Mid-South Conference Explained
The Mid-South Conference (MSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Member institutions are located in Kentucky and Tennessee. The league is headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and the interim commissioner is Chris Wells.
The Mid-South Conference has 7 full members: Bethel (TN), Campbellsville, Cumberland (TN), Cumberlands (KY), Freed–Hardeman, Georgetown (KY) and Lindsey Wilson. Six of these members sponsor football; Freed–Hardeman does not.
The Mid-South Conference also has six associate members that compete primarily in other conferences. Faulkner, Kentucky Christian, Union Commonwealth and Reinhardt are associate members for football and men's volleyball. Former full member Bluefield is also an associate member for football and men's volleyball. This gave the conference 13 members for football. In the spring of 2016, the conference expanded to 20 members, adding the six football members of the Sun Conference, as well as Faulkner University for football,[1] On January 4, 2018, the conference added Keiser University for football,[2] and St. Thomas announced in July they were joining the conference for football in 2019.[3] Another Sun Conference member, Florida Memorial in Miami Gardens, Florida, joined the MSC as an affiliate member for football in 2020, after re-adding the sport.[4]
History
In April 2018, Thomas More University (then Thomas More College), which had been an NAIA member before moving to NCAA Division III in 1990, announced that it had been formally invited to rejoin the NAIA in the 2019–20 academic year as a member of the Mid-South Conference. The school, while acknowledging that it was considering this move, denied published reports that it had accepted the invitation.[5] Thomas More eventually confirmed in July that it would join the Mid-South in 2019.[6]
In 2020, Bethel University became a Mid-South full member, brought track and field back to the MSC, and transferred all sports other than football and archery to the conference (prior to that, Bethel was an associate member of the MSC for football and archery only); additionally, Freed–Hardeman and UT Southern, then known as Martin Methodist College, also joined Mid-South.[7]
In December 2020, Life University also announced its departure from the MSC for the Southern States Athletic Conference for the 2022–23 academic year.[8]
Most recently, Thomas More announced in August 2021 that it would return to the NCAA, but this time in Division II as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). It joined the G-MAC as a provisional member in July 2022, but continued as an NAIA member and in the Mid-South through 2022–23, after which it started G-MAC competition.[9] Later, the Sun Conference announced on December 22, 2021, that it would reinstate football starting with the 2022 season.[10] Then in July 2022, the Appalachian Athletic Conference announced it would add football as a sponsored sport.[11]
Chronological timeline
- 1987 – The Mid-South Conference (MSC) was founded as a football-only conference. Charter members included Campbellsville College (now Campbellsville University), Cumberland College of Kentucky (now the University of the Cumberlands), Georgetown College and Union College (now Union Commonwealth University), beginning the 1987 fall season (1987–88 academic year).
- 1988 – The University of Evansville joined the conference in the 1988 fall season (1988–89 academic year).
- 1989 – Kentucky Wesleyan College and Tennessee Wesleyan University joined the conference in the 1989 fall season (1989–90 academic year).
- 1990 – Kentucky Wesleyan dropped out of the conference after the 1989 fall season (1989–90 academic year).
- 1990 – Cumberland College of Tennessee (now Cumberland University) and Lambuth University joined the Mid-South in the 1990 fall season (1990–91 academic year).
- 1991 – Cumberland (Tenn.) and Tennessee Wesleyan departed from the conference after the 1990 fall season (1990–91 academic year).
- 1991 – Tusculum University joined the Mid-South in the 1991 fall season (1991–92 academic year).
- 1992 – Evansville left the Mid-South after the 1991 fall season (1991–92 academic year).
- 1995 – The Mid-South became a multi-sport conference. North Greenville College (now North Greenville University) joined the conference beginning the 1995–96 academic year, while Bethel College of Tennessee joined as an affiliate member for football (with Cumberland [Tenn.] rejoining as well).
- 1996 – Tusculum departed from the conference as a football affiliate after the 1995 fall season (1995–96 academic year).
- 1996 – Cumberland (Tenn.) and Lambuth moved their other sports to the Mid-South as full members for the 1996–97 academic year.
- 1997 – Bethel (Tenn.) left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football after the 1996 fall season (1996–97 academic year).
- 2000 – Lindsey Wilson College (now Lindsey Wilson University) and Pikeville College (now the University of Pikeville; a.k.a. UPike) joined the Mid-South in the 2000–01 academic year.
- 2001 – North Greenville left the Mid-South to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-II Independent after the 2000–01 academic year.
- 2002 – Two institutions left the Mid-South as full members to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2001–02 academic year; while they remained in the conference as affiliate members for football:
- 2002 – The University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVa Wise) joined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2002 fall season (2002–03 academic year).
