (I-AA) (1956-)
Brown (1956)
Columbia (1956)
Cornell (1956)
Dartmouth (1956)
Harvard (1956)
Pennsylvania (1956)
Princeton (1956)
Yale (1956)
--------------------------------
A caveat; the Ivy League has always been the Ivy League. They just never made it
an official incorporation, with all teams playing all others each season, until 1956.
MID-AMERICAN (1946-)
Akron (1992) Bechtel
Ball State (1975) Muncie Normal
Bowling Green (1952)
Buffalo (1999)
Central Michigan (1975) Mount Pleasant Normal
Eastern Michigan (1976) Michigan Normal
Kent (1951)
Miami (OH) (1947)
*Northern Illinois (1997)
Ohio (1946)
Temple (2007)
Toledo (1951)
Western Michigan (1947) Western State
--------------------------------
Butler (1947-1949)
Central Florida (2002-2004) Florida Tech
Cincinnati (1946-1953)
*Marshall (I) (1954-1968)
*Marshall (II) (1997-2004)
*Northern Illinois (1975-1985)
Wayne State (MI) (1946 only)
Western Reserve (1946-1954)
--------------------------------
The downtrodden mid-major, unrespected despite decades of tradition. Essentially formed by
the major schools which had years before departed the bloated Ohio conference, and added to by
cherry-picking mid-major schools across the east. Marshall and Central Florida are departing
for Conference USA as part of the 2004 ACC domino effect. A late effect of the 2004-5 domino
was Temple's agreement to join the MAC as a football-only member effective in 2007.
MID-EASTERN (I-AA) (1971-)
Bethune-Cookman (1979)
Delaware State (1971)
*Florida A&M (II) (1986)
Hampton (1996)
Howard (1971)
*Morgan State (1984)
Norfolk State (1997)
North Carolina A&T (1971)
*NC Central (II) (2010)
South Carolina State (1971)
Winston-Salem State (2008)
--------------------------------
*Florida A&M (I) (1979-1983)
Maryland-East. Shore (1971-1979) Maryland State
*Morgan State (1971-1979)
*NC Central (I) (1971-1978) North Carolina College
Savannah State (2001-2002) Georgia State (Savannah)
--------------------------------
Formed by the larger schools of the CIAA, and a handy place for the more eastern schools
of the SIAC, too. The less "traditional" of the two big black college conferences, but
generally the more superior on the field. Savannah State dropped out after choosing to
become a non-scholarship program. Florida A&M was set to become the first historically
black school to move to Division I-A following the 2003 season, until massive scandals
within the athletic program forced the institution to abandon their plans. In 2008,
Winston-Salem State completed their move up from D-II and joined; North Carolina Central
will complete the same process and rejoin in 2010.
MISSOURI VALLEY (I-AA) (1978-) GATEWAY (1985-2008); MID-CONTINENT (1978-1984)
Illinois State (1985)
Indiana State (1986)
North Dakota State (2008)
Northern Iowa (1978) Iowa Teachers
South Dakota State (2008)
Southern Illinois (1985)
SW Missouri State (1981)
Western Illinois (1978)
*Youngstown State (1997)
---------------------------
Akron (1978-1979) Bechtel
Eastern Illinois (1978 only)
Northern Michigan (1978-1980)
Western Kentucky (2001-2006)
*Youngstown State (1978-1980)
--------------------------------
The original six were in the Mid-Con for all other sports. Since then, it's become
the football arm of two leagues which are mostly just hoops now, the Mid-Con and the Missouri
Valley. In 2006, Western Kentucky left to move up to D-IA; two years later, the conference
invited the Dakota schools and reverted to what was essentially its original name at one time,
aligning itself with its primary basketball partnership.
MOUNTAIN WEST (1999-)
Air Force (1999)
Brigham Young (1999)
Colorado State (1999) Colorado A&M, Colorado Agricultural College
Nevada-Las Vegas (1999) Nevada Southern
New Mexico (1999)
San Diego State (1999)
Texas Christian (2005)
Utah (1999)
Wyoming (1999)
--------------------------------
No changes since the beginning, which was an acrimonious affair. When the WAC expanded to 16
teams in 1996, there was no way to keep most of the old and bitter rivalries afloat. In addition,
most of the big-name schools just weren't that interested in travelling to Tulsa and Rice and SMU,
and frankly they were getting a little sick of going to Hawaii every other year, too. So, fueled
by BYU's snub at the hands of the Bowl Coalition in 1996... off they went, the entirety of the
pre-expansion WAC save Texas-El Paso (a weak sister all along) and Hawaii, but bringing along
their new friends from Fun City. In the wake of the domino effect of ACC expansion, TCU was
invited to rejoin.
