Southern Conference
The Southern Conference (SoCon) is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference comprising 10 member institutions across six states in the southeastern United States, sponsoring championships in 20 sports for both men and women.[1] Headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and led by Commissioner Michael Cross, the conference competes at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level in football and emphasizes competitive balance among its mid-sized public and private universities.[2] Its current full members include Chattanooga, The Citadel, East Tennessee State University, Furman University, Mercer University, Samford University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Virginia Military Institute, Western Carolina University, and Wofford College; Tennessee Tech University will join as the 11th full member on July 1, 2026.[3][4] Founded on February 25, 1921, in Atlanta, Georgia, the Southern Conference emerged from a meeting of representatives from 14 institutions previously affiliated with the expansive Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), which had grown too large to manage effectively.[5] The charter members were the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Clemson University, University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland, Mississippi State University, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, University of Tennessee, University of Virginia, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech).[6] As the fifth-oldest active NCAA Division I conference—behind only the Big Ten (1896), Missouri Valley (1907), Pac-12 (1915), and Southwestern Athletic (1920)—the SoCon has a rich legacy of fostering regional rivalries and producing standout athletes.[7] Over its century-plus history, the conference has undergone significant realignment, with many early members departing to form powerhouse leagues like the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1932 and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 1953, reshaping its identity toward smaller institutions focused on academic and athletic excellence.[5] Today, the SoCon remains a competitive entity in FCS football, where it has claimed multiple national championships, including Furman's 1988 title and Appalachian State's three-peat from 2005 to 2007 (prior to their departure in 2014), while excelling in basketball, baseball, and soccer through regular NCAA Tournament appearances and conference titles. The league's commitment to student-athlete welfare is evident in initiatives like its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and annual reports highlighting diversity and community impact.[8]Historical Development
Establishment and Founding
The Southern Conference was established on February 25, 1921, when representatives from 14 institutions met at the Piedmont Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, to form a new athletic association, marking it as one of the earliest organized collegiate conferences in the American South.[5] This creation stemmed from dissatisfaction with the sprawling Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), which had grown too large to effectively regulate competition, leading these schools to seek a more focused regional body dedicated to intercollegiate sports. The conference's founding positioned it as the fifth-oldest NCAA Division I conference still in operation, behind only the Big Ten (1896), Missouri Valley (1907), Pac-12 (1915), and SWAC (1920).[5] The primary purpose of the Southern Conference was to regulate intercollegiate athletics, ensure fair competition through standardized rules on eligibility and scheduling, and promote the development of sports among Southern universities, with an initial emphasis on football as the premier sport.[9] The 14 charter members included the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Clemson University, University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland, Mississippi State University (then Mississippi A&M), University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, The University of the South (Sewanee), University of Tennessee, University of Virginia, and Washington and Lee University.[5] These institutions, primarily public universities from the Southeast, represented a cross-section of the region's academic and athletic landscape, aiming to foster rivalries and elevate the profile of Southern college sports beyond the fragmented SIAA structure. In its early governance, the conference operated without a dedicated commissioner, instead relying on a council of faculty athletic representatives—one from each member school—to handle administrative duties, rule-making, and championship determinations. This faculty-led model reflected the era's emphasis on academic oversight of athletics to prevent professionalism and maintain amateur standards. The inaugural football season commenced in the fall of 1922, with championships awarded based on conference win-loss records; Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI, now Virginia Tech) claimed the first title after joining as an associate member that year and compiling a perfect 4-0 conference mark.[5] This event solidified the conference's role in structuring competitive play, laying the groundwork for its enduring influence on Southern athletics.Early Expansion and Challenges (1920s-1950s)