- 2003 – Bethel (Tenn.) rejoined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2003 fall season (2003–04 academic year).
- 2004 – Kentucky Wesleyan rejoined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2004 fall season (2004–05 academic year).
- 2005 – Shorter College of Georgia (now Shorter University) joined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2005 fall season (2005–06 academic year).
- 2006 – Lambuth left the Mid-South to join the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC or TranSouth) after the 2005–06 academic year; while their football team remained in the Mid-South as an affiliate member.
- 2006 – Kentucky Wesleyan left the Mid-South again as an affiliate member for football after the 2005 fall season (2005–06 academic year).
- 2006 – West Virginia University Institute of Technology (West Virginia Tech or WVU Tech) joined the Mid-South in the 2006–07 academic year.
- 2007 – Bethel (Tenn.) and Shorter added track & field into their Mid-South affiliate memberships in the 2008 spring season (2007–08 academic year).
- 2008 – St. Catharine College joined the Mid-South in the 2008–09 academic year.
- 2008 – Faulkner University joined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2008 fall season (2008–09 academic year).
- 2009 – The University of Rio Grande joined the Mid-South in the 2009–10 academic year.
- 2009 – Two institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2009–10 academic year:
- 2010 – Lambuth left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football after the 2009 fall season (2009–10 academic year).
- 2010 – Shawnee State University joined the Mid-South (with UVa Wise joining for all sports) in the 2010–11 academic year.
- 2010 – Shorter added men's wrestling into their Mid-South affiliate membership in the 2010–11 academic year.
- 2012 – West Virginia Tech left the Mid-South to become an NAIA Independent (which would later join the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC; now known as the River States Conference), beginning the 2015–16 school year) after the 2011–12 academic year.
- 2012 – Shorter (Ga.) left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football, track & field and men's wrestling after the 2011–12 academic year.
- 2012 – Bluefield College (now Bluefield University) joined the Mid-South (with Cumberland [Tenn.] rejoining for all sports) in the 2012–13 academic year.
- 2012 – Bethel (Tenn.) and Union (Ky.) added men's and women's bowling into their Mid-South affiliate memberships in the 2013 spring season (2012–13 academic year).
- 2013 – UVa Wise left the Mid-South and the NAIA entirely to fully align with the NCAA Division II ranks, while joining the Mountain East Conference (MEC) after spending provisionally one season in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) after the 2012–13 academic year.
- 2013 – Bethel (Tenn.) left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for track & field after the 2013 spring season (2012–13 academic year).
- 2013 – Reinhardt University joined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2013 fall season (2013–14 academic year).
- 2014 – Two institutions left the Mid-South to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2013–14 academic year:
- Rio Grande to join the KIAC
- Bluefield to rejoin the AAC; while their football team remained in the Mid-South as an affiliate member.
- 2014 – Life University joined the Mid-South in the 2014–15 academic year.
- 2015 – Belhaven left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the American Southwest Conference after the 2014 spring season (2014–15 academic year).
- 2015 – Eight institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2015–16 academic year:
- 2016 – St. Catherine's left the Mid-South as the school had ceased operations after the 2015–16 academic year.
- 2016 – Three institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2015–16 academic year:
- 2017 – Four institutions left the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2016–17 academic year:
- Reinhardt, St. Andrews (N.C.) and Truett McConnell for men's wrestling after the 2016–17 academic year:
- and Lindenwood–Belleville for men's and women's bowling
- 2017 – Nine institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2017–18 academic year:
- Ave Maria University, Edward Waters College (now Edward Waters University), Point University and St. Andrews (N.C.) for football
- Bethel (Tenn.) for archery
- Brewton–Parker and Lindenwood–Belleville for women's wrestling
- Kentucky Christian for archery, baseball and softball
- and Midland University for men's and women's swimming
- 2018 – Twelve institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2018–19 academic year:
- 2019 – Five institutions left the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2018–19 academic year:
- Brewton–Parker for men's volleyball
- Edward Waters for football
- Kentucky Christian for baseball and softball
- Lindenwood–Belleville for women's wrestling and men's and women's swimming
- and Midland for men's and women's swimming
- 2019 – Thomas More University joined the Mid-South in the 2019–20 academic year.
- 2019 – Six institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2019–20 academic year:
- Blue Mountain College (now Blue Mountain Christian University), Marian (Ind.) and Midway for men's and women's bowling
- Reinhardt and Truett McConnell for men's volleyball
- and Keiser for men's wrestling
- 2020 – Cincinnati Christian left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football and men's volleyball after the 2019 fall semester (without completing the rest of the 2019–20 academic year due to the school having to cease operations).