NORTHEAST (I-AA) (1996-)
Albany (NY) (1999)
Bryant (2008)
Central Connecticut (1996)
Duquesne (2008)
Monmouth (NJ) (1996)
Robert Morris (1996)
Sacred Heart (1998)
Saint Francis (PA) (1996)
Wagner (1996)
--------------------------------
Saint John's (NY) (2001-2002)
SUNY-Stony Brook (1999-2007)
--------------------------------
Another "we play basketball, let's play football too" conference. Half these teams didn't even
have football teams in 1990; the other half had been long-term independents. One small expansion
in 2008 added D-II mover Bryant and homeless Duquesne, formerly of the Metro Atlantic.
OHIO VALLEY (I-AA) (1946) KENTUCKY (1946-1947)
*Austin Peay St (II) (2007)
Eastern Illinois (1996)
Eastern Kentucky (1946)
Jacksonville State (2003)
Murray State (1946)
SE Missouri State (1991) Cape Girardeau Teachers
Tennessee-Martin (1992) Martin Branch
Tennessee State (1988) Tennessee A&I
Tennessee Tech (1949)
--------------------------------
Akron (1980-1986)
*Austin Peay St (I) (1963-1996)
East Tennessee State (1958-1978)
Evansville (1948-1951) Moores Hill
Georgetown (KY) (1946-1947)
Louisville (1946-1948)
Marshall (1949-1951)
Middle Tennessee (1952-1997)
Morehead State (1946-1995)
Samford (2003-2008) Howard College
*W. Kentucky (I) (1946-1981)
*W. Kentucky (II) (1999-2000)
Youngstown State (1981-1987)
--------------------------------
The OVC started tumultuosly, but then stabilized. After the initial shakeout, for 30 years
nobody left, and only four teams joined. Since then, though, it's been a story of turnover.
However, for the most part schools aren't using the OVC as a stepping stone to Division I-A,
but to make lateral moves within Division I-AA... which isn't a healthy sign.
East Tennessee State and Middle Tennessee State remained members of the Volunteer State
Conference until 1959. Austin Peay, which retained its membership in the OVC for all other
sports when it left as a football member in 1996, returned to the fold in 2007. In 2008,
Samford departed for the SoCon.
PACIFIC TEN (1915-) PACIFIC COAST (1915-1958), AAWU (1959-1967), PACIFIC EIGHT (1968-1977)
Arizona (1978)
Arizona State (1978)
California (1915)
Cal-Los Angeles (1928)
*Oregon (1964)
*Oregon State (1964)
Southern California (1922)
Stanford (1918)
Washington (1915)
*Washington State (1962) Washington Agricultural College
--------------------------------
Idaho (1922-1958)
Montana (1924-1950)
*Oregon (1915-1958)
*Oregon State (1915-1958)
*Washington State (1917-1958) Washington Agricultural College
--------------------------------
If not for a silly internicine battle, this would be the second-most stable conference in major
college history. The battle erupted in 1957 over under-the-table payments to players on the Cal,
UCLA, USC, and Washington squads. Those four schools responded by striking the Oregon schools,
Idaho, and Wazoo from their schedules, and forming a new conference (the AAWU). Stanford came
along for the ride. But within half a decade, everyone but Idaho had been brought back in.
PATRIOT (I-AA) (1986-) COLONIAL (1986-1989)
Bucknell (1986)
Colgate (1986)
Fordham (1990)
Georgetown (DC) (2001)
Holy Cross (1986)
Lafayette (1986)
Lehigh (1986)
--------------------------------
Davidson (1986-1987)
Towson (1997-2003)
--------------------------------
Stable little conference with an academic reputation, and home for the last 17 years to the
classic Lehigh-Lafayette battle. Towson left for the Colonial Athletic Association in 2004,
joining the Atlantic Ten in football. Effective in 2010, Fordham will again be offering
athletic scholarships in football, and will thus be ineligible for the league title. They
will, however, continue to play a league schedule until at least 2012.
PIONEER (I-AA) (1993-)
Butler (1993)
Campbell (2008)
Davidson (2001)
Dayton (1993)
Drake (1993)
Jacksonville (2001)
Marist (2008)
Morehead State (2001)
San Diego (1993)
Valparaiso (1993)
--------------------------------
Austin Peay State (2001-2006)
Evansville (1993-1997)
--------------------------------
Two of these things are not like the others... Not a very compelling league at first glance, but
there's three teams that were in the Missouri Valley when it was a real conference hiding in here.
