List of college athletic conferences in the United States explained

In college athletics in the United States, institutions typically join in conferences for regular play under different governing bodies.

Varsity sports

There are several national and regional associations governing the varsity teams of colleges and universities. Varsity teams are typically funded by an institution's athletic department, and under some governing bodies players are eligible for athletic scholarships.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

See main article: List of NCAA conferences.

Division I

Multi-sport conferences
Football-only conferences
Ice hockey conferences
Other single-sport conferencesThis list also includes conferences in sports that the NCAA does not split into divisions.

Division II

Single-sport conferences

Division III

Single-sport conferences

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)

See main article: List of NAIA conferences.

Football-only conference

United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)

National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA)

Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA)

National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)

California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA)

Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC)

Independent conferences

Other collegiate sports associations

Boxing

Cycling

Fencing

Gymnastics

Lacrosse

See:

See also: Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association.

Rowing

Sprint football

Volleyball

Water polo

Wrestling

List of oldest college sports conferences

The following table is a sortable listing of the oldest college sports conferences (organizations of athletic teams at the collegiate level) in the United States of America. This includes U.S. collegiate sports organizations of NCAA Divisions I, II, and III; as well as various sports including Rowing, Cricket, Basketball, Hockey, Wrestling, Football, Basketball, Track, and more.

!Conference!Alias!Founded!Defunct!Type!Predecessor!Successor
Rowing Association of American Colleges[1] RAAC18701894RowingIntercollegiate Rowing Association
Intercollegiate Rowing Association[2] IRA1895RowingRowing Association of American Colleges
Intercollegiate Cricket Association[3] ICA18811924Cricket
Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League[4] Ivy League19011955BasketballIvy League
Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association[5] EIWA1903Wrestling
Ivy League[6] Ivies1954NCAARowing Association of American Colleges, Intercollegiate Cricket Association, Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League, Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association
Big Ten Conference[7] B1G1896NCAAIntercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, Western Conference, Big Nine, does not retain legacy of Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the Northwest
Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the Northwest[8] IAAN18921893Football, Baseball, TrackBig Ten Conference
Southwest Conference[9] SWC19141996NCAASouthwest Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBig 12 Conference, Western Athletic Conference, Conference USA
Big 12 Conference[10] Big 121994*NCAASouthwest Conference, Big Eight Conference, but does not retain legacy of either*
Pac-12 Conference[11] Pac-121915NCAAPacific Coast Conference, Athletic Association of Western Universities, Pacific-8, Pacific-10
Missouri Valley Conference[12] MVC / Valley1907NCAAShares founding members with Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference[13] Big 819071996NCAAMissouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Big Six Conference, Big Seven Conference, Big Eight ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Border Conference[14] 19311962NCAABorder Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationWestern Athletic Conference, Pac-12 Conference, Big 12 Conference
Skyline Conference[15] Skyline Eight19381962NCAAMountain States Athletic Conference, Big Seven, Skyline SixWestern Athletic Conference, Mountain West
Western Athletic Conference[16] WAC1962NCAABorder Conference, Skyline Conference, Pac-12 ConferencePac-12 Conference, Mountain West, Conference USA
Metro Conference[17] Metro19751995NCAAConference USA, Big East, American Athletic Conference