- 2020 – Freed–Hardeman University joined the Mid-South (with Bethel [Tenn.] and Martin Methodist (now UT Southern) upgrading as full members for all sports) in the 2020–21 academic year.
- 2020 – Nine institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
- 2021 – Two institutions left the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), both effective after the 2020–21 academic year:
- Marian (Ind.) men's and women's bowling
- and Rio Grande for men's and women's swimming
- 2021 – Three institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2021–22 academic year:
- 2022 – Life left the Mid-South to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) after the 2021–22 academic year; while their women's wrestling team remained in the Mid-South as an affiliate member.
- 2022 – Seventeen institutions left the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2021–22 academic year:
- Ave Maria for football and women's lacrosse
- Bluefield, Reinhardt, St. Andrews (N.C.) and Warner for football and men's volleyball
- Brewton–Parker for men's wrestling
- Florida Memorial and Southeastern (Fla.) to join The Sun for football
- Keiser for women's lacrosse and men's wrestling
- Kentucky Christian, Point and Union (Ky.) to join the AAC for football
- Lincoln (Ill.) for men's and women's swimming
- Marian (Ind.) for women's lacrosse
- St. Thomas (Fla.) for men's wrestling
- Truett McConnell for men's volleyball
- and Webber International for men's volleyball and women's lacrosse
- 2022 – Wilberforce University joined the Mid-South in the 2022–23 academic year.
- 2022 – Montreat College, Rochester University (now Rochester Christian University) and Siena Heights University joined the Mid-South as affiliate members for women's wrestling in the 2022–23 academic year.
- 2023 – Thomas More left the Mid-South and the NAIA entirely to fully align with the NCAA Division II ranks and the G-MAC after the 2022–23 academic year. During that same school year, they returned to the NCAA to join the G-MAC as a provisional member, while remaining committed to compete in their final season within the Mid-South and the NAIA.
- 2023 – Four institutions left the Mid-South to join their respective new home primary conferences, all effective after the 2022–23 academic year:
- Shawnee State to the RSC; while their men's and women's swimming teams remained in the Mid-South as an affiliate member.
- Pikeville (UPike) to the AAC; while their archery and men's and women's bowling teams remained in the Mid-South as an affiliate member.
- UT Southern to rejoin the SSAC
- and Wilberforce as an NAIA Independent within the Continental Athletic Conference
- 2023 – Two institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2023–24 academic year:
- 2024 – Four institutions left the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2023–24 academic year:
- and Brescia, Midway and Rio Grande for men's volleyball
- St. Andrews (N.C.) for women's wrestling
- 2024 – Rio Grande added women's wrestling into its Mid-South affiliate membership in the 2024–25 academic year.
Member schools
Current members
The Mid-South currently has seven full members, all are private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined |
|---|
| Bethel University | McKenzie, Tennessee | 1842 | Cumberland
Presbyterian | 2,974 | Wildcats | 2020 |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville, Kentucky | 1906 | Baptist | 12,451 | Tigers | 1987 |
| Cumberland University | Lebanon, Tennessee | 1842 | Nonsectarian | 3,072 | Phoenix | 1996;
2012 |
| Williamsburg, Kentucky | 1889 | Nondenominational | 20,327 | Patriots | 1987 |
| Freed–Hardeman University | Henderson, Tennessee | 1869 | Churches of Christ | 2,294 | Lions | 2020 |
| Georgetown College | Georgetown, Kentucky | 1829 | Baptist | 1,463 | Tigers | 1987 |
| Lindsey Wilson University | Columbia, Kentucky | 1903 | United Methodist | 4,055 | Blue Raiders | 2000 | |
- Notes:
Affiliate members
The Mid-South currently has 16 associate members. All but two are private schools; one is fully public, and the other operates private and public institutions within a single entity.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Mid-South
sport(s) | Primary
conference |
|---|
| Brewton–Parker College | Mount Vernon, Georgia | 1904 | Baptist | 1,123 | Barons | 2017 | women's wrestling | Southern States (SSAC) |
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, Alabama | 1942 | Churches of Christ | 2,933 | Eagles | 2008 | football | Southern States (SSAC) |
