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(Includes former NAIA conferences composed of current Division III teams) These links to historical alignments. Links to conference pages will appear with historical alignment listing. Current:
Defunct and Renamed:
CurrentAMERICAN SOUTHWEST (1976-) TEXAS (1976-1995) East Texas Baptist (2000) Hardin-Simmons (1990) Howard Payne (1987) Louisiana (2000) Mary Hardin-Baylor (1997) McMurry (1976) Mississippi College (1996) Sul Ross State (1976) Texas Lutheran (2000) -------------------------------- Austin (1976-2005) Lubbock Christian (1979-1981) Midwestern State (1988-1995) Tarleton State (1976-1990) Trinity (TX) (1976-1980) -------------------------------- The reformed Texas conference in 1976 had a familiar look. It's gone through several changes, but now is a powerhouse in the Southwest, usually placing two or three teams in the weekly D-III rankings. MHB, specifically, has built a strong program quickly. Austin for the Southern Conference in 2006. ATLANTIC CENTRAL (1998-2010) Frostburg State (1998) Newport News App. (2001) Salisbury (1998) Salisbury State Wesley (1998) -------------------------------- Brockport State (2004-2007) Buffalo State (2004-2005) Chowan (1998-2000) Ferrum (1998-2000) Greensboro (1999-2000) Methodist (1998-2000) -------------------------------- Small confederation of long-term D-III independents. Mired on the short road to oblivion, having been ripped in half by the formation of the Dixie Conference, but reached up to grab two solid New York State independents - only to watch them bolt to greener pastures. It is, presumably, folding after 2010 with Frostburg and Salisbury moving to the Empire 8. CENTENNIAL (1982-) Dickinson (1982) Franklin & Marshall (1982) Gettysburg (1982) Johns Hopkins (1982) Juniata (2007) McDaniel (1982) Western Maryland Moravian (2007) Muhlenberg (1982) Ursinus (1982) -------------------------------- Swarthmore (1982-2000) -------------------------------- Split off from the bloated Middle Atlantic in a shower of words about academics. Very stable and organized, although they gave Juniata and Moravian a new home in 2007. COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN (1946-) COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS (1946-1966) Augustana (IL) (1946) *Carthage (II) (1961) *Elmhurst (II) (1968) Illinois Wesleyan (1946) Millikin (1946) North Central (1946) North Park (1962) *Wheaton (II) (1970) -------------------------------- Carroll (WI) (1956-1991) *Carthage (I) (1946-1951) *Elmhurst (I) (1946-1959) Illinois College (1946-1952) Lake Forest (1946-1962) *Wheaton (I) (1946-1959) -------------------------------- One of the three groups of smaller schools which split from the IIAC. Fairly successful group, with a reasonable history in the D-III championships. EASTERN (2009-) Anna Maria (2009) Becker (2009) Castleton State (2009) Gallaudet (2009) Husson (2009) Mount Ida (2009) New York Maritime (2009) Norwich (2009) -------------------------------- Brand-new conference, composed mostly of independents with new programs, with the notable exception of Norwich. EMPIRE 8 (2002-) Alfred (2002) Frostburg State (2011) Hartwick (2002) Ithaca (2002) Saint John Fisher (2002) Salisbury (2011) Springfield (2004) Utica (2002) -------------------------------- Norwich (2004-2008) -------------------------------- Another banding of independents, newly minted. Springfield and Norwich moved over from the Freedom Conference in 2004, though Norwich departed again in 2009 for the new Eastern league. Frostburg and Salisbury will join in 2011 from the ACFC. HEARTLAND (pre-1947-) INDIANA ICC (pre-1947-1947/8/9); HOOSIER (1948/49/50-1971); HOOSIER-BUCKEYE (1972-1986); INDIANA (1987-1997) Anderson (1947) *Bluffton (II) (1998) *Defiance (II) (2000) *Earlham (III) (2010) *Franklin (II) (1987) Hanover (pre-1942) Manchester (pre-1942) *Rose-Hulman (III) (2006) Rose Poly Mount Saint Joseph (1998) ------------------------------- Ball State (pre-1942-1947) Muncie Normal *Bluffton (I) (1972-1986) Butler (pre-1942-1947/8/9) Canterbury (pre-1942-1950) Central Normal, Danville Normal *Defiance (I) (1972-1986) *DePauw (I) (pre-1942-1947/8/9) *DePauw (II) (1987-1997) *Earlham (I) (pre-1942-1957) *Earlham (II) (1967-1983) Evansville (pre-1942-1946) Moore's Hill Findlay (1972-1986) *Franklin (I) (pre-1942-1969) Indiana State (pre-1942-1947/8/9) Indianapolis (1946-1969) Indiana Central *Rose-Hulman (I) (pre-1942-1947/8/9) Rose Poly *Rose-Hulman (II) (1988-1997) Rose Poly Saint Joseph's (IN) (pre-1942-1947/8/9) *Taylor (I) (pre-1947-1986) *Taylor (II) (1988-1990) Valparaiso (pre-1942-1947/8/9) *Wabash (I) (pre-1942-1947/8/9) *Wabash (II) (1987-1999) *Wilmington (1972-1986) *Wilmington (II) (1998-1999) -------------------------------- The old Indiana Intercollegiate Conference fragmented into two conferences sometime between 1947 and 1950, with the more major schools forming the Indiana Collegiate Conference and the smaller schools forming the Hoosier Conference. Since the overall roster has been more stable with the smaller colleges, and since I know Ball State left to become independent with the 1947 season before joining the ICC and Evansville left for the Ohio Valley the same year, I'm placing the overall chain here. IOWA (1923-) Buena Vista (1923) Central (1923) Coe (1997) Cornell (IA) (1997) Dubuque (1929) *Loras (II) (1986) Luther (1923) Simpson (1923) Wartburg (1937) -------------------------------- Des Moines (1923-1953) Ellsworth (1923-1926) Iowa Wesleyan (1923-1964) *Loras (I) (1926-1950) Morningside (1923-1935) Northern Iowa (1923-1934) Iowa State Teachers Parsons (1923-1962) Saint Ambrose (1923-1950) Upper Iowa (1923-2003) Westmar (1923-1953) Western Union, Teikyo Westmar *William Penn (I) (1923-1948) *William Penn (II) (1963-2000) -------------------------------- Long tradition here, and powerful teams. Loras was absent for 36 years because the other schools basically kicked them out for being too good... Des Moines also competed in the North Central Conference from 1922-1925. Upper Iowa jumped to D-II after the 2003 season, but fulfilled their conference schedule in 2004. LIBERTY (1996-) UPSTATE (1996-2003) Hobart (1996) Kings Point (2004) Merchant Marine Rensselaer Polytech (1996) Rochester (1996) Saint Lawrence (1996) Susquehanna (2007) Union (NY) (1996) Worcester Tech (2004) -------------------------------- Coast Guard (2004-2005) -------------------------------- Essentially a reformation of the Independent CAC. Rochester had retained its membership in the University Athletic Association, until coming to the Liberty full-time in 2004. MICHIGAN (1888-) Adrian (1908) Albion (1888) Alma (1902) Hope (1926) Kalamazoo (1896) Olivet (1888) Trine (2004) Tri-State -------------------------------- Defiance (1997-1999) Eastern Michigan (1892-1926) Michigan Normal Hillsdale (1888-1960) Michigan State (1888-1907) Michigan Agricultural Wisconsin Lutheran (2002-2007) -------------------------------- From 1926 until 1997, the only change in this, the oldest conference in the nation, was Hillsdale's departure in 1960. They had three changes from 1907-1997; they've had four since then, with a fifth coming in 2007. MIDDLE ATLANTIC (1958-) Albright (1958) Delaware Valley (1966) FDU-Florham (1993) King's (PA) (1993) Lebanon Valley (1985) Lycoming (1958) Widener (1958) Pennsylvania Miltary Wilkes (1958) --------------------------------- Dickinson (1958-1981) Drexel (1958-1969) Drexel Tech Franklin & Marshall (1958-1981) Gettysburg (1976-1981) Haverford (1958-1972) Hofstra (1960-1962) Johns Hopkins (1958-1981) Juniata (1958-2006) McDaniel (1958-1981) Western Maryland Moravian (1958-2006) Muhlenberg (1963-1981) Scranton (1958-1961) Susquehanna (1958-2006) Swarthmore (1958-1982) *Upsala (I) (1960-1987) *Upsala (II) (1993 only) Ursinus (1958-1981) Wagner (1958-1974) West Chester (1958 only) --------------------------------- The East's first super-conference. Finally brought down to manageable size when the Centennial teams departed in 1981. Johns Hopkins and McDaniel retained their membership in the Mason-Dixon conference until 1974. Reduced even further with the formation of the non-football Landmark Conference in 2007, with the MAC teams leaving to join Landmark sending their football programs elsewhere as well.-------------------------------- MIDWEST (1922-) *Beloit (II) (1959) Carroll (WI) (1992) Grinnell (1939) Illinois College (1983) Knox (1922) Lake Forest (1975) Lawrence (1922) *Monmouth (IL) (II) (1976) Ripon (1923) Saint Norbert (1984) -------------------------------- *Beloit (I) (1922-1950) Carleton (1922-1982) Chicago (1976-1986) Coe (1922-1996) Cornell (IA) (1922-1996) Hamline (1922-1929) Millikin (1922-1924) *Monmouth (IL) (I) (1924-1973) Saint Olaf (1952-1973) -------------------------------- Knox, Millikin, and Monmouth were all also members of the Illinois Conference ("little nineteen") until 1937. Carleton remained part of the Minnesota Conference through 1924, and Hamline remained a member of the Minnesota Conference during their entire term in the MWC. MINNESOTA (1921-) Augsburg (1924) Bethel (MN) (1977) *Carleton (II) (1983) Concordia-Moorhead (1921) Gustavus Adolphus (1921) Hamline (1921) Saint John's (MN) (1921) *Saint Olaf (II) (1975) Saint Thomas (1921) -------------------------------- *Carleton (I) (1921-1924) MacAlester (1921-2001) Minnesota-Duluth (1951-1975) Duluth Branch *Saint Olaf (II) (1921-1950) -------------------------------- Long an NAIA power before moving to D-III, and nothing changed after that. Saint John's is probably the most notable D-III program in the country, due to the longevity and success of their coach, John Gagliardi, who's just a couple of seasons away from the all-time coaching victory record. NEW ENGLAND (1965-) Bridgewater State (1965) Coast Guard (2006) *Curry (II) (1998) Endicott (2003) Fitchburg State (1985) Framingham State (1974) Maine Maritime (1965) Mass-Dartmouth (1988) Mass Maritime (1973) MIT (1998) *Nichols (II) (1998) *Plymouth State (II) (2006) Salve Regina (1998) *W New England (II) (1998) Westfield State (1982) Worcester State (1985) ------------------------------- *Curry (I) (1965-1991) *Mass-Boston (I) (1972-1981) Boston State *Mass-Boston (II) (1988-2000) Boston State Massachusetts-Lowell (1987-1991) Lowell, Lowell Tech, Lowell State New England College (1971-1972) New Haven (1973-1980) Nichols (1972-1991) *Plymouth State (I) (1971-1991) W. Connecticut State (1979-1984) *W New England (I) (1981-1988) -------------------------------- Mostly the home of the Massachusetts State schools until the D-III schools in the Eastern Conference decided to move to an all-D-III league. NEW ENGLAND SMALL COLLEGE AC (1991-) (NESCAC) Amherst (1991) Bates (1991) Bowdoin (1991) Colby (1991) Hamilton (1991) Middlebury (1991) Trinity (CT) (1991) Tufts (1991) Wesleyan (1991) Williams (1991) -------------------------------- Union (NY) (1971-1977) -------------------------------- These schools had been loosely affiliated for a long time, but in 1991, they banded together and agreed to eschew post-season play, and only play one another. As such, this group of ten teams exists completely outside the realm of all other college football teams. NEW JERSEY (1973-) Brockport State (2008) Buffalo State (2006) Coll. of New Jersey (1973) Trenton State Cortland State (2000) Kean (1973) Newark State Montclair State (1973) Morrisville State (2008) Rowan (1973) Glassboro State W. Connecticut State (2004) William Paterson (1973) Paterson State -------------------------------- New Jersey City (1973-2002) Jersey City State Ramapo (1984-1992) Stretched beyond the borders of New Jersey for the first time in 2000, Western Connecticut State is joining from the Freedom Conference in 2004, and the NJAC may be a good bet to snap up some other New York independents in the future. New Jersey City dropped football after 2002. NORTH COAST (1984-) Allegheny (1984) Denison (1984) Hiram (2000) Kenyon (1984) Oberlin (1984) Ohio Wesleyan (1984) Wabash (2000) Wittenberg (1989) Wooster (1984) -------------------------------- Case Western Reserve (1984-1999) Earlham (1989-2009) -------------------------------- Split off from the Ohio Conference after the 1983 season. Case was also a member of the University Athletic Association from 1990-1999. NORTHERN (2008-) Aurora (2008) Benedictine (IL) (2008) Concordia (IL) (2008) Concordia (WI) (2008) Lakeland (2008) Maranatha Baptist (2008) Rockford (2008) Wisconsin Lutheran (2008) -------------------------------- An all-sports conference formed in the merger of the non-football Lake Michigan and Northern Illinois-Iowa conferences, the NAC gathered its own members back from the Illini-Badger, Upper Midwest, and Michigan conferences to start conference play in 2008. NORTHWEST (1926-) all teams moved to COLUMBIA (1985-1995), then reformed *Lewis & Clark (II) (1947) Linfield (1926) Menlo (2006) Pacific Lutheran (1965) *Puget Sound (II) (1967) *Whitworth (II) (1987) Willamette (1926) -------------------------------- Albertson (1926-1978) College of Idaho *Lewis & Clark (I) (1931-1937) Pacific (OR) (1926-1992) *Puget Sound (I) (1926-1947) Whitman (1926-1977) *Whitworth (I) (1971-1984) -------------------------------- Every team that has ever been in this conference either still is, or no longer fields a football team. One could argue that there are only four truly historically "powerful" non-Division I teams west of Abilene, Texas, and three of them are here. All teams merged with the Evergreen Conference into the Columbia Football Association in 1985; in 1996, all the former Northwest Conference teams returned to competition within the Northwest, which had continued to exist as a conference for all other sports. San Francisco-area Menlo joins up beginning in 2006 as the Northwest expands its horizons. OHIO (1902-) *Baldwin-Wallace (3) (1962) Capital (1927) *Heidelberg (II) (1920) *John Carroll (II) (1989) Marietta (1926) Mount Union (1914) Muskingum (1922) *Ohio Northern (II) (1974) Otterbein (1921) Wilmington (2000) -------------------------------- *Akron (I) (1915-1935) Bechtel *Akron (II) (1946-1965) Bechtel Ashland (1931-1947) *Bald.-Wallace (I) (1915-1919) *Bald.