Austin Peay will return to the Ohio Valley Conference in 2007. Campbell restarted its long-dormant
program and joined in 2008, along with Metro Atlantic refugee Marist.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN (II) (1900-) - see Division II Page.
Although this was a major conference for 39 years, and although Colorado, Colorado State, and other
large mountain schools were among its membership, it has been a full Division II/College conference
since 1938, and therefore it's detailed there.
SOUTHEASTERN (1933-)
Alabama (1933)
Arkansas (1992)
Auburn (1933) Alabama Polytech
Florida (1933)
Georgia (1933)
Kentucky (1933)
Louisiana State (1933)
Mississippi (1933)
Mississippi State (1933)
South Carolina (1992)
Tennessee (1933)
Vanderbilt (1933)
--------------------------------
Georgia Tech (1933-1964)
Univ. of the South (1933-1940) Sewanee
Tulane (1933-1966)
--------------------------------
One of the big daddies. Formed when the deep south schools in the Southern Conference
decided they wanted to cut travel and have more games against their main rivals.
SOUTHERN (I-AA) (1921-)
Appalachian State (1972)
Chattanooga (1977) Tennessee-Chattanooga
Citadel (1936)
Elon (2003)
Furman (1936)
Georgia Southern (1993) Georgia Teachers College
Samford (2008)
Western Carolina (1977)
Wofford (1997)
--------------------------------
Alabama (1921-1932)
Auburn (1921-1932) Alabama Polytech
Clemson (1921-1951)
Davidson (1936-1986)
Duke (1929-1952)
East Carolina (1965-1976)
East Tennessee State (1979-2003)
Florida (1922-1932)
George Washington (1941-1966)
Georgia (1921-1932)
Georgia Tech (1921-1932)
Kentucky (1921-1932)
Louisiana State (1922-1932)
Marshall (1977-1996)
Maryland (1921-1951)
Mississippi (1922-1932)
Mississippi State (1921-1932)
North Carolina (1921-1952)
North Carolina State (1921-1952)
Richmond (1936-1976)
South Carolina (1922-1952)
Tennessee (1921-1932)
Tulane (1922-1932)
Univ. of the South (1922-1932) Sewanee
Vanderbilt (1922-1932)
Virginia (1921-1936)
Virginia Military (1924-2002)
Virginia Tech (1921-1964)
Wake Forest (1936-1952)
Washington & Lee (1921-1957)
West Virginia (1950-1968)
William & Mary (1936-1976)
--------------------------------
The first super-conference, at one time containing the entire current Southeastern Conference
save Arkansas, as well as the entire current ACC except Wake and Florida State. All at once. The
SEC schools and Georgia Tech withdrew en masse in 1932 to form the SEC; the ACC schools (except
for Virginia, which had withdrawn earlier in order to offer athletic scholarships, prohibited by
conference rule at the time) departed in 1952 to form the ACC. The SoCon continued as a major
conference until the late seventies before dropping down to I-AA and becoming the premier I-AA
conference. East Tennessee State dropped football following the 2003 season.
SOUTHLAND (I-AA 1980-) (1963-)
Central Arkansas (2006)
*Lamar (II) (2010) Lamar Tech
McNeese State (1972)
Nicholls State (1991)
Northwestern State (1987) Northwestern Louisiana State
Sam Houston State (1987)
S'eastern Louisiana (2005)
Stephen F. Austin (1987)
Texas-San Antonio (2011)
Texas State (1987) Southwest Texas State
--------------------------------
Abilene Christian (1964-1971)
Arkansas State (1964-1986)
Jacksonville State (1997-2002)
*Lamar (I) (1964-1986) Lamar Tech
Louisiana-Lafayette (1971-1981) Southwestern Louisiana
Louisiana-Monroe (1982-1993) Northeast Louisiana
Louisiana Tech (1971-1986)
North Texas (1983-1994) North Texas State
Texas-Arlington (1964-1985) Arlington State
Trinity (TX) (1964-1971)
Troy State (1996-2000)
--------------------------------
Dropped to I-AA after the 1979 season, and immediately began leaking teams. Fairly stable now,
although there has been a bit of "jump from D-II and park here on the way to I-A" going on. In 2005,
Southeastern Louisiana -- a former conference-mate of many of the current Southland schools -- rejoined
them after having resurrected their football program. Central Arkansas joined in 2006, moving up from
Division II. Lamar restarted its program, and joins in 2010, while long-time basketball member UTSA
begins its program and joins in 2012.