| Fort Wayne, Indiana | 1930 | Nonsectarian | 2,862 | Warriors | 2020 | women's wrestling | Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC) |
| Indiana Wesleyan University | Marion, Indiana | 1920 | Wesleyan Church | 14,957 | Wildcats | 2018
2021 | women's swimming
men's swimming | Crossroads |
| Kentucky Christian University | Grayson, Kentucky | 1919 | Christian | 541 | Knights | 2017 | archery | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Life University | Marietta, Georgia | 1974 | Nonsectarian | 2,711 | Running
Eagles | 2022 | women's wrestling | Southern States (SSAC) |
| Lourdes University | Sylvania, Ohio | 1958 | Catholic | 1,014 | Gray Wolves | 2020 | women's wrestling | Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC) |
| Midway University | Midway, Kentucky | 1847 | Disciples of Christ | 1,945 | Eagles | 2018
2019
2019
2020
2020
2023 | men's wrestling
men's bowling
women's bowling
men's swimming
women's swimming
archery | River States (RSC) |
| Montreat College | Montreat, North Carolina | 1916 | Presbyterian
| 932 | Cavaliers | 2022 | women's wrestling | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Pikeville, Kentucky | 1889 | Presbyterian
| 2,610 | Bears | 2023
2023
2023 | archery
men's bowling
women's bowling | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Rio Grande, Ohio | 1876 | Hybrid | 2,168 | RedStorm | 2020
2024 | men's wrestling
women's wrestling | River States (RSC) |
| Rochester Christian University | Rochester Hills, Michigan | 1959 | Churches of Christ | 1,173 | Warriors | 2022 | women's wrestling | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Shawnee State University | Portsmouth, Ohio | 1986 | Public | 3,206 | Bears | 2023
2023 | men's swimming
women's swimming | River States (RSC) |
| Siena Heights University[12] | Adrian, Michigan | 1919 | Catholic
| 1,832 | Saints | 2022 | women's wrestling | Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC) |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens, Tennessee | 1857 | United Methodist | 1,074 | Bulldogs | 2015
2015 | men's bowling
women's bowling | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Union Commonwealth University | Barbourville, Kentucky | 1879 | United Methodist | 1,129 | Bulldogs | 2012
2012
2018 | men's bowling
women's bowling
archery | Appalachian (AAC) | |
- Notes:
Former members
The Mid-South has 14 former full members. Ten of these are private schools, and one other operates private and public institutions within a single entity.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Subsequent
conference | Current
conference |
|---|
| Bluefield College | Bluefield, Virginia | 1922 | Baptist | 989 | Rams | 2012 | 2014 | Appalachian (AAC)
(2014–present) |
| Lambuth University | Jackson, Tennessee | 1843 | United
Methodist | N/A | Eagles | 1996 | 2006 | TranSouth (TSAC)
(2006–09)
NAIA/D-II
Independent
(2009–11) | Closed in 2011 |
| Life University | Marietta, Georgia | 1974 | Nonsectarian | 2,711 | Running
Eagles | 2014 | 2022 | Southern States (SSAC)
(2022–present) |
| North Greenville College | Tigerville, South Carolina | 1891 | Baptist | 2,219 | Crusaders | 1995 | 2001 | D-II Independent
(2001–11) | Carolinas (CC)
(2011–present) |
| Pikeville, Kentucky | 1889 | Presbyterian
| 2,610 | Bears | 2000 | 2023 | Appalachian (AAC)
(2023–present) |
| Rio Grande, Ohio | 1876 | Hybrid | 2,168 | RedStorm | 2009 | 2014 | River States (RSC)
(2014–present) |
| Shawnee State University | Portsmouth, Ohio | 1986 | Public | 3,206 | Bears | 2010 | 2023 | River States (RSC)
(2023–present) |
| St. Catharine College | St. Catharine, Kentucky | 1873 | Catholic
| N/A | Patriots | 2008 | 2016 | Closed in 2016 |
| Thomas More University | Crestview Hills, Kentucky | 1921 | Catholic | 1,947 | Saints | 2021 | 2023 | Great Midwest (G-MAC)
(2023–present) |
| Union College | Barbourville, Kentucky | 1879 | United
Methodist | 1,129 | Bulldogs | 1995 | 2002 | Appalachian (AAC)
(2002–present) |
| University of Tennessee Southern[13] | Pulaski, Tennessee | 1870 | Historically Methodist | 978 | FireHawks | 2020 | 2023 | Southern States (SSAC)
(2023–present) |
| Wise, Virginia | 1954 | Public | 1,911 | nowrap | Highland
Cavaliers | 2010 | 2013 | various | South Atlantic (SAC)
(2019–present) |
| West Virginia University Institute of Technology | Montgomery, West Virginia | 1895 | Public | 1,448 | Golden
Bears | 2006 | 2012 | USCAA/NAIA
Independent
(2012–15) | River States (RSC)
(2015–present) |
| Wilberforce University | Wilberforce, Ohio | 1856 | A.M.E.