American Athletic Conference[18] The American / AAC1979NCAABig East
Big East Conference[19] Big East1979NCAAAtlantic 10 ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East Conference
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association[20] SIAA18921947NCAASoutheastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 Conference, Conference USA, Ohio Valley Conference, Southern Athletic Association, and others
Southern Conference[21] SoCon1921NCAASouthern Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationSoutheastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Metro Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, Coastal Athletic Association, Conference USA
Southeastern Conference[22] SEC1932NCAASouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Southern Conference, Big 12 Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference[23] ACC1953NCAASouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Southern Conference, Metro Conference, Big East
Mid-American Conference[24] MAC1946NCAA
Southwestern Athletic Conference[25] SWAC1920NCAA
Big West Conference[26] BWC1968NCAAPacific Coast Athletic AssociationWestern Athletic Conference, Mountain West
West Coast Conference[27] WCC1952NCAACalifornia Basketball Association, West Coast Athletic ConferenceBig West Conference, Western Athletic Conference, Mountain West
Atlantic 10 Conference[28] A-101976NCAAEastern Collegiate Basketball League, Eastern Athletic Association, Eastern 8Big East, American Athletic Conference
Yankee Conference[29] 19471997NCAANew England ConferenceAtlantic 10 Conference, CAA Football
Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference[30] CAA Football2007NCAANew England Conference, Yankee Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference
Coastal Athletic AssociationCAA1979NCAAECAC
New England Conference[31] 19231947NCAANew England College Conference of Intercollegiate AthleticsYankee Conference
Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference[32] IIAC19081970NCAAIllinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Western Collegiate Hockey Association[33] WCHA1951HockeyMidwest Collegiate Hockey League, Western Intercollegiate Hockey League
ECAC Hockey[34] ECAC1961HockeyEastern College Athletic Conference, ECAC Hockey League
North Central Conference[35] NCC19222008Division IINorthern Sun, Summit
Northern California Athletic Conference[36] NCAC19251996Division IIFar Western Conference
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association[37] CIAA1912Division IIColored Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Conference Carolinas[38] CVAC1930Division IINorth State Conference, Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference
California Collegiate Athletic Association[39] CCAA1938Division II
Lone Star Conference[40] LSC1931Division II
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association[41] MIAA1912Division IIMissouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference[42] NSIC1932Division IINorthern Teachers Athletic Conference, State Teacher's College Conference of Minnesota, Northern Intercollegiate Conference, Northern Sun Conference
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference[43] RMAC1909Division IIColorado Faculty Athletic Conference, Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference[44] SIAC1913Division II
West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference[45] WVIAC19242013Division IIMountain East, Great Midwest
American Rivers Conference[46] ARC1922Division IIIIowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Middle Atlantic Conferences[47] MAC1912Division IIIMiddle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletics Association, Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Conference
Midwest Conference[48] MWC1921Division IIIMidwest Collegiate Athletic Conference, Midwest Athletic Conference for Women
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference[49] MIAC1920Division III
Northwest Conference[50] NWC1926Division III
Ohio Athletic Conference[51] OAC1902Division III
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference[52] SCIAC1915Division III
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference[53] WIAC1913Division IIIInter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference, Wisconsin State College Conference, Wisconsin State University Athletic Conference