Following its founding in 1921 with 14 charter members, the Southern Conference experienced rapid growth in the 1920s, as additional institutions sought the benefits of organized intercollegiate competition. In 1922, six schools—Florida, Louisiana State, Ole Miss (University of Mississippi), South Carolina, Tulane, and Vanderbilt—joined the league, expanding membership to 20 institutions and reflecting the conference's appeal across the Southeast.[10] Note that charter member Sewanee suspended intercollegiate athletics in 1923, reducing active membership temporarily. Duke University became the next addition in 1928, elevating its athletic profile by aligning with established Southern programs and contributing to a peak of 23 members by the early 1930s.[11] This expansion briefly swelled the conference to one of the largest in the nation, fostering broader regional rivalries but also straining logistical coordination due to vast geographic spread.[12] The onset of the Great Depression in the late 1920s exacerbated these operational challenges, leading to widespread financial strains that affected attendance, travel budgets, and program sustainability across member schools. Declining gate receipts during the early 1930s prompted some institutions to temporarily suspend athletic competitions or reduce schedules, as economic hardship limited university resources for intercollegiate sports.[12] These pressures culminated in a major realignment in December 1932, when 13 schools—primarily those west and south of the Appalachian Mountains, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane, and Vanderbilt—departed to form the Southeastern Conference (SEC), citing the need for a more compact organization to manage costs and scheduling amid the economic downturn.[10] The split reduced the Southern Conference to nine remaining members: Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Military Institute, and Washington & Lee. To bolster its roster, the conference admitted the University of Richmond in 1936, restoring stability and enabling continued competition in football and other sports.[13] In response to these upheavals, the Southern Conference evolved its governance structure during the 1930s, introducing formal rules to standardize eligibility and scheduling. In December 1931, seven members—Georgia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Military Institute, and Washington & Lee—formed an inner group within the conference, pledging stricter academic eligibility standards to curb subsidization and maintain amateurism, though they emphasized no intent to split from the league.[14] These efforts built on earlier reforms, such as the 1922 ban on freshman eligibility, and aimed to promote equitable competition amid financial recovery. A notable achievement came in basketball, with the conference hosting its postseason tournament in 1933, won by Duke, which helped sustain interest in the sport despite broader economic woes.[15] World War II brought further disruptions in the 1940s, as military drafts and enlistments depleted rosters, causing widespread instability in athletic programs. Many Southern Conference schools, like Furman University, suspended intercollegiate competitions entirely from 1943 to 1945, prioritizing wartime contributions over sports amid travel restrictions and personnel shortages.[16] Postwar recovery saw gradual resumption of full schedules by 1946, with the conference adapting through adjusted eligibility rules to accommodate returning veterans, ensuring continuity as membership stabilized around core institutions.[5]Realignments and Departures (1960s-1990s)
The Southern Conference experienced significant membership instability during the 1960s, as several prominent institutions departed amid the formation of new conferences and shifts toward independence. Virginia Tech left the SoCon in 1965 to pursue independent status in football, followed by West Virginia's exit at the end of the 1968 season, also becoming an independent; these losses, building on earlier departures like Maryland's move to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953, reduced the conference's competitive depth and geographic footprint in the mid-Atlantic region.[17][18][19] In the 1970s, the SoCon focused on survival as a football conference during broader NCAA restructuring, including the 1973 reorganization that divided institutions into divisions and the 1978 split of Division I into FBS and FCS levels. The conference maintained its Division I status but transitioned to the FCS (then I-AA) in 1981, emphasizing smaller programs to sustain operations. To bolster membership, Appalachian State joined in 1971, enhancing regional rivalries, while Marshall became a full member in 1976 after reinstating its football program, and East Tennessee State affiliated in 1978, bringing additional Appalachian competition. George Washington's departure in 1970 further strained resources, but these additions helped stabilize the league amid economic pressures and the need to adapt to new NCAA governance.[7][20][21] The 1980s saw targeted expansions to strengthen the SoCon's FCS identity, with East Tennessee State fully integrating football by 1981 and contributing to conference championships in multiple sports. Marshall, despite the tragic 1970 plane crash that decimated its program, rebuilt and became a SoCon powerhouse in football and basketball during this decade, winning multiple titles before its eventual departure. Internal reforms also advanced, as the conference began complying with Title IX requirements enacted in 1972, which mandated gender equity in federally funded programs; by the late 1970s, SoCon institutions expanded women's athletics, leading to the formal addition of women's championships in volleyball, basketball, and tennis starting in the 1983-84 season.[22][23][24] By the 1990s, the SoCon pursued growth to solidify its FCS standing, with Georgia Southern joining as a full member in 1991 and its football program affiliating in 1993, quickly emerging as a dominant force with national championships in 1999 and 2000. VMI, a longtime member since joining in 1924, maintained continuous affiliation through the decade without interruption, though the conference navigated broader realignments like the Big East's expansion. These changes, combined with ongoing Title IX implementation, positioned the SoCon for long-term viability by balancing men's football emphasis with equitable women's sports participation.[7][25][26]Modern Era and Stability (2000s-Present)