-Wallace (II) (1924-1947) Bowling Green (1933-1941) Case Western Reserve (1902-1947) Case Tech Cincinnati (1910-1924) Dayton (1926-1934) *Denison (I) (1907-1924) *Denison (II) (1947-1983) Findlay (1934-1947) *Heidelberg (I) (1907-1909) *Hiram (I) (1920-1934) *Hiram (II) (1952-1970) *Hiram (III) (1989-1999) *John Carroll (I) (1932-1948) Saint Ignatius Kent (1932-1950) *Kenyon (I) (1902-1949) *Kenyon (II) (1952-1983) Miami (OH) (1910-1924) Ohio (1910-1924) *Ohio Northern (I) (1916-1948) *Ohio State (I) (1902-1913) *Ohio State (II) (1919-1921) *Ohio Wesleyan (I) (1902-1924) *Ohio Wesleyan (II) (1948-1983) Oberlin (1902-1983) Toledo (1932-1948) Western Reserve (1902-1931) Adelbert *Wittenberg (I) (1909-1924) *Wittenberg (II) (1935-1988) Wooster (1907-1983) Xavier (1921-1935) Saint Xavier Third-oldest conference in the nation. Until the fifties, only a loosely organized conference offering no championship. Ohio State also competed in the Big Ten from 1912 on. Two splits have occurred; in 1925, six schools left to form the Buckeye Conference; the smaller schools later returned. In 1983, five schools left to help form the North Coast. Kenyon and Oberlin spent several years prior to that ineligible for the conference title, but still playing an official conference schedule. OLD DOMINION (pre-1946-) MASON-DIXON (pre-1946-1974) Bridgewater (1948/49/50) *Catholic (II) (1999) Emory & Henry (1975) Guilford (1991) Hampden-Sydney (pre-1946) Randolph-Macon (pre-1946) Washington & Lee (1975) -------------------------------- *Catholic (I) (1982-1983) Delaware (1946-1947) Gallaudet (1948/49/50-1974) Johns Hopkins (pre-1946-1974) Maryville (1980-1986/7) McDaniel (pre-1946-1974) Western Maryland Mount Saint Mary's (1948/49/50-1950) Shepherd (1964-1968) Towson (1969-1974) Washington (MD) (1948/49/50-1950) The Mason-Dixon was loosely organized, some teams only playing one or two conference games a season. Johns Hopkins and McDaniel also competed in the Middle Atlantic Conference from 1958 on; Shepherd was a member of the West Virginia State Conference during its entire term of membership here. In 1975, four schools departed, and adding Emory & Henry and Washington & Lee, the ODAC was formed as a more organized conference. PRESIDENTS (1955-) Bethany (WV) (1958) Geneva (2007) Grove City (1984) Saint Vincent (2007) Thiel (1958) Thomas More (2004) Wash. & Jeff. (1958) Waynesburg (1990) Westminster (PA) (2002) -------------------------------- Allegheny (1958-1983) Carnegie Mellon (1972-1989) Case Western Reserve (1955-1983) Case Tech Eastern Michigan (1964-1965) Hiram (1971-1988) John Carroll (1955-1988) Wayne State (1955-1965) Western Reserve (1955-1966) -------------------------------- A fairly potent league (maybe even equal to a low I-AA) at the start, but sort of watered down as time went on. Now, pretty much ruled by Washington and Jefferson. SOUTHERN (1962-) COLLEGE ATHLETIC (1962-1990) Austin (2006) Birmingham-Southern (2008) Centre (1962) DePauw (1997) Hendrix (2010) Millsaps (1988) Rhodes (1962) Southwestern (TN) Univ. of the South (1962) Sewanee Trinity (TX) (1988) -------------------------------- Colorado College (2007-2008) Earlham (1984-1988) Fisk (1983 only) Illinois College (1980-1982) Principia (1974-1983) *Rose-Hulman (I) (1974-1987) Rose Poly *Rose-Hulman (II) (1997-2005) Rose Poly Washington (MO) (1962-1971) Washington & Lee (1962-1972) -------------------------------- An academic conference with a fairly notable roster over the years on that score. Colorado College, citing travel costs resulting from its isolated location among D-III schools, dropped football. Hendrix, an all-sports member, adds football in 2010. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (1915-) Cal Lutheran (1991) Claremont-Mudd-Scr. (1958) *La Verne (II) (1971) Occidental (1915) *Pomona-Pitzer (II) (2003) Redlands (1915) Whittier (1915) -------------------------------- Cal-Los Angeles (1920-1927) Cal-Santa Barbara (1931-1938) *Cal Tech (I) (1915-1934) *Cal Tech (II) (1938-1977) Cal-Los Angeles (1920-1927) *La Verne (I) (1926-1938) *Pomona (I) (1915-1934) *Pomona (II) (1938-1946) merged teams with Claremont *Pomona-Claremont (1947-1957) see note *Pomona-Pitzer (I) (1958-1995) San Diego State (1926-1939) -------------------------------- Pomona-Claremont split up, and Pomona later merged teams with Pitzer, while Claremont merged first with Harvey Mudd, then with Scripps. UNIVERSITY (1990-) Carnegie-Mellon (1990) Case Western Reserve (1990) Chicago (1990) Washington (MO) (1990) -------------------------------- Rochester (1990-2003) -------------------------------- An academic conference. Rochester had also participated in the Upstate Conference since 1996, but finally went full-time there in 2004. Case held membership in the North Coast Conference until 1999. UPPER MIDWEST (1983-) TWIN RIVERS (1972-1982) *Blackburn (II) (2009) Crown (1994) Eureka (2009) Greenville (2009) MacMurray (2009) Martin Luther (1972) Minnesota-Morris (2003) Northwestern (MN) (1972) Saint Scholastica (2008) Westminster (MO) (2009) ---------------------------------- *Blackburn (I) (2000-2007) Concordia-St. Paul (1972-1998) Loras (1972-1985) Maranatha Baptist (1972-2007) Mount Senario (1977-2001) Northwestern (WI) (1976-1994) Pillsbury Baptist (1972-1988) Principia (1999-2007) Rockford (2002-2007) Trinity Bible (1994-2007) Westminster (MO) (2000-2007) ---------------------------------- Older info on this conference is very sketchy, but the overall membership is complete. This is a strange conference, as its membership long consisted of schools from the NAIA, NCAA Divisions II and III, and a couple of schools which are members of neither. However, the conference finally succeeded moving to a full D-III affiliation. It wasn't easy, and in the birthing throes, in 2008, several members left to join their own all-sport conferences' new football sections. This left the UMAC football conference in a nebulous state with only five teams (including the new program at Saint Scholastica). The UMAC football teams had initially accepted the offer to join the SLIAC football league, but later opted not to, instead offering full membership in the UMAC to the SLIAC schools, who declined. After one season, they changed their minds and rejoined, finally solidifying the UMAC as a D-III conference. Principia, which had moved to the SLIAC, suspended its football program after the 2008 season, but does plan to reinstate it, and will be a member when that occurs. USA SOUTH (2000-) DIXIE (2000-2002) Averett (2000) Christopher Newport (2001) Ferrum (2000) Greensboro (2000) Maryville (TN) (2005) Methodist (2000) N. C. Wesleyan (2004) Shenandoah (2000) -------------------------------- Chowan (2001-2003) -------------------------------- Just a couple of years after getting together to form the ACFC, four schools couldn't resist the lure of an all-sports conference and switched gears. Chowan didn't play a Dixie schedule in 2000, but the other three former ACFC teams played in both leagues that year. Chowan has since taken the move to Division II. WISCONSIN (1913-) UW-Eau Claire (1917) UW-LaCrosse (1913) UW-Oshkosh (1913) UW-Platteville (1913) UW-River Falls (1913) UW-Stevens Point (1913) Central State (WI) UW-Stout (1914) Stout Institute UW-Whitewater (1913) -------------------------------- UW-Milwaukee (1913-1964) UW-Superior (1913-1992) -------------------------------- The Wisconsin state teachers colleges. Very stable, only changes being those schools which dropped their football programs. CURRENT DIVISION III INDEPENDENTS Chapman (1994) Huntingdon (2009) LaGrange (2009) MacAlester (2002) -------------------------------- Dates indicate first