Conference USA

US college sports conference

For the defunct American soccer club, see Chivas USA.

Conference USA

Association| NCAA
Founded| 1995[1]
Commissioner| Judy MacLeod (since 2015)
Sports fielded|

* 19[2]
* men's: 8
* women's: 11

Division| Division I
Subdivision| FBS
No. of teams| 12 (11 in 2026, 10 by 2027)
Headquarters| Dallas, Texas
Region| Southern United States and Southwestern United States
Broadcaster(s)| CBS Sports Network
ESPN
Official website| conferenceusa.com
Locations

Conference USA (CUSA) is a collegiate athletic conference of member institutions in the Southern and Western United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports, with football competing in the top-level Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). CUSA's offices are located in Dallas, Texas.

## Member schools

[edit]

### Current full members

[edit]

Member departing for the Mountain West Conference in 2026.
Member departing for the Sun Belt Conference by 2027.

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joined  | Type  | Enrollment  | Endowment
(millions)  | Nickname  | Colors

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Delaware | Newark, Delaware | 1743  | 2025  | Public[a] | 24,221[3] | $1,770[4] | Blue Hens |
Florida International University | Miami, Florida[b] | 1965[c] | 2013[d] | Public | 58,064[5] | $358  | Panthers |
Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, Alabama | 1883  | 2023[e] | 9,955[6] | $57  | Gamecocks |
Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, Georgia[f] | 1963  | 2024  | 45,152[7] | $100[8] | Owls |
Liberty University | Lynchburg, Virginia | 1971  | 2023  | Private
(Evangelical Protestant)  | 95,148[9][g] | $1,714[10] | Flames & Lady Flames |
Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, Louisiana | 1894  | 2013  | Public  | 12,039[11] | $117.9  | Bulldogs & Lady Techsters |
Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | 1911  | 2013  | Public  | 21,913[12] | $108.9  | Blue Raiders |
Missouri State University | Springfield, Missouri | 1905  | 2025[h] | 26,000[13] | $193  | Bears & Lady Bears[i] |
New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, New Mexico | 1888  | 2023  | 22,711[14] | $235.9  | Aggies |
Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Texas | 1879  | 21,039[15] | $152.3  | Bearkats |
University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, Texas | 1914  | 2005  | Public  | 25,151[16] | $241.7  | Miners |
Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, Kentucky | 1906  | 2014[j] | Public  | 17,672[17] | $209.5  | Hilltoppers & Lady Toppers |

Notes

1. ^ Delaware is officially chartered as a "privately governed, state-assisted" institution. This status is broadly similar to that of New York State's statutory colleges, most of which are housed at Cornell University, or institutions in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth System of Higher Education.
2. ^ The FIU main campus is in the suburban Miami-Dade County community of University Park.
3. ^ Though founded in 1965, classes did not start until 1972, and freshmen and sophomores were not admitted until 1981.
4. ^ FIU was a men's soccer affiliate from the 2005 to 2012 fall seasons (2005–06 to 2012–13 school years).
5. ^ Jacksonville State was a beach volleyball affiliate during the 2023 spring season (2022–23 school year).
6. ^ The KSU campus has a Kennesaw mailing address, but is located in unincorporated Cobb County.
7. ^ Includes online students. On-campus enrollment is approximately 16,000.
8. ^ Missouri State joined CUSA as a beach volleyball affiliate in 2023, two years before becoming a full member.
9. ^ Missouri State's beach volleyball team uses Beach Bears instead of Lady Bears.
10. ^ Western Kentucky was an affiliate in women's swimming & diving during the 2013–14 season.

### Membership map

[edit]

Delaware

FIU

Jax
State

Kennesaw State

Liberty

Louisiana Tech

Middle Tennessee

Missouri State

New Mexico State

Sam Houston

UTEP

Western Kentucky

UAB

Arkansas State

Dallas Baptist

Florida Atlantic

Nebraska

Sacred Heart

South Florida

Tarleton State

Tulane

Valparaiso

Vanderbilt

Wichita State

Wright State

Youngstown State

class=notpageimage|

Conference USA Member locations
– Full member
– Departing full member
– Affiliate member

### Affiliate members

[edit]

In this table, all dates reflect the calendar year of entry into Conference USA, which for spring sports is the year before the start of competition.