The Southern Conference experienced notable membership shifts in the 2000s, marked by the departure of East Tennessee State University in 2005, when the Buccaneers transitioned to the Atlantic Sun Conference following the discontinuation of their football program.[27] Wofford College, which had joined the conference in 1995 as part of its transition to Division I athletics, achieved fuller integration across sports programs in the post-2000 era, contributing to regional rivalries and competitive balance.[28] These changes reflected broader FCS trends of institutions seeking alignments better suited to their athletic priorities, contrasting with the more turbulent realignments of prior decades. The 2010s brought targeted expansions to bolster the conference's footprint and depth. Samford University joined as a full member in 2008, enhancing the league's presence in Alabama and adding competitive programs in multiple sports.[29] In 2014, the conference welcomed Mercer University, the return of East Tennessee State University—which officially rejoined on July 1 after nearly a decade away—and the reinstatement of Virginia Military Institute (VMI) as a full-time member, restoring historical ties and expanding to 10 institutions.[30][31][27] UNC Greensboro transitioned to full membership in 2017 for most sports, solidifying its role after years as a partial affiliate and strengthening basketball and other Olympic sports offerings.[5] This period of growth offset earlier losses, such as Georgia Southern's departure to the Sun Belt Conference in 2013 to pursue FBS opportunities.[26] Entering the 2020s, the Southern Conference has demonstrated remarkable stability amid widespread FCS realignment pressures, with no major membership alterations as of November 2025—its roster remaining unchanged for over a decade.[32] The league exhibited resilience during the COVID-19 disruptions of 2020-2021, postponing fall sports competition while allowing limited non-conference football scheduling to preserve season integrity and athlete safety.[33] To deter poaching, the conference doubled its exit fee to $2 million in 2022, underscoring a strategic commitment to long-term cohesion in the evolving FCS landscape.[34] Recent developments highlight the conference's adaptability, with growing emphasis on non-traditional sports such as rifle—where it maintains a national championship presence—and exploratory interest in e-sports to engage modern student-athletes.[5] In the 2025 football season, Mercer and Western Carolina led the standings as of early November, with Mercer at 6-0 in conference play and Western Carolina at 5-0 ahead of key late-season matchups, exemplifying the league's competitive parity.[35] Strategic initiatives include an expanded 2024 partnership with TrailRunner Sports for media rights advisory and event planning, enhancing digital distribution and fan engagement across platforms.[36]Membership
Current Full Members
The Southern Conference (SoCon) comprises ten full member institutions as of 2025, all public or private universities primarily situated in the Southeastern United States, extending from Virginia in the north to Alabama in the south, with Tennessee Tech approved to join as the 11th full member in 2026-27. These schools sponsor a core set of 20 varsity sports, with a strong emphasis on NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football, men's and women's basketball, and baseball, fostering regional rivalries and competitive balance across the league.[4] The membership reflects a mix of historic military colleges, liberal arts institutions, and comprehensive universities, with enrollments ranging from small to mid-sized, enabling focused athletic programs that have produced multiple conference titles and NCAA tournament appearances in key sports.[37]| Institution | Location | Joined SoCon | Enrollment (Fall 2025) | Nickname | Primary Colors | Athletic Emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | 1977 | 12,060 | Mocs | Navy blue, gold | Football (multiple SoCon titles), men's basketball (2025 NIT champions)[38][39][40] |
| The Citadel | Charleston, SC | 1936 | ~3,500 | Bulldogs | Citadel blue, white | Football (recent playoff contenders), wrestling (national contenders)[41][42][40] |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, TN | 2014 (rejoined; orig. 1976) | ~14,000 | Buccaneers | Purple, gold | Baseball (2025 SoCon champions), football (playoff appearances)[40] |
| Furman University | Greenville, SC | 1936 | ~2,600 | Paladins | Purple, white | Football (national champions 1988), men's soccer (NCAA appearances)[40] |
| Mercer University | Macon, GA | 2014 | ~9,000 | Bears | Orange, black | Football (multiple SoCon titles since 2014), rifle (NCAA champions)[40] |
| Samford University | Homewood, AL | 2008 | 6,324 | Bulldogs | Blue, red | Men's basketball (2024 SoCon tournament champions), softball (NCAA regionals)[40][43][44] |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | 1997 | ~19,000 | Spartans | Navy blue, gold | Women's basketball (SoCon titles), men's soccer (NCAA appearances)[40] |
| Virginia Military Institute | Lexington, VA | 2014 (rejoined; orig. 1923) | ~1,700 | Keydets | Red, yellow, white | Baseball (SoCon success), men's basketball (SoCon records)[45][40] |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC | 1976 | ~11,000 | Catamounts | Purple, gold | Football (SoCon contenders), rifle (national titles)[40][46] |
| Wofford College | Spartanburg, SC | 1997 | ~1,800 | Terriers | Old gold, maroon | Football (multiple playoff berths), men's basketball (SoCon success)[40] |
Associate and Affiliate Members