SOUTHWESTERN (I-AA) (1920-)
Alabama A&M (1999)
Alabama State (1983)
Alcorn State (1962) Alcorn A&M, Alcorn College
*Ark-Pine Bluff (II) (1997) Arkansas AM&N
Grambling (1959)
Jackson State (1959)
Mississippi Valley (1968) Mississippi Vocational
*Prairie View A&M (1991)
Southern-Baton Rouge (1934)
Texas Southern (1955)
--------------------------------
*Ark-Pine Bluff (I) (1936-1969) Arkansas AM&N
Bishop (1920-1955)
Huston-Tillotson (1920-1949) Sam Huston College
Langston (1931-1957)
Paul Quinn (1920-1929)
*Prairie View A&M (1920-1989)
Texas College (1920-1961)
Wiley (1920-1968)
--------------------------------
Outside of the departure of charter members who dropped football, this has been a very stable
conference all told. The king of all black college games takes place within this conference, as
Grambling faces Southern every season. Prairie View would be the only original member, except
they shut down their entire athletic program voluntarily in response to Much Cheating. Morris
Brown was to begin playing a conference schedule in 2003, but suddenly dropped football after
the 2002 season.
SUN BELT (1969-) PACIFIC COAST AA (1969-1987); BIG WEST (1988-2000)
*Arkansas State (1998)
Florida Atlantic (2006)
Florida Internat'l (2006)
*LA-Lafayette (II) (2001) Southwest Louisiana
Louisiana-Monroe (2001)
Middle Tennessee St. (2001)
North Texas (1996) North Texas State
South Alabama (2013)
Troy (2004) Troy State
Western Kentucky (2009)
--------------------------------
*Arkansas State (1993-1996)
Boise State (1996-2000)
Cal-Santa Barbara (1969-1972) Santa Barbara State
Cal State-Fullerton (1974-1992) Orange State
Cal St-Los Angeles (1969-1974) Los Angeles State
Fresno State (1969-1991) Fresno Pacific
Idaho (1996-2004)
Long Beach State (1969-1991)
*LA-Lafayette (I) (1993-1996) Southwest Louisiana
Louisiana Tech (1993-1996)
Nevada-Las Vegas (1982-1995) Nevada Southern
Nevada (1992-1999) Nevada-Reno
New Mexico State (1983-2004) New Mexico A&M
Northern Illinois (1993-1996)
Pacific (CA) (1969-1996)
San Diego State (1969-1976)
San Jose State (1969-1995)
*Utah State (I) (1977-2000)
*Utah State (II) (2003-2004)
--------------------------------
Originally it was essentially a Southern California conference comprised of urban branch
colleges. Once they started dropping football, it became more of a Rocky Mountain conference,
then as those schools started drifting to the WAC, it suddenly became the next step up for
former Southland schools. A very schizophrenic life, now changed yet again... as Troy State,
Florida International, and Florida Atlantic joined for 2005 (the Florida schools on a provisional
basis pending their full transition to I-A), while Utah State, Idaho, and New Mexico State bolted
for the WAC. Two long-term basketball members of the conference were added to the roster as
Western Kentucky transitioned from I-AA and joined in 2009, while South Alabama launched its
football program the same year, and will compete as an independent until joining the conference
in 2013.
WESTERN (I) (1938-) MOUNTAIN STATES (1938-1961) [aka BIG 7 1938-1947; SKYLINE 8 1952-1961]
Boise State (2001)
Fresno State (1992) Fresno Pacific
Hawaii (1979)
Idaho (2005)
Louisiana Tech (1997)
Nevada (2000) Nevada-Reno
New Mexico State (2005) New Mexico A&M
San Jose State (1996)
Texas-El Paso (1968) Texas Mines; Texas Western
*Utah State (II) (2005)
--------------------------------
Air Force (1980-1998)
Arizona (1962-1977)
Arizona State (1962-1977)
Brigham Young (1938-1998)
Colorado (1938-1947)
*Colorado State (I) (1938-1961) Colorado A&M, Colorado Agricultural College
*Colorado State (II) (1968-1998) Colorado A&M, Colorado Agricultural College
Denver (1938-1960)
Montana (1951-1961)
Nevada-Las Vegas (1996-1998)
New Mexico (1952-1998)
Rice (1996-2004)
San Diego State (1978-1998)
Southern Methodist (1996-2004)
Texas Christian (1996-1999)
Tulsa (1996-2004) Henry Kendall
Utah (1938-1998)
*Utah State (I) (1938-1961)
Wyoming (1938-1998)
--------------------------------
Three separate times, BYU, Utah, and Wyoming have abandoned their compatriots to form a new
conference (and Colorado State twice). The second of these times was the formation of the WAC
from the Skyline, but I'm considering that a continuation since most of the conference moved
over. The first time was when the original members bolted the Rocky Mountain conference, and
condemned that circuit to minor status. The third, of course, was the formation of the MWC,
detailed above. The current WAC is about on the same level, radar-wise, as the old one was
when the Arizona schools left for the PAC-10. And in the wake of the ACC-induced wave of
realignment in 2003, Rice, SMU, and Tulsa are leaving, replaced by Utah State, Idaho, and
New Mexico State.