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joined  | Type  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Colors  | CUSA
sport  | Primary
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, Arkansas | 1909  | 2023  | Public  | 14,109  | Red Wolves |  | Bowling  | Sun Belt
Dallas Baptist University | Dallas, Texas | 1898  | 2022  | Private  | 4,487  | Patriots |  | Baseball  | Lone Star[a]
Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, Florida | 1961  | 2023[b] | Public  | 30,808  | Owls |  | Beach volleyball  | American
University of Nebraska–Lincoln | Lincoln, Nebraska | 1869  | 2025  | Public  | 23,986  | Cornhuskers |  | Bowling  | Big Ten
Sacred Heart University | Fairfield, Connecticut | 1963  | 2025  | Private  | 5,974  | Pioneers |  | Bowling  | MAAC
University of South Florida | Tampa, Florida | 1956  | 2025  | Public  | 50,830[18] | Bulls |  | Beach volleyball | American
Tarleton State University | Stephenville, Texas | 1899  | 2023  | Public  | 11,350  | Texans |  | Beach volleyball  | WAC
(UAC in 2026)
Tulane University | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1834  | 2022  | Private  | 11,722[19] | Green Wave |  | Beach volleyball  | American
2023  | Bowling
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)  | Birmingham, Alabama | 1969  | 2023[b] | Public  | 22,563  | Blazers |  | Beach volleyball  | American
Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, Indiana | 1859  | 2023  | Private  | 2,900  | Beacons |  | Bowling  | MVC
Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Tennessee | 1873  | 2023  | Private  | 13,798  | Commodores |  | Bowling  | SEC
Wichita State University | Wichita, Kansas | 1895  | 2024  | Public  | 17,548  | Shockers |  | Bowling  | American
Wright State University | Fairborn, Ohio[c] | 1964  | 2025  | Public  | 17,074  | Raiders |  | Bowling  | Horizon
Youngstown State University | Youngstown, Ohio | 1908  | 2023  | Public  | 15,058  | Penguins |  | Bowling  | Horizon

Notes

1. ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
2. ^ a b Measured from FAU's and UAB's departure from full CUSA membership.
3. ^ The Wright State campus is physically located in Fairborn but has a Dayton mailing address.

### Former full members

[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joined  | Left  | Type  | Nickname  | Colors  | Current
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Alabama at Birmingham[a] | Birmingham, Alabama | 1969  | 1995[b] | 2023  | Public | Blazers |  | The American
University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida[c] | 1963  | 2005  | 2013  | Knights |  | Big 12
University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | 1819  | 1995  | 2005  | Bearcats |
DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois | 1898  | Private  | Blue Demons |  | Big East
East Carolina University | Greenville, North Carolina | 1907  | 2001[d] | 2014  | Public  | Pirates |  | The American
Florida Atlantic University[a] | Boca Raton, Florida | 1961  | 2013  | 2023  | Owls |
University of Houston | Houston, Texas | 1927  | 1996[e] | 2013  | Cougars |  | Big 12
University of Louisville | Louisville, Kentucky | 1798  | 1995  | 2005  | Cardinals |  | ACC
Marquette University | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1881  | Private  | Golden Eagles |  | Big East
Marshall University | Huntington, West Virginia | 1837  | 2005  | 2022  | Public  | Thundering Herd |  | Sun Belt
University of Memphis | Memphis, Tennessee | 1912  | 1995  | 2013  | Tigers |  | The American
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1946  | 1995  | 2005  | 49ers |
2013  | 2023
University of North Texas | Denton, Texas | 1890  | 2013  | 2023  | Mean Green |
Old Dominion University | Norfolk, Virginia | 1930  | 2013[f] | 2022  | Monarchs |  | Sun Belt
Rice University | Houston, Texas | 1912  | 2005  | 2023  | Private  | Owls |  | The American
Saint Louis University | St. Louis, Missouri | 1818  | 1995  | 2005  | Billikens |  | Atlantic 10
University of South Florida[g] | Tampa, Florida | 1956  | Public  | Bulls |  | The American
Southern Methodist University | Dallas, Texas[h] | 1911  | 2005  | 2013  | Private  | Mustangs |  | ACC
University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | 1910  | 1995  | 2022  | Public  | Golden Eagles |  | Sun Belt
Texas Christian University[i] | Fort Worth, Texas | 1873  | 2001  | 2005  | Private  | Horned Frogs |  | Big 12
University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas | 1969  | 2013  | 2023  | Public  | Roadrunners |  | The American
Tulane University[j] | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1834  | 1995  | 2014  | Private  