The Southern Conference maintains associate and affiliate memberships to bolster competition in select non-football sports, particularly niche disciplines such as rifle and wrestling, without requiring full conference affiliation. These arrangements enable institutions outside the core 10 full members to participate in SoCon championships and regular-season play, fostering deeper leagues and NCAA automatic qualifier opportunities while allowing schools to align primarily with other conferences. As of the 2024-25 academic year, the SoCon has nine associate members across these sports, contributing to a total of 846 student-athletes recognized on the 2024-25 Commissioner's Honor Roll.[37] In rifle, the SoCon league consists of three full member institutions—The Citadel, VMI, and Wofford—supplemented by three associates: the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Georgia Southern University, and the University of North Georgia (UNG). This structure supports a competitive environment, highlighted by Georgia Southern's four consecutive conference championships from 2022 to 2025, culminating in a team score of 4,713 at the 2025 SoCon Rifle Championship hosted at their Shooting Sports Education Center in Statesboro, Georgia.[47] UAB, an associate since 2014, and UNG, added in 2015, provide geographical diversity and consistent contention, with UNG athletes like freshman Sutherlin earning co-freshman of the year honors in 2025 for strong smallbore and air rifle performances.[48][49] The Citadel and VMI, as full members, frequently rank in the national top 20, enhancing the league's profile ahead of NCAA qualifiers.[50] Wrestling features the largest group of associates, with six institutions joining full members The Citadel, Chattanooga, and VMI to form a nine-team league: Appalachian State University (a former full member retaining associate status), Campbell University, Davidson College, Gardner-Webb University, North Carolina State University, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). This setup has sustained the SoCon's status as a multi-bid NCAA conference, allocating 13 automatic qualifiers for the 2025 NCAA Championships.[51] Appalachian State dominated the 2025 Explore Asheville SoCon Wrestling Championship with 79.5 points, securing their third straight title and individual crowns like Cade O'Shea at 149 pounds, while associates Campbell and Gardner-Webb placed third and fifth, respectively, underscoring the depth provided by these partnerships.[52] Davidson, an associate since departing full membership in 2014, continues to compete actively, with seeding in the 2025 tournament reflecting their ongoing involvement.[53] No new associates were added for the 2025-26 academic year, though Liberty University was announced as a men's soccer affiliate effective July 1, 2026, to expand that sport's offerings starting in the fall.[54] These associate memberships allow the SoCon to preserve robust competition in specialized Olympic sports like rifle and wrestling—disciplines with limited national participation—without the logistical and financial commitments of full expansion, ensuring viable conference tournaments and pathways to national contention.[5]Former Full Members
The Southern Conference (SoCon) has experienced significant membership turnover since its founding in 1921, with many departures driven by the formation of major conferences and later transitions to other divisions. Early exits in the 1930s saw several charter members leave to establish the Southeastern Conference (SEC), reflecting a desire for a more focused regional alignment among larger institutions. This pattern continued in the 1950s with the creation of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), as schools sought enhanced competition in football and other sports. In the modern era, particularly the 2010s, realignments involved shifts to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) leagues like the Sun Belt Conference, often motivated by opportunities for increased visibility and resources in football. These changes have progressively shaped the SoCon into a stable FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) conference with a strong emphasis on basketball and regional rivalries.[10][55] The loss of prominent programs early on diminished the SoCon's status as a "super conference" but allowed it to foster a distinct identity in FCS athletics. For instance, the 2014 departure of Appalachian State, a dominant football power with three consecutive FCS national titles from 2005 to 2007, reduced the league's depth in that sport and prompted additions like East Tennessee State and Mercer to maintain competitive balance. No full members have departed since 2014 as of 2025, contributing to recent stability.[5] The following table enumerates key former full members, focusing on those that transitioned to power or FBS conferences, with join and departure dates and subsequent affiliations. This represents a selection of influential exits; the SoCon has had over 40 full members in total across its history.| Institution | Join Year | Depart Year | Subsequent Conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama | 1921 | 1932 | Southeastern Conference (SEC) |
| Appalachian State University | 1971 | 2014 | Sun Belt Conference |
| Clemson University | 1921 | 1953 | Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) |
| Duke University | 1928 | 1953 | Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) |
| Georgia Southern University | 1993 | 2013 | Sun Belt Conference |
| University of Kentucky | 1921 | 1932 | Southeastern Conference (SEC) |
| University of Maryland | 1921 | 1953 | Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) |
| University of Virginia | 1921 | 1937 | Independent (later ACC in 1953) |
Former Associate Members