CURRENT I-A INDEPENDENTS
Army (2005)
Navy (1879)
Notre Dame (1887)
---------------------------
Dates indicate first year as an independent in Division I-A (or, obviously, period). Notre
Dame, as always, is the subject of talk linking them with the Big East or Big Ten. Army once
again became an independent in 2005, after several fruitless years in Conference USA. Temple
will compete as an independent in 2005-2006, joining the Mid-American Conference in football
in 2007.
CURRENT I-AA INDEPENDENTS
Savannah State (2003) Georgia State (Savannah)
South Alabama (2009)
---------------------------
Dates indicate first year as an independent in Division I-AA. With Saint Mary's (CA) dropping
football following the 2003 season, Savannah State is the only I-AA independent remaining; South
Alabama will compete as a I-AA independent for now, but will move to I-A and join the Sun Belt in 2013.
Defunct
AMERICAN WEST (I-AA) (1993-1995) CALIFORNIA (1958-1980), WESTERN (II) (1981-1992)
Cal-Davis (1993-1994)
Cal Lutheran (1985-1989)
Cal Poly-Pomona (1967-1983)
Cal Poly-SLO (1958-1995)
Cal-Riverside (1968-1975)
Cal-Santa Barbara (1958-1962)
Cal State-Fullerton (1970-1973)
Cal State-Northridge (1962-1995) San Fernando State
Fresno State (1958-1966)
Long Beach State (1958-1968)
Los Angeles State (1958-1977)
Portland State (1981-1992)
Sacramento State (1985-1995)
San Diego State (1958-1967)
Santa Clara (1981-1991)
Southern Utah State (1986-1995)
--------------------------------
Conference reformed after a three-year layoff in 1958. That conference will be dealt with
separately. Eventually died as a four-team I-AA circuit when half its membership jumped to
the Big West (the second time this had happened - note the 1967-68 defections).
Note that the Western and American West conference names were football-only; the California
Conference continues to this day as a non-football league, albeit with a much different
membership than listed here.
BIG FIVE (1932-1936)
Davidson (1932-1936)
Duke (1932-1936) Trinity
North Carolina (1932-1936)
North Carolina State (1932-1936)
Wake Forest (1932-1936)
--------------------------------
Duke, UNC, and NC State were members of the SoCon throughout; this was more so that
there would be a major-college state championship than anything. Once Davidson and
Wake joined the SoCon themselves in 1936, it became sort of pointless, and disbanded.
BORDER (1931-1947)
Arizona (1931-1960)
Arizona State (1931-1961)
Hardin-Simmons (1941-1961)
New Mexico (1931-1951)
New Mexico State (1931-1961) New Mexico A&M
Northern Arizona (1931-1951) Flagstaff State
Texas-El Paso (1935-1961) Texas Mines, Texas Western
Texas Tech (1932-1956)
West Texas A&M (1941-1961) West Texas State
--------------------------------
The power in the non-Texas southwest, this conference collapsed with the formation of the WAC.
BUCKEYE 1925-1938
Cincinnati (1925-1937)
Dayton (1935-1938)
Denison (1925-1938)
Miami (OH) (1925-1938)
Ohio (1925-1938)
Ohio Wesleyan (1925-1938)
Wittenberg (1925-1934)
--------------------------------
Split off from the Ohio Conference, and promptly bombed as an idea, but wrenched along
for several years.
DIXIE (1947-1954)
Florida State (1948-1950)
Millsaps (1947-1954)
Mississippi College (1947-1954)
Samford (1950-1954) Howard College
Stetson (1947-1949)
Tampa (1948-1949)
--------------------------------
Florida State's humble beginnings. I had originally classified this as a D-III conference,
but in retrospect, Samford is a D-I school, and while Stetson no longer sponsors football, it
is as well.
GULF COAST (1949-1956)
Abilene Christian (1956 only)
Houston (1949-1950)
McMurry (1955 only)
Midwestern State (1949-1956) Hardin
North Texas (1951-1956)
Trinity (TX) (1949-1956)
--------------------------------
This is interesting; six teams, two of which now are Division I-A, two of which are now
Division II, and two of which are now Division III... McMurry was still a member of the old
Texas Conference in 1955.