Church | 617 | Bulldogs | 2022 | 2023 | Continental
(2023–24) | HBCU (HBCUAC)
(2024–present) | |
- Notes:
Former affiliate members
The Mid-South had 38 associate members, all but two were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Mid-South
sport(s) | Primary
conference |
|---|
| Ave Maria University | Ave Maria, Florida | 2003 | Catholic
| 1,335 | Gyrenes | 2017
2018 | 2022
2022 | football
women's lacrosse | The Sun |
| Belhaven University | Jackson, Mississippi | 1894 | Presbyterian | 3,616 | Blazers | 1998 | 2015 | football | C.C. South (CCS) |
| Bethel University | McKenzie, Tennessee | 1842 | Cumberland
Presbyterian | 2,974 | Wildcats | 1996 &<br />2003
2007
2012
2012
2017 | 1997 &<br />2020
2013
2020
2020
2020 | football
track & field
men's bowling
women's bowing
archery | Mid-South (MSC) |
| Bluefield University | Bluefield, Virginia | 1922 | Baptist | 989 | Rams | 2014
2018 | 2022
2022 | football
men's volleyball | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Blue Mountain College | Blue Mountain, Mississippi | 1873 | Baptist | 971 | Toppers | 2019
2019 | 2022
2022 | men's bowling
women's bowling | Southern States (SSAC) |
| Brescia University | Owensboro, Kentucky | 1925 | Catholic
| 638 | Bearcats | 2023 | 2024 | men's volleyball | River States (RSC) |
| Brewton–Parker College | Mount Vernon, Georgia | 1904 | Baptist | 1,123 | Barons | 2015
2018 | 2022
2019 | men's volleyball | Southern States (SSAC) |
| Cincinnati Christian University | Cincinnati, Ohio | 1924 | Christian | N/A | Eagles | 2015
2018 | 2020
2019 | football
men's volleyball | N/A |
| Cumberland University | Lebanon, Tennessee | 1842 | Nonsectarian | 3,072 | Bulldogs | 1990 &<br />2002;
2009 | 1991 &<br />2012;
2012 | football
men's wrestling | Mid-South (MSC) |
| Edward Waters University | Jacksonville, Florida | 1866 | AME Church | 1,175 | Tigers | 2017 | 2019 | football | Southern (SIAC) |
| Evansville, Indiana | 1854 | United
Methodist | 2,109 | Purple Aces | 1988 | 1992 | football | Missouri Valley (MVC) |
| Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens, Florida | 1879 | Baptist | 1,365 | Lions | 2020 | 2022 | football | The Sun |
| Keiser University | West Palm Beach, Florida | 1977 | Nonsectarian | 20,102 | Seahawks | 2018
2019 | 2022
2022 | women's lacrosse
men's wrestling | The Sun |
| Kentucky Christian University | Grayson, Kentucky | 1919 | Christian | 541 | Knights | 2009
2017
2017 | 2022
2019
2019 | football
baseball
softball | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Owensboro, Kentucky | 1858 | United
Methodist | 834 | Panthers | 1989;
2004 | 1990;
2006 | football | Great Midwest (G-MAC) |
| Lambuth University | Jackson, Tennessee | 1843 | United
Methodist | N/A | Eagles | 1990;
2006 | 1995;
2010 | football | Closed in 2011 |
| Lincoln College | Lincoln, Illinois | 1865 | Nonsectarian | N/A | Lynx | 2021
2021 | 2022
2022 | men's swimming
women's swimming | Closed in 2022 |
| Lindenwood University–Belleville | Belleville, Illinois | 2003 | Catholic | N/A | Lynx | 2015
2015
2015
2015
2017 | 2017
2017
2019
2019
2019 | men's bowling
women's bowling
men's swimming
women's swimming
women's wrestling | Closed in 2020 |
| Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1904 | Catholic
| 4,351 | Wolf Pack | 2016
2016 | 2022
2022 | men's swimming
women's swimming | Southern States (SSAC) |
| Marian University | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1851 | Catholic
| 3,586 | Knights | 2018
2019
2019 | 2022
2021
2021 | women's lacrosse
men's bowling
women's bowling | Crossroads |
| Pulaski, Tennessee | 1870 | Public | 978 | RedHawks | 2015
2015 | 2020
2020 | men's bowling
women's bowling | Mid-South (MSC) |
| Midland University | Fremont, Nebraska | 1883 | Lutheran ELCA | 1,557 | Warriors | 2017
2017 | 2019
2019 | men's swimming
women's swimming | Great Plains (GPAC) |
| Midway University | Midway, Kentucky | 1847 | Disciples of Christ | 1,945 | Eagles | 2018 | 2024 | men's volleyball | River States (RSC) |
| Point University | West Point, Georgia | 1937 | Christian | 2,827 | Skyhawks | 2017 | 2022 | football | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Reinhardt University | Waleska, Georgia | 1883 | United
Methodist | 1,170 | Eagles | 2013
2016
2019 | 2022
2017
2022 | football
men's wrestling
men's volleyball | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Rio Grande, Ohio | 1876 | Nonsectarian | 2,168 | RedStorm | 2020
2020
2021 | 2021
2021
2024 | men's swimming
women's swimming
men's volleyball | River States (RSC) |
| Laurinburg, North Carolina | 1896 | Presbyterian
| N/A | Knights | 2015
2017
2018
2020 | 2017
2022
2022
2024 | men's wrestling
football
men's volleyball
women's wrestling | Closed in 2025[14] |
| Miami Gardens, Florida | 1961 | Catholic
| 6,455 | Bobcats | 2020 | 2022 | men's wrestling | The Sun |
| Shorter University | Rome, Georgia | 1873 | Baptist | 1,447 | Hawks | 2005
2007