The Southern Conference has had several institutions serve as associate members in specific sports, particularly to bolster competition in Olympic disciplines during periods of membership transitions. These affiliations allowed the conference to maintain viable leagues without requiring full membership, especially in emerging or less-sponsored sports like women's lacrosse. Former associates typically departed to join other conferences as full or associate members or due to program realignments, contributing to the SoCon's stability in non-revenue sports amid broader NCAA shifts.[5] In women's lacrosse, the SoCon launched sponsorship in the 2017-18 academic year through a partnership with the ASUN Conference, attracting initial associate members to establish a competitive league. Notable former associates included Central Michigan University, which joined as an associate in 2018 and competed through the 2020 season before transitioning to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a founding member of its new women's lacrosse league in 2020-21.[58] Similarly, the University of Detroit Mercy affiliated in 2018, participating until 2020, after which it also moved to the MAC for greater regional alignment.[59] Delaware State University served as an associate from 2018 to 2021, helping to round out the league during its formative years, before rejoining the Northeast Conference (NEC) as an associate in women's lacrosse starting in the 2022-23 season to consolidate its athletic affiliations.[60][61] These departures were driven by opportunities for closer geographic and conference integration, reflecting common trends in Division I realignment.| Institution | Sport | Years in SoCon | Reason for Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan University | Women's Lacrosse | 2018–2020 | Joined MAC as full member for regional fit |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Women's Lacrosse | 2018–2020 | Joined MAC as affiliate for regional fit |
| Delaware State University | Women's Lacrosse | 2018–2021 | Returned to NEC as associate for consolidation |
Membership Timeline and Changes
The Southern Conference (SoCon) was established on February 25, 1921, when representatives from 14 institutions that were previously part of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association met in Atlanta, Georgia, to form the nation's first modern multi-sport college athletic conference.[5] These charter members included Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.[6] Early expansion followed quickly, with VMI joining in 1925 and Duke in 1929, contributing to growth that saw membership peak at 23 institutions by the early 1930s.[62] A major realignment occurred in December 1932, when 13 members—Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane, and Vanderbilt—departed to establish the Southeastern Conference (SEC), reducing the SoCon to 10 remaining schools: The Citadel, Davidson, Furman, George Washington, Richmond, VMI, Virginia Tech, Washington & Lee, West Virginia, and William & Mary.[63] Subsequent decades brought further flux, including the 1953 departure of seven members (Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest) to form the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which temporarily shrank the league to six full members.[5] By the 1970s, membership had stabilized at a low of seven institutions amid ongoing adjustments, such as the addition of Appalachian State in 1969 and East Tennessee State in 1978.[17] The conference experienced another wave of changes in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, adding UNC Greensboro in 1997, Georgia Southern in 1994 (full membership from 1997 after partial), Wofford in 1995, and Chattanooga in 1977, which helped rebuild to nine members by the early 2000s. Departures included East Tennessee State to the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2005 and VMI to the Big South in 2003, but additions like Samford in 2008 restored balance. A significant contraction hit in 2012–2013, with Appalachian State, Elon, Georgia Southern, and Davidson announcing exits to the Sun Belt, CAA, and Atlantic 10, respectively, dropping the SoCon to seven full members for the 2014–2015 academic year.[5] Recovery came swiftly with the 2014 additions of Mercer, East Tennessee State (rejoining after prior membership), and VMI (also returning), bringing the total to 10 full members.[64] Since 2014, the SoCon has maintained stability at 10 full members—The Citadel, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Furman, Mercer, Samford, UNC Greensboro, VMI, Western Carolina, and Wofford—marking a period of net consistency not seen since the mid-20th century, though associate memberships have grown in sports like men's and women's lacrosse (e.g., Hampton University joined as a men's lacrosse associate in 2021).[5] As of November 2025, no further full membership changes are set for the 2025–2026 academic year, but Tennessee Tech was approved to join as the 11th full member starting in 2026–2027, the first expansion since 2014; potential additional associate growth in lacrosse remains under consideration to enhance competition.[4][34][65]| Year | Key Additions | Key Departures | Total Full Members (End of Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 13 charter institutions (e.g., Alabama, Clemson, Georgia Tech) | None | 13 |
| 1925–1931 | VMI (1925), Duke (1929), LSU (1931), others | None | 23 (peak by 1932) |
| 1932 | None | 13 to SEC (e.g., Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee) | 10 |
| 1953 | None | 7 to ACC (e.g., Clemson, Duke, North Carolina) | 6 |
| 1958–1970 | Appalachian State (1969 partial, full later) | Washington & Lee (1958), George Washington (1970) | ~6–7 (low in 1970s) |
| 1977–1997 | Chattanooga (1977), Western Carolina (1976), Wofford (1995), UNC Greensboro (1997) | William & Mary (1970s to CAA) | 8 |
| 2003–2008 | Georgia Southern (1997 full), Samford (2008) | VMI (2003 to Big South), ETSU (2005 to A-Sun) | 9 |