year competing as an independent in Division III (or as a college- division team prior to 1973). DefunctATLANTIC COLLEGIATE (1988-1991) Brooklyn (1988-1990) Gallaudet (1988-1991) Marist (1989-1991) New York Maritime (1988) Saint Francis (PA) (1989-1991) Saint John Fisher (1988-1991) Siena (1988-1990) -------------------------------- Short-lived New York-area confederation which for some reason stretched down to the DC area. CBB (pre-1942-1988) MAINE (pre-1942-1974) Bates (pre-1942-1988) Bowdoin (pre-1942-1988) Colby (pre-1942-1988) Maine (pre-1942-1964) -------------------------------- CBB, for Colby-Bates-Bowdoin. Or Colby-Bowdoin-Bates. The two Bs can fight over it. A fairly important minor conference in the pre-Vietnam era. FREEDOM (1992-2003) Coast Guard (1992-2003) Kings Point (1992-2003) Merchant Marine Norwich (1992-2003) Plymouth State (1992-2003) Springfield (1995-2003) W. Connecticut State (1992-2003) Worcester Tech (1992-2003) -------------------------------- Massachusetts-Lowell (1992-1995) Stony Brook (1992-1995) -------------------------------- Stable circuit, until it fractured totally in one season, with good mid-level teams. Part of the great eastern "being independent is a real pain" movement. GREAT PLAINS COLLEGIATE ASSOCIATION (1964) Colorado College (1964) Doane (1964) Hastings (1964) Nebraska Wesleyan (1964) -------------------------------- Hastings remained in the Nebraska CC, and Doane didn't leave that conference until after the 1963 season. This conference may have more than one season, but the 1966 NCAA Guide shows all these teams save Hastings as independents. ILLINI-BADGER (pre-1940-2007) BADGER STATE (pre-1940-1947/8/9); BADGER-ILLINI (1948/49/50-1958); BADGER-GOPHER (1959-1961); GATEWAY (1962-1974); ILLINI-BADGER-HAWKEYE (1990-1991) *Aurora (II) (1998-2007) *Concordia (IL) (II) (1975-2007) Concordia Teachers Concordia (WI) (1980/1-2007) *Eureka (II) (1975-2007) Greenville (1989-2007) *IL Benedictine (3) (1998-2007) Saint Procopius Lakeland (pre-1940-2007) Mission House MacMurray (1990-2007) -------------------------------- *Aurora (I) (1948/49/50-1952) Bethel (MN) (1958-1961) Blackburn (1990-1991) *Concordia (IL) (I) (1948/49/50-1956) *Eureka (I) (1962-1970?) *IL Benedictine (I) (1948/49/50-1956) *IL Benedictine (II) (1967-1970?) Illinois-Chicago (1962-1966) Iowa Wesleyan (1989-1991) Milton (pre-1940-1981) Martin Luther (pre-1940-1974) NE Illinois (1975-1987) *Northland (I) (1959-1961) *Northland (II) (1967-1974) Quincy (1993-1995) Principia (1985-1991) Wisconsin Extension (pre-1940-1955) Wisconsin Tech (pre-1940-1958) -------------------------------- The years I've tagged for IBH are based on my extrapolation of Iowa Wesleyan's membership. MacMurray and Greenville also participated in the Saint Louis Conference from 1996-1999. With the formation of the Northern Athletics Conference, and the Saint Louis Conference resuming football play, the IBFC disbanded after the 2007 season. INDEPENDENT CAC (1964-1989) Alfred (1964-1989) Hamilton (1964 only) Hobart (1964-1989) Ithaca (1975-1989) Rensselaer Polytech (1964-1989) Rochester (1989 only) Rochester Tech (1971-1977) Saint Lawrence (1964-1989) Union (NY) (1964-1968) -------------------------------- It was, more than anything, a hockey conference of all things. The football side collapsed when Rochester joined the UAA, and everyone else went back down the Independent road. (And isn't that name the best college football oxymoron ever?) LIBERTY (1979-1992) METRO-INTERCOLLEGIATE (1979-1984) Brooklyn (1979-1984) Fordham (1985-1989) *Iona (I) (1979-1979/80) *Iona (II) (1985-1992) Kings Point (1985-1991) Merchant Marine Long