2010 | 2012
2012
2012 | football
track & field
men's wrestling | Carolinas |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland, Florida | 1935 | Assemblies of God | 10,400 | Fire | 2015 | 2022 | men's wrestling | The Sun |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens, Tennessee | 1857 | United
Methodist | 1,074 | Bulldogs | 1989 | 1991 | football | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Truett McConnell University | Cleveland, Georgia | 1946 | Baptist | 2,714 | Eagles | 2015
2019 | 2017
2022 | men's wrestling
men's volleyball | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Tusculum University | Tusculum, Tennessee | 1794 | Presbyterian | 1,200 | Pioneers | 1991 | 1996 | football | South Atlantic (SAC) |
| Union College | Barbourville, Kentucky | 1879 | United
Methodist | 1,129 | Bulldogs | 1987;
2002 | 1995;
2022 | football | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Wise, Virginia | 1954 | Public | 1,911 | nowrap | Highland
Cavaliers | 2002 | 2010 | football | South Atlantic (SAC) |
| Warner University | Lake Wales, Florida | 1968 | Church of God | 891 | Royals | 2016
2018 | 2022
2022 | football
men's volleyball | The Sun |
| Webber International University | Babson Park, Florida | 1927 | Nonsectarian | 930 | Warriors | 2018
2020 | 2022
2022 | men's volleyball
women's lacrosse | The Sun | |
- Notes:
Membership timeline
DateFormat = yyyyImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20Period = from:1987 till:2030TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalPlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5
Colors = id:line value:black id:bg value:white id:Full value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports id:FullxF value:rgb(0.9,0.8,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football id:AssocF value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.8,0.9,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference when the other color has already been used
PlotData = width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s
bar:1 color:AssocF from:1987 till:1995 text:Campbellsville (1987–present) bar:1 color:Full from:1995 till:end text:
bar:2 color:AssocF from:1987 till:1995 text:Cumberlands (Ky.) (1987–present) bar:2 color:Full from:1995 till:end text:
bar:3 color:AssocF from:1987 till:1995 text:Georgetown (Ky.) (1987–present) bar:3 color:Full from:1995 till:end text:
bar:4 color:AssocF from:1987 till:1995 text:Union (Ky.) (1987–2002) bar:4 color:Full from:1995 till:2002 text: bar:4 color:AssocF from:2002 till:2022 text:Appalachian (2002–present; MSC assoc. sports) bar:4 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:
bar:5 color:AssocF from:1988 till:1992 text:Evansville (1988–1992)
bar:6 color:AssocF from:1989 till:1990 text:Kentucky Wesleyan (1989–1990) bar:6 color:AssocF from:2004 till:2006 text:(2004–2006)
bar:7 color:AssocF from:1989 till:1991 text:Tennessee Wesleyan (1989–1991)
bar:8 color:AssocF from:1990 till:1991 text:Cumberland (Tenn.) (1990–1991, 1995–2002) bar:8 color:AssocF from:1995 till:1996 text: bar:8 color:Full from:1996 till:2002 text: bar:8 color:AssocF from:2002 till:2012 text:TranSouth (2002–2012; MSC football) bar:8 color:Full from:2012 till:end text:(2012–present)
bar:9 color:AssocF from:1990 till:1996 text:Lambuth (1990–2006) bar:9 color:Full from:1996 till:2006 text: bar:9 color:AssocF from:2006 till:2010 text:TranSouth (2006–2010; MSC football)
bar:10 color:AssocF from:1991 till:1996 text:Tusculum (1991–1996)
bar:11 color:Full from:1995 till:2001 text:North Greenville (1995–2001) bar:11 shift:(20) color:OtherC1 from:2001 till:2011 text:D-II Ind.) bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:2011 till:end text:Carolinas
bar:12 color:AssocF from:1995 till:1997 text:Bethel (Tenn.) (1995–1997) bar:12 color:AssocF from:2003 till:2020 text:(2003–2020) bar:12 color:Full from:2020 till:end text:(2020–present)
bar:13 color:AssocF from:1997 till:2015 text:Belhaven (1997–2015)
bar:14 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2010 text:Lindsey Wilson (2000–present) bar:14 color:Full from:2010 till:end text:
bar:15 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2001 text:Pikeville (2000–2023) bar:15 color:Full from:2001 till:2023 text: bar:15 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text:Appalachian (MSC assoc. sports)
bar:16 color:AssocF from:2003 till:2010 text:UVa Wise (2003–2010) bar:16 color:Full from:2010 till:2013 text:(2010–2013) bar:16 shift:(10) color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2019 text:Mountain East bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:2019 till:end text:South Atlantic
bar:17 color:AssocF from:2005 till:2012 text:Shorter (2005–2012)
bar:18 color:Full from:2006 till:2012 text:West Virginia Tech (2006–2012) bar:18 shift:(35) color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2016 text:NAIA Ind.) bar:18 color:OtherC2 from:2016 till:end text:River States