| 2013–2014 | Mercer, ETSU (rejoin), VMI (rejoin) (2014) | Appalachian State, Elon, Georgia Southern, Davidson (2013–2014) | 10 |
| 2014–2025 | None (stable) | None | 10 |
| 2026 | Tennessee Tech | None | 11 (projected) |
Athletic Programs
Sponsored Sports Overview
The Southern Conference (SoCon) sponsors 20 varsity sports as of 2025, comprising 10 for men, 9 for women, and co-ed rifle, ensuring a balanced gender distribution in line with Title IX requirements for equitable athletic opportunities.[66] The men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and wrestling. The women's sports encompass basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor track and field, volleyball, and outdoor track and field. Rifle operates as a co-ed program involving teams from full members such as The Citadel, VMI, and Wofford, along with affiliates like Jacksonville and Georgia Southern.[67] Championship formats vary by sport to accommodate team sizes and seasonal demands. Football employs a full round-robin schedule among its nine full members, determining the conference champion based on regular-season records without a postseason game, which earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.[68] Basketball, both men's and women's, culminates in single-elimination tournaments held in early March at neutral sites, with the winners securing automatic qualification for the NCAA Division I men's and women's tournaments, respectively.[69] Rifle competitions follow NCAA protocols, with the annual SoCon championship serving as a key qualifier for the NCAA Rifle Championships, featuring aggregate scoring in smallbore and air rifle events over two days.[47] Other sports typically resolve titles through regular-season competitions or postseason meets, emphasizing regional rivalries and athlete development. The SoCon has maintained stability in its sponsored sports roster, with no discontinuations since the solidification of wrestling as a conference offering. While exploratory discussions on emerging sports like beach volleyball occurred in prior seasons, no formal addition was implemented for 2025, preserving the focus on the established 20-sport slate.[67] This sponsorship model underscores the conference's commitment to fostering competitive excellence and gender equity across its membership, with affiliates enhancing select programs like rifle and wrestling.Men's Sports Participation by Institution
The Southern Conference sponsors 10 men's sports among its 10 full member institutions, with varying levels of participation that reflect each school's athletic priorities and resources. All members field teams in basketball, cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field, ensuring broad competition in these core disciplines. Football and baseball each involve nine institutions, excluding UNC Greensboro from football and VMI from baseball, while men's soccer includes nine members, with The Citadel opting out. Men's golf draws eight participants, and men's tennis features eight, highlighting selective engagement in individual sports. Wrestling sees participation from only two full members, The Citadel and VMI, though the conference benefits from affiliate programs to bolster the division. Affiliates contribute to sports like rifle. Collectively, these programs support male student-athletes across the conference in 2025.[67] The following table summarizes participation by current full member institution in the conference's sponsored men's sports:| Institution | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country | Football | Golf | Soccer | Tennis | Indoor Track & Field | Outdoor Track & Field | Wrestling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| The Citadel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| East Tennessee State | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Furman | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Mercer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Samford | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| UNC Greensboro | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| VMI | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Western Carolina | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Wofford | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
Women's Sports Participation by Institution
The Southern Conference supports robust women's athletic programs across its full member institutions, aligning with Title IX principles to promote gender equity in collegiate sports. The conference sponsors nine dedicated women's sports—basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball—alongside co-ed rifle, which features substantial women's involvement. These programs emphasize competitive balance and development, with full members competing in conference championships for the sports they sponsor. Participation is widespread, though limited at the military academies The Citadel and VMI due to their rigorous cadet training requirements and historical focus on men's programs. Softball and soccer are universal offerings among all ten full members, while basketball and volleyball see near-universal adoption (eight and nine teams, respectively). Tennis and golf are fielded by eight institutions each, and cross country, track and field include all members. Rifle participation is limited to select institutions.[67][79] Since 2010, women's sports participation in the SoCon has expanded, driven by conference additions like rifle in 2016-17. This growth has elevated the average number of women's sports per full member from about eight to nine, including non-conference offerings like lacrosse at select schools, reflecting broader national trends in female athletic opportunities. The 2024-25 academic year highlighted this momentum, with 2,735 student-athletes earning conference academic honors, underscoring the integration of athletics and scholarship.