GULF STAR (I-AA) (1984-1986)
Nicholls State (1984-1986)
Northwestern State (1984-1986)
Sam Houston State (1984-1986)
Southeast Louisiana (1984-1985)
Southwest Texas St. (1984-1986)
Stephen F. Austin (1984-1986)
--------------------------------
Short-lived group of schools who had just moved to I-AA. Folded into the Southland.
GULF STATES (1946-1970) LOUISIANA (1946-1948/49)
Louisiana (1946-1955)
Louisiana-Lafayette (1946-1955) Southwest Louisiana
Louisiana-Monroe (1953-1970) Northeast Louisiana
Louisiana Tech (1946-1970)
McNeese State (1953-1970)
Northwestern State (1946-1970)
Southeast Louisiana (1946-1970)
--------------------------------
I have no idea why they changed the name; there was never a non-Louisiana school here
as near as I can determine, unless someone slipped in in 1948 or something...
INTERSTATE (1910-1972) ILLINOIS (1910-1949)
Augustana (IL) (1912-1937)
Blackburn (1914-1923)
Bradley (1910-1937)
Carthage (1912-1941)
Central Michigan (1950-1972) Mount Pleasant Normal
Eastern Illinois (1912-1972)
Eastern Michigan (1950-1961) Michigan Normal
Elmhurst (1925-1941)
Eureka (1910-1942)
Hedding (1910-1926)
Illinois College (1910-1937)
Illinois State (1910-1972) Illinois Normal
Illinois Wesleyan (1910-1937)
Knox (1918-1937)
Lake Forest (1919-1937)
Lincoln (IL) (1910-1928)
Lombard (1910-1929)
McKendree (1912-1938)
Millikin (1910-1937)
Monmouth (IL) (1921-1937)
Mount Morris (1922-1931)
North Central (1927-1937) Northwestern College
Northern Illinois (1920-1965)
Saint Viator's (1914-1938)
Shurtleff (1910-1937)
Southern Illinois (1913-1961)
Western Illinois (1914-1972)
Wheaton (1919-1937)
William & Vashti (1910-1917)
--------------------------------
Knox was also a member of the Midwest Conference from 1922 on. Monmouth was also, from
1923 on. Millikin was as well, from 1922-1924. Virtually all the smaller schools departed
in 1937, with the rest bailing out during the war, leaving the Illinois state teachers colleges.
They added the two Michigan schools in 1950, and became a low major conference on the spot.
MIDDLE ATLANTIC (University Division) (1958-1968)
Bucknell (1959-1969)
Delaware (1959-1969)
Hofstra (1963-1969)
Gettysburg (1959-1969)
Lafayette (1959-1969)
Lehigh (1959-1969)
Muhlenberg (1959-1962)
Rutgers (1959-1961)
Temple (1959-1969)
--------------------------------
The upper echelon of the East's first super-conference. Rutgers dominated, winning
three of the first four titles, before departing for browner pastures. The teams which
held out till the end all surprisingly drifted back into independence for several years.
MIDDLE THREE (1946-1951)
Lafayette (1946-1951)
Lehigh (1946-1951)
Rutgers (1946-1951)
--------------------------------
Short-lived grouping which later went on to help form the Middle Atlantic. Rutgers
won the first four of the six titles, a situation which would repeat itself during
the years Rutgers was in the MAC.
MIDWESTERN (pre-1940-1969)
Central State (OH) (1947-1964)
Grambling (1952-1957)
Jackson State (1952-1957)
Kentucky State (pre-1940-1969)
Lincoln (MO) (pre-1940-1969)
Louisville Municipal (1947-1948/49)
Paul Quinn (1952-1952/3)
Philander Smith (pre-1940-1948/9)
Tennessee State (pre-1940-1969) Tennessee A&I
Texas Southern (1952-1954)
West Virginia State (pre-1940-1940)
Wilberforce (pre-1940-1948/9)
--------------------------------
This was the major-league of black college football for a few years post-war.