bar:19 color:FullxF from:2008 till:2016 text:St. Catherine (Ky.) (2008–2016)
bar:20 color:AssocF from:2008 till:end text:Faulkner (2008–present)
bar:21 color:FullxF from:2009 till:2014 text:Rio Grande (2009–2014) bar:21 shift:(25) color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:2020 text:River States bar:21 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:end text: RSC (2020–present; MSC assoc. sports)
bar:22 color:AssocF from:2009 till:2022 text:Kentucky Christian (2009–present) bar:22 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:
bar:23 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2023 text:Shawnee State (2010–2023) bar:23 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:River States
bar:24 color:Full from:2012 till:2014 text:Bluefield (2012–2014) bar:24 shift:(70) color:AssocF from:2014 till:2022 text:Appalachian (2014–present; MSC assoc. sports)
bar:25 color:AssocF from:2013 till:2022 text:Reinhardt (2013–2022)
bar:26 color:FullxF from:2014 till:2022 text:Life (2014–2022) bar:26 shift:(-40) color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:SSAC (2022–present; MSC w. wrestling)
bar:27 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2022 text:Brewton–Parker (2015–2022)
bar:28 color:AssocF from:2015 till:2020 text:Cincinnati Christian (2015–2020)
bar:29 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2019 text:Lindenwood–Belleville (2015–2019)
bar:30 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2017 text:St. Andrews (2015–2024) bar:30 color:AssocF from:2017 till:2022 text: bar:30 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:2024 text:
bar:31 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2022 text:Southeastern (Fla.) (2015–2022)
bar:32 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:end text:Tennesse Wesleyan (2015–present)
bar:33 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2020 text:UT Southern (2015–2020) bar:33 shift:(25) color:FullxF from:2020 till:2023 text:(2020–2023; full) bar:33 shift:(45) color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:SSAC
bar:34 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2017 text:Truett McConnell (2015–2017, m.wr.; 2019–2022, m.vb) bar:34 color:AssocOS from:2019 till:2022 text:
bar:35 color:AssocOS from:2016 till:2022 text:Loyola (La.) (2016–2022)
bar:36 color:AssocF from:2016 till:2022 text:Warner (2016–2022)
bar:37 color:AssocF from:2017 till:2019 text:Edward Waters (2017–2019)
bar:38 color:AssocOS from:2017 till:2019 text:Midland (2017–2019)
bar:39 color:AssocF from:2017 till:2022 text:Point (2017–2022)
bar:40 color:AssocF from:2018 till:2022 text:Ave Maria (2018–2022)
bar:41 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:end text:Indiana Wesleyan (2018–present)
bar:42 color:AssocF from:2018 till:2022 text:Keiser (2018–2022)
bar:43 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:2022 text:Marian (Ind.) (2018–2022)
bar:44 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:end text:Midway (2018–present)
bar:45 color:AssocF from:2018 till:2022 text:Webber International (2018–2022)
bar:46 color:Full from:2019 till:2022 text:Thomas More (2019–2022) bar:46 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:2023 text: bar:46 shift:(50) color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:G-MAC
bar:47 color:AssocOS from:2019 till:2022 text:Blue Mountain (2019–2022)
bar:48 color:AssocF from:2020 till:2022 text:Florida Memorial (2020–2022)
bar:49 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:end text:Indiana Tech (2020–present)
bar:50 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:end text:Lourdes (2020–present)
bar:51 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:2022 text:St. Thomas (Fla.) (2020–2022)
bar:52 color:FullxF from:2020 till:end text:Freed–Hardeman (2020–present)
bar:53 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2022 text:Lincoln (Ill.) (2021–2022)
bar:54 shift:(-100) color:FullxF from:2022 till:2023 text:Wilberforce (2022–2023) bar:54 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:2024 text:Cont.) bar:54 shift:(20) color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:HBCUAC
bar:55 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:Montreat (2022–present)
bar:56 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:Rochester Christian (2022–present)
bar:57 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:Siena Heights (2022–present)
bar:58 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:2024 text:Brescia (2023–2024)
bar:N color:powderblue from:1987 till:1995 text:Mid-South (football) bar:N color:blue from:1995 till:end text:Mid-South (multi-sport)
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:1988
TextData = fontsize:M textcolor:black pos:(0,25) tabs:(400-center) text:^"Mid-South Conference membership history"
- > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space.
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Sports
Member teams compete in 28 sports: 13 men's, 13 women's and 2 mixed.
In addition, the Mid-South Conference also conducts championships for Esports and competitive dance. The MSC also stages invitational tournaments for junior varsity squads in the sports of men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, and women's volleyball, if enough schools sponsor JV teams in a given year.[15]
Football divisions
Beginning with the 2017 season, The Sun Conference and Mid-South merged their football conferences into the largest football conference in college sports.[16] [17] Edward Waters was previously a full member of the Sun Conference from 2006 to 2010 and a football affiliate member from 2014 to 2016 seasons. Edward Waters left after the 2018 football season.
However, the Sun Division folded when its teams left the Mid-South after the Sun Conference reinstated football for 2022, leaving the Mid-South with 15 football members.[10] Later, the Appalachian Division folded when the AAC announced to sponsor the sport for the 2022 fall season, leaving the Mid-South with 9 football members.[11]
- Bethel (Tenn.)
- Campbellsville
- Cumberland (Tenn.)
- Cumberlands (Ky.)
- Faulkner
- Georgetown
- Lindsey Wilson
- Pikeville
- Thomas More
- Notes: - Mid-South full member - Mid-South affiliate member
Notes and References
- News: Wilson. Michael. Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference. February 27, 2016. The Lakeland Ledger. February 25, 2016.
- News: Evenson. Johyn. Keiser University Athletics adds football starting in 2018. April 23, 2018. October 11, 2016.
- News: McPherson . Jordan . This South Florida college will have a football team. And it'll start playing next year . October 10, 2018 . August 29, 2018.
- News: Football Joins Mid-South Conference As Affiliate Member . February 24, 2020 . fmuathletics.com . October 15, 2019.
- News: Thomas More College approved to move to NAIA beginning in 2019 . Kyle . Brown . James . Weber . . April 17, 2018 . April 20, 2018.
- News: Thomas More College to join the NAIA in 2019 . James . Weber . Cincinnati Enquirer . July 24, 2018 . July 27, 2018.
- News: Bethel, Freed-Hardeman and Martin Methodist Renew Rivalries with Mid-South Conference Move . March 18, 2020 . Mid-South Conference . July 25, 2019.
- News: Life U Athletics Headed to Southern States Athletic Conference in 2022-23 . July 6, 2021 . Life Running Eagles . December 16, 2020.
- Thomas More University Unanimously Approved for Provisional Membership to Join Great Midwest . Great Midwest Athletic Conference . August 18, 2021 . September 1, 2021.
- News: Football Returns to the Sun Conference in 2022 . December 24, 2021 . Sun Conference . December 22, 2021.
- News: Football, Men's Volleyball Newest Championships Sponsored by the AAC . July 20, 2022 . Appalachian Athletic Conference . July 20, 2022.
- Web site: MSN . 2025-08-10 . www.msn.com.
- News: Tennessee Southern Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24 . SSAC . July 1, 2022.
- Web site: St. Andrews University announces the closing of its campus in Laurinburg, North Carolina Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) . 2025-08-10 . pcusa.org.
- Web site: Mid-South Conference . 2021-22 MSC Championships . 2022-02-15 .
- Web site: Mid-South Conference Creates Largest College Football Conference . The Sun Conference . February 25, 2016 . March 15, 2016.
- Web site: Mid-South, Sun conferences unite for 20-team football league . Tennessean.com . February 25, 2016 . March 15, 2016.