[5][37] While the SoCon does not currently sponsor women's lacrosse, eight of the ten full members field varsity teams in the sport through other affiliations, such as the Big South Conference, promoting further equity and competition. High Point University participates as an associate member in women's lacrosse via the Big South, competing against several SoCon full members like Furman, Mercer, and Wofford.[80] The following table summarizes varsity women's sports participation by SoCon full member institution for conference-sponsored offerings (as of 2025). "Track & Field" encompasses both indoor and outdoor seasons; rifle is co-ed with women's rosters noted where applicable.| Institution | Basketball | Cross Country | Golf | Soccer | Softball | Tennis | Track & Field | Volleyball | Rifle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| East Tennessee State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Furman | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Mercer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Samford | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| The Citadel | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UNC Greensboro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| VMI | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Western Carolina | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wofford | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Facilities and Infrastructure
Primary Stadiums and Arenas
The Southern Conference features a variety of primary stadiums and arenas across its member institutions, serving as the main venues for football, basketball, and other major sports competitions. These facilities vary in size and history, reflecting the regional character of the conference's schools primarily located in the southeastern United States. Football stadiums dominate in capacity, accommodating large crowds for home games, while basketball arenas provide intimate settings for indoor sports.[67] Finley Stadium at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a premier football venue with a seating capacity of 20,668, making it one of the largest in the FCS level. Opened in 1997, it serves as the home for the Chattanooga Mocs football team and has been integral to the city's Southside revitalization efforts, hosting Southern Conference games and community events.[81][81] Paladin Stadium, home to Furman University's Paladins football program, offers a capacity of 16,000 and represents the third iteration of the school's football venue since 1919. Originally completed in 1981 with an initial 13,200 seats, it was expanded prior to the 1985 season to its current size, including the addition of a digital scoreboard in 2009 to enhance the fan experience.[82][82] For basketball, McAlister Field House at The Citadel is a historic multi-purpose arena with a capacity of 5,439, originally constructed in 1939 and fully renovated in 1989 to increase seating from 4,500. It hosts the Citadel Bulldogs' men's and women's basketball teams, along with other events, and has seen multiple sellout crowds during conference play.[83] Mercer University's Five Star Stadium, dedicated to football and lacrosse, has a capacity of 10,200 and opened with its first game on August 31, 2013, marking the revival of the Bears' football program after a 72-year hiatus. Renamed in 2015 following a major donation, the stadium has hosted over 423,000 fans across more than 40 home football games.[84][84] The conference maintains no central headquarters for events; instead, championships and tournaments rotate among member venues or neutral sites to promote accessibility and fairness. For instance, the men's and women's basketball tournaments are held at the Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina, which accommodates approximately 7,600 spectators and has hosted the event annually in recent years, including the 2025 edition from March 6–10.[85][86] Recent updates underscore ongoing investments in these facilities. In June 2025, Western Carolina University broke ground on a $37 million renovation to E.J. Whitmire Stadium, its football home, featuring a four-story west stands expansion that adds nearly 10,000 square feet for coaching, media, and premium seating areas to modernize the 13,000-capacity venue built in 1968.[87][87]Training and Auxiliary Facilities
The Southern Conference's member institutions maintain a variety of specialized training and auxiliary facilities designed to support athlete development outside of primary competition venues. At Furman University, the Speed, Strength & Conditioning Center provides comprehensive resources for over 350 student-athletes across 16 NCAA Division I teams, including advanced weight training equipment and performance monitoring tools to enhance physical conditioning.[88] Similarly, Virginia Military Institute completed renovations to Cameron Hall in 2022, adding a new basketball court and practice areas that facilitate daily training sessions for the Keydets basketball program, improving facility functionality for skill development and team preparation.[89] Conference-wide efforts emphasize collaborative resources for strength and conditioning, often through inter-institutional sharing of best practices and professional development. For instance, East Tennessee State University has integrated athletic training and strength coaching programs to foster better communication and injury prevention strategies among staff, a model that influences broader SoCon approaches to athlete support.