MISSOURI VALLEY (1907-1985)
Bradley (1949-1951)
Butler (1932-1933)
Cincinnati (1957-1969)
Creighton (1928-1942)
Dayton (1963-1965)
Detroit (1949-1956) Detroit Mercy, Detroit Tech
*Drake (I) (1908-1951)
*Drake (II) (1971-1985)
Grinnell (1919-1936)
Houston (1951-1959)
Illinois State (1981-1985)
Indiana State (1978-1985)
*Iowa (1907-1910)
Iowa State (1908-1927) Ames Normal
Kansas (1907-1927)
Kansas State (1913-1927)
Louisville (1963-1974)
Memphis (1968-1972)
Missouri (1907-1927)
Nebraska (1907-1927)
New Mexico State (1972-1983) New Mexico A&M
North Texas (1957-1974) North Texas State
Oklahoma (1920-1927)
Oklahoma State (1925-1956) Oklahoma A&M
Saint Louis (1937-1949)
Southern Illinois (1977-1985)
Tulsa (1935-1985) Henry Kendall
Washburn (1935-1940) Lincoln College (KS)
Washington (MO) (1907-1942)
West Texas A&M (1971-1985) West Texas State
Wichita State (1945-1985) Fairmount
--------------------------------
At times, one of the premier conferences in the land; certainly prior to the Big Six defection
in 1928, and arguably in the mid-sixties as well. Eventually, though, it degenerated into what
we now see with conferences like the Big WestSun Belt, until at the end, it was composed
of two schools about to cancel their programs altogether, three schools on their way to I-AA,
one which dropped all the way down to Division II, and Tulsa and New Mexico State. A far fall
before death.
METRO ATLANTIC (I-AA) (1993-2007)
Canisius (1993-2002)
Duquesne (1994-2007)
Fairfield (1996-2002)
Georgetown (DC) (1993-1998)
Iona (1993-2007)
La Salle (1999-2007)
Marist (1994-2007)
*St John's (NY) (I) (1993-1997)
*St John's (NY) (II) (2002 only)
Saint Peter's (1993-2007)
Siena (1993-2004)
--------------------------------
Formed as an all-sport conference in 1980, the football schools except for Army and Fordham,
both of whom had better things to do, invited Georgetown and Saint John's (who, of course, were
in a big basketball league with football teams they had no hope of competing against) to join them
as they all moved up from Division III to Division I-AA. (This was the year that the NCAA ruled
there would be no more "Division I in these sports, Division III in these others" nonsense.) Saint
John's bolted for the Northeast, decided they didn't like it, came back, and then dropped football
altogether after the 2002 season, along with Canisius and Fairfield. Siena followed suit in 2004.
In 2007, Saint Peter's and La Salle also gave up, leaving only Marist, Duquesne, and Iona. The
former pair found new homes, while Iona played one season as an independent before packing it
in as well.
SOUTH ATLANTIC (1907-1921)
Clemson (1907-1910)
Davidson (1907-1910)
Georgetown (DC) (1907-1921)
Hampden-Sydney (1907-1921)
Maryland (1918-1921)
North Carolina (1907-1921)
North Carolina State (1907-1921)
Randolph-Macon (1907-1921)
Richmond (1907-1910)
Roanoke (1907-1921)
Saint John's (MD) (1907-1921)
Virginia (1907-1921)
Virginia Military (1907-1921)
Virginia Tech (1907-1921)
Washington & Lee (1907-1921)
William & Mary (1907-1910)
--------------------------------
This probably is not complete beyond the Division I teams. A precursor to the Southern
conference, and an object lesson in the way collegiate athletics diverged along major/minor
lines. Not a "real" conference; some teams might only play one conference game.
SOUTHERN (1895-1941)
Alabama (1895-1921)
Auburn (1895-1921) Alabama Polytech
Centenary ( - ) (-1926-)
Centre ( - ) (-1921-)
Citadel (1908-1935)
Chattanooga (1908-1932)
Clemson (1896-1921)
Cumberland (TN) ( - ) (-1903-)
Davidson (1898-1906)
Eastern Kentucky (1928-1941)
Florida (1912-1921)
Furman ( -1935) (-1923-)
Georgia (1895-1921)
Georgia Tech (1895-1921)
Kentucky (1896-1921)
Louisiana-Lafayette (1925-1941) Southwestern Louisiana
Louisiana State (1896-1921)
Louisiana Tech (1925-1941)
Louisville (1927-1941)
Memphis (1938-1941) Memphis State
Miami (FL) (1929-1941)
Middle Tennessee St. (1931-1941)
Mississippi (1899-1921)
Mississippi State (1896-1921)
Murray State ( - ) (-1931-1937-)
North Carolina (1895-1906)
North Carolina State (1898-1906)
Northwestern State (1930-1941)
Oglethorpe ( - ) (-1924-1938-)
Presbyterian ( -1941) (-1930-)
Rollins (1929-1941)
Samford (1907-1938) Howard College
Sewanee (1895-1921) University of the South
South Carolina (1898-1921)
Southern Mississippi (1928-1941) Mississippi Southern
Stetson (1929-1941)
Tampa (1933-1941)
Tennessee (1896-1921)
Texas (1896-1904)
Texas A&M (1899-1914)
Troy State (1938-1941)
Tulane (1896-1921)
Vanderbilt (1895-1921)
Virginia Tech (1898-1906)
Western Kentucky (1927-1941)
--------------------------------
This is a mess, isn't it? This conference basically had two phases, with a very
small handful of teams -- The Citadel, Chattanooga, Samford, and possibly a couple
of others -- spanning both phases. The first phase consisted primarily of teams which
later went on to form the "big" Southern Conference in 1922, as well as teams which
did some time in the old South Atlantic prior to joining the SoCon themselves. The
latter phase consisted of teams which also later joined the Southern, as well as
schools which later formed the smaller southern conferences. My data, obviously, is
very sketchy here; there may well be another dozen or more teams that were in here
at some point, as the information I currently have available on conference affiliations
pre-war only covers current D-I teams (and not all of them, even).
SOUTHWEST (1914-1995)
Arkansas (1914-1991)
Baylor (1914-1995)
Houston (1976-1995)
Oklahoma (1914-1919)
Oklahoma State (1914-1924)
Phillips (1920-1921)
Rice (1914-1995)
Southern Methodist (1914-1995)
Southwestern (TX) (1914-1917)
Texas (1914-1995)
Texas A&M (1914-1995)
Texas Christian (1923-1995)
Texas Tech (1960-1995)
--------------------------------
Except for adding two teams, the SWC was stable for 68 years. Even the Big Ten hasn't gone that
long (yet) without losing a team. Alas, revenue disparities between the state schools and the
private schools, a nasty stain caused by SMU's death penalty, and the fight for TV money led to a
"merger" with the Big Eight. Texas Tech and Baylor almost didn't get to go; only state governmental
pressure forced Texas and A&M to take them along. As for the other four teams, three have fallen on
hard times -- only TCU, long a doormat in the SWC, has prospered, finally reaching at least some
semblance of former glory.
VOLUNTEER (1949-1962)
Austin Peay (1949-1962)
Carson-Newman (1960-1962)
East Tennessee State (1949-1957)
Middle Tenn. State (1949-1959)
Milligan (1949-1950)
Tennessee-Martin (1960-1962) Martin Branch
Union (TN) (1949-1951)
--------------------------------
Little Tennessee circuit with a couple of notable teams.
WESTERN NEW YORK LITTLE THREE (1926-1949)
Canisius (1926-1949)
Niagara (1926-1949)
Saint Bonaventure (1926-1949)
--------------------------------
Never let it be said they don't like their football in Buffalo.
Defunct Negro Conferences
EASTERN ICC (1946-1960)
Elizabeth City State (1946-1956)
Friendship (1956-1960)
Kittrell (1958-1960)
Livingstone (1946-1960)
Morristown (1946-1960)
Norfolk State (1946-1960)
South Carolina Trade (1956-1960)
Voorhees (1956-1960)
--------------------------------
The first of the negro conferences to close up shop. The three larger schools
slid into the CIAA.
GULF COAST (1958-1961)
Bishop (1958-1961)
Dillard (1958-1961)
Philander Smith (1958-1961)
Rust (1958-1961)
Tougaloo (1958-1960)
--------------------------------
Split off from the South Central in 1958.
SOUTH CENTRAL (pre-1942-1961)
Alcorn State (pre-1942-1961) Alcorn A&M
Bishop (1954-1957)
Campbell (1946-pre-1951)
Dillard (1946-1957)
Jackson State (1947-1950)
Jarvis Christian (1958-1961)
*Leland (I) (pre-1942-1954)
*Leland (II) (1956-1959)
Mississippi Indust. (pre-1942-1961)
Miss. Valley State (1954-1961) Mississippi Vocational
Okolona (pre-1942-1950)
Paul Quinn (1956-1960)
Philander Smith (1948/49/50-1957)
Rust (1946-1957)
Southern Christian (1947-1947/8/9)
Tougaloo (pre-1942-1957)
--------------------------------
Fractured in 1958, with the western schools forming the Gulf Coast
Conference.
SOUTH EASTERN (1945-1961)
Albany State (GA) (1946-1961)
Allen (1945-1946)
Bethune-Cookman (1945-1948/49/50)
Claflin (1946-1961)
Edward Waters (1961 only)
Florida Memorial (1945-1958) Florida N&I
Morris (1947-1961)
Paine (1945-1961)
Savannah State (1947-1961) Georgia State (Savannah)
--------------------------------
Probably the most "major" of the black conferences which died in 1961.