Island-CW Post (1985-1992) *Marist (I) (1979-1984) *Marist (II) (1992 only) Pace (1979-1992) Saint John's (NY) (1979-1992) Saint Peter's (1979-1985) Stony Brook (1988-1991) -------------------------------- Conference of New York Metro teams which lumbered on until the teams started drifting to different divisions. LITTLE THREE (pre-1942-1989) Amherst (pre-1942-1989) Wesleyan (pre-1942-1989) Williams (pre-1942-1989) -------------------------------- Nothing little about these rivalries, that's for sure. LITTLE FIVE (1910-1920) MIDDLE WEST (1910-1913) Armour Tech (1910-1916) Beloit (1910-1920) Knox (1910-1920) Lake Forest (1910-1920) Monmouth (IL) (1910-1920) North Central (1917-1920) Northwestern College (IL) -------------------------------- Basically merged into the Illinois (Little Nineteen) conference, then broke back out to become the new Midwest conference. MID-OHIO (1949-1971) Ashland (1949-1966) Bluffton (1949-1971) Cedarville (1949/50-1952) Defiance (1949-1971) *Findlay (I) (1949-1961) *Findlay (II) (1968-1971) Ohio Northern (1950-1961) Wilmington (1955-1971) -------------------------------- Some schools that escaped the Ohio Conference, and some schools that avoided it altogether. Although the non-football schools continued on, the football schools folded into the Hoosier Conference in 1972. PRAIRIE (1951-1973) Eureka (1951-1957) Illinois College (1953-1973) Principia (1951-1973) Rose-Hulman (1951-1973) Rose Poly Pretty long history for a conference nobody remembers... Iowa Wesleyan claims to have been a member, but I don't think they ever were for football. If they were, I haven't unearthed any standings which show them there. PRAIRIE (?-1988) Greenville (?-1988) Eureka (?-1988) MacMurray (?-1988) Principia (?-1988) -------------------------------- I honestly don't know if this is the same Prairie Conference as the older one. This is around the time when the NCAA guides start ignoring NAIA-only conferences. I do know that in the interim, Principia left, and Greenville and MacMurray didn't start their programs until 1987 and 1985 respectively. This may be the period during which Iowa Wesleyan was a member. SAINT LOUIS (1996-1999) Blackburn (1996-1999) Greenville (1996-1999) MacMurray (1996-1999) Principia (1996-1998) Westminster (MO) (1996-1999) -------------------------------- Short-lived federation of Saint Louis-area schools. Greenville and MacMurray retained their memberships in the IBC throughout. SAINT LOUIS (II) (2008 only) Blackburn (2008 only) Eureka (2008 only) Greenville (2008 only) Huntingdon (2008 only) LaGrange (2008 only) MacMurray (2008 only) Principia (2008 only) Westminster (MO) (2008 only) -------------------------------- The SLIAC opted to restart its football conference, gathering back its own members from the Illini-Badger and Upper Midwest, and adding a couple of former independents. After one year, they chucked it again. TEXAS (old) (pre-1942-1955) Abilene Christian (pre-1942-1953) Austin (pre-1942-1953) Eastern New Mexico (1954-1955) Hardin-Simmons (1947-1947/8/9) Howard Payne (pre-1942-1955) McMurry (pre-1942-1955) Southwestern (TX) (pre-1942-1950) Texas A&M-Kingsville (1948/49/50-1953) Texas A&I -------------------------------- This is very incomplete. I'm positive many more Texas schools were involved before the war. McMurry also competed in the Gulf Coast conference in 1955. WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA (1958-1967) Carnegie Mellon (1958-1963) Geneva (1959-1967) Grove City (1958-1967) Saint Vincent (1958-1963) Waynesburg (1958-1967) Westminster (PA) (1958-1967) Roughly a decade of existence, and quite a bit of forgotten tradition. |