[90] Although the Southern Conference does not sponsor swimming and diving, several member schools operate aquatic centers that serve as auxiliary training spaces for cross-training and recovery. Sustainability initiatives in SoCon auxiliary facilities highlight environmental responsibility alongside athletic performance. Samford University's Campus Recreation, Wellness & Athletic Complex, unveiled in 2024, incorporates energy-efficient designs and green building practices aligned with LEED certification standards, reducing operational costs while promoting eco-friendly training environments for student-athletes.[91][92] In response to post-pandemic needs, SoCon institutions have enhanced wellness facilities to prioritize athlete mental and physical health as of 2025. The conference's ongoing commitment to the C.A.R.E. model includes comprehensive health and safety programs, with member schools investing in holistic support systems such as expanded recovery spaces and mental health resources integrated into training centers.[93] These upgrades, exemplified by updated athletic training protocols across campuses, aim to address long-term wellness amid evolving health challenges.Championships and Competition
Football Conference Champions
The Southern Conference (SoCon) was founded in 1921 and began sponsoring football that fall, but with membership swelling to as many as 23 institutions by the early 1930s, the league did not officially recognize football champions during its initial decade due to the logistical challenges of scheduling round-robin play among such a large group. Following the 1932 departure of 13 schools to form the Southeastern Conference, the SoCon stabilized at 10 members and began crowning official football champions in 1933 based on conference winning percentage. The champion receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship (FCS) playoffs, a postseason format introduced in 1978; prior to that, SoCon winners often earned at-large invitations to smaller national tournaments or bowls. Furman leads all programs with 15 conference titles, many earned during dominant runs in the 1980s and a recent resurgence.[5][94] In the event of ties for the top conference record, the SoCon employs tiebreakers starting with head-to-head results between the tied teams, followed by records against common conference opponents, and then cumulative point differential in all league games to determine the champion and automatic playoff qualifier. This process ensures a clear resolution, particularly in the eight-game conference schedule format used since the 1990s.[95] The table below lists all official SoCon football champions from 1933 through 2024, including co-champions and their conference records where available. Notable historical winners include early dominators like Duke (five titles from 1933–1945) and The Citadel (multiple in the 1960s), alongside Furman's 1950s–1980s dynasty and Georgia Southern's six straight titles from 1997–2002. Appalachian State also claimed four consecutive crowns from 2005–2008 en route to three national championships during that span.[96][5]| Year | Champion(s) | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Duke | 4–0 |
| 1934 | Washington & Lee | 4–0 |
| 1935 | Duke | 5–0 |
| 1936 | Duke | 7–0 |
| 1937 | Maryland | 2–0 |
| 1938 | Duke | 5–0 |
| 1939 | Duke | 5–0 |
| 1940 | Clemson | 4–0 |
| 1941 | Duke | 5–0 |
| 1942 | William & Mary | 5–0 |
| 1943 | Duke | 4–0 |
| 1944 | Duke | 4–0 |
| 1945 | Duke | 4–0 |
| 1946 | North Carolina | 4–0–1 |
| 1947 | William & Mary | 5–0 |
| 1948 | Clemson | 5–0 |
| 1949 | North Carolina | 5–0 |
| 1950 | Washington & Lee | 6–0 |
| 1951 | Maryland, VMI | 5–0 (tied) |
| 1952 | Duke | 5–0 |
| 1953 | West Virginia | 3–0 |
| 1954 | West Virginia | 3–0 |
| 1955 | West Virginia | 4–0 |
| 1956 | West Virginia | 4–0 |
| 1957 | The Citadel | 4–0 |
| 1958 | Furman | 5–0 |
| 1959 | The Citadel | 5–1 |
| 1960 | VMI | 6–0 |
| 1961 | The Citadel, East Carolina | 4–1 (tied) |
| 1962 | East Carolina | 5–0 |
| 1963 | West Virginia | 5–0 |
| 1964 | VMI, West Virginia | 4–1 (tied) |
| 1965 | East Carolina, Furman | 5–1 (tied) |
| 1966 | East Carolina | 6–0 |
| 1967 | West Virginia | 6–0 |
| 1968 | Richmond | 5–1 |
| 1969 | Davidson, Richmond | 4–2 (tied) |
| 1970 | William & Mary | 6–1 |
| 1971 | Richmond | 6–1 |
| 1972 | East Tennessee State | 7–0 |
| 1973 | The Citadel | 6–0 |
| 1974 | VMI, William & Mary | 5–1 (tied) |
| 1975 | Richmond | 7–0 |
| 1976 | East Tennessee State, Furman | 5–1 (tied) |
| 1977 | The Citadel | 5–1 |
| 1978 | Furman, Georgia Southern | 6–0 (tied) |
| 1979 | Furman, The Citadel | 5–1 (tied) |
| 1980 | Furman | 6–0 |
| 1981 | Furman | 7–0 |
| 1982 | Furman | 6–0 |
| 1983 | Furman | 6–1 |
| 1984 | VMI | 7–0 |
| 1985 | Furman | 7–0 |
| 1986 | Marshall | 7–0 |
| 1987 | Marshall | 7–0 |
| 1988 | Furman | 6–1 |
| 1989 | Furman | 6–1 |
| 1990 | Furman | 7–0 |
| 1991 | Appalachian State | 6–1 |
| 1992 | The Citadel | 6–1 |
| 1993 | Georgia Southern | 7–1 |
| 1994 | Marshall | 7–1 |
| 1995 | Appalachian State | 7–1 |
| 1996 | Marshall | 8–0 |
| 1997 | Georgia Southern | 7–1 |
| 1998 | Georgia Southern | 8–0 |
| 1999 | Appalachian State, Furman, Georgia Southern | 7–1 (tied) |
| 2000 | Georgia Southern | 8–0 |
| 2001 | Georgia Southern | 8–0 |
| 2002 | Georgia Southern | 8–0 |
| 2003 | Wofford, Georgia Southern | 6–2 (tied) |
| 2004 | Wofford | 7–1 |
| 2005 | Appalachian State | 8–0 |
| 2006 | Appalachian State, Furman | 7–1 (tied) |
| 2007 | Appalachian State | 8–0 |
| 2008 | Appalachian State | 8–0 |
| 2009 | Appalachian State, Wofford | 7–1 (tied) |
| 2010 | Appalachian State, Wofford | 6–2 (tied) |
| 2011 | Georgia Southern | 8–0 |
| 2012 | Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Wofford | 6–2 (tied) |
| 2013 | Samford | 6–2 |
| 2014 | Chattanooga, Furman, Georgia Southern | 6–2 (tied) |
| 2015 | Chattanooga | 8–0 |
| 2016 | East Tennessee State, Samford | 6–2 (tied) |
| 2017 | Wofford | 7–1 |
| 2018 | Furman | 6–2 |
| 2019 | Furman, Wofford | 6–2 (tied) |
| 2020 | No champion (COVID-19) | — |
| 2021 | East Tennessee State | 7–1 |
| 2022 | Furman, Samford | 7–1 (tied) |
| 2023 | Furman | 7–1 |
| 2024 | Mercer | 7–1 |