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IRA – Friends of Rowing History . February 4, 2023 . en-US .
  2. Web site: May 17, 2008 . IRA Regatta . https://web.archive.org/web/20080517150948/http://www.rowinghistory.net/IRA.htm . May 17, 2008 . February 4, 2023 .
  3. Web site: The Home of CricketArchive . February 4, 2023 . cricketarchive.com .
  4. Web site: Ivy League Index . February 4, 2023 . College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com . en .
  5. Web site: Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association . en .
  6. Web site: About the Ivy League . February 4, 2023 . ivyleague.com . en .
  7. Web site: About the Conference . https://web.archive.org/web/20180820103436/http://www.bigten.org/sports/2018/6/6/school-bio-big10-school-bio-html.aspx . dead . August 20, 2018 . February 4, 2023 . . en .
  8. Web site: Welcome cfbdatawarehouse.com - BlueHost.com . February 4, 2023 . www.cfbdatawarehouse.com .
  9. Web site: TSHA Southwest Conference . February 4, 2023 . www.tshaonline.org.
  10. Web site: Big 12 Biography . February 4, 2023 . big12sports.com . en .
  11. Web site: About the Pac-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220425183952/https://pac-12.com/about-pac-12 . dead . April 25, 2022 . February 4, 2023 . pac-12.com . en.
  12. Web site: This is The Valley . February 4, 2023 . mvc-sports.com . en .
  13. Web site: October 12, 2013 . Big Eight Conference - Athletic History Site . https://web.archive.org/web/20131012165456/http://www.bigeightsports.com/ . October 12, 2013 . February 4, 2023 .
  14. Web site: February 13, 2010 . Conference Champions . https://web.archive.org/web/20100213163201/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/conference_champs/champions.php?conid=24 . February 13, 2010 . February 4, 2023 .
  15. News: October 12, 1961 . New League Is Established . 6 . The Daily Inter Lake . February 4, 2023 . Newspapers.com .
  16. Web site: Western Athletic Conference . en .
  17. Web site: History lesson: Super-conference concept rooted in 1990 proposal . February 4, 2023 . www.sportsbusinessjournal.com . en .
  18. Web site: American Athletic Conference . February 4, 2023 . theamerican.org . en .
  19. Web site: BIG EAST Conference History . February 4, 2023 . www.bigeast.com . en .
  20. News: Prospects for Sport: The Southern Inter-Collegiate Association Organized . Richmond Times-Dispatch . 29 Dec 1892 . 2 . February 4, 2023 . Newspapers.com . en . subscription .
  21. Web site: The History of the Southern Conference . February 4, 2023 . soconsports.com . en .
  22. Web site: SEC History . February 4, 2023 . www.secsports.com .
  23. Web site: 2022 ACC Annual Report (PDF) - Atlantic Coast Conference . February 4, 2023 . theacc.com . en .
  24. Web site: History of the MAC . February 4, 2023 . getsomemaction.com . en .
  25. Web site: SWAC History . February 4, 2023 . swac.org . en .
  26. Web site: About The Big West . February 4, 2023 . bigwest.org . en .
  27. Web site: West Coast Conference History . February 4, 2023 . wccsports.com . en .
  28. Web site: About the Atlantic 10 Conference . February 4, 2023 . atlantic10.com . en .
  29. News: December 18, 1946 . N.E. Conference Formed Among Six Colleges . 20 . The Berkshire Eagle . February 4, 2023 . Newspapers.com .
  30. Web site: THE CAA & CAA FOOTBALL . February 4, 2023 . caasports.com . en .
  31. News: January 30, 1923 . New England Schools Begin Organization . 12 . Pittsburgh Daily Post . February 4, 2023 . Newspapers.com .
  32. Web site: Home . February 4, 2023 . Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference . en-US .
  33. Web site: Mission, Purpose, and History . February 4, 2023 . wcha.com . en .
  34. Web site: History and Records . February 4, 2023 . ecachockey.com . en .
  35. Web site: North Central Conference . February 4, 2023 . northcentral.prestosports.com .
  36. Web site: February 13, 2010 . Conference Champions . https://web.archive.org/web/20100213162012/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/conference_champs/champions.php?conid=146 . February 13, 2010 . February 4, 2023 .
  37. Web site: About The CIAA . February 4, 2023 . theciaa.com . en .
  38. Web site: Conference Carolinas History & Roots . February 4, 2023 . conferencecarolinas.com . en .
  39. Web site: CCAA Champions . February 4, 2023 . goccaa.org . en .
  40. Web site: Lone Star Conference History . February 4, 2023 . lonestarconference.org . en .
  41. Web site: About The Association . February 4, 2023 . themiaa.com . en .
  42. Web site: History of the NSIC . February 4, 2023 . northernsun.org . en .
  43. Web site: RMAC History . February 4, 2023 . rmacsports.org . en .
  44. Web site: SIAC HISTORY . February 4, 2023 . thesiac.com . en .
  45. Web site: MetroNews . June 19, 2012 . A Break Up For WVIAC . February 4, 2023 . WV MetroNews . en-US .
  46. Web site: Conference History . February 4, 2023 . rollrivers.com . en .
  47. Web site: Conference Champions . February 4, 2023 . gomacsports.com . en .
  48. Web site: MWC History . February 4, 2023 . midwestconference.org . en .
  49. Web site: The MIAC Story: Collegiate Athletics at its Best . February 4, 2023 . miacathletics.com . en .
  50. Web site: NWC History . February 4, 2023 . nwcsports.com . en .
  51. Web site: About the OAC .
  52. Web site: SCIAC .
  53. Web site: History . February 4, 2023 . wiacsports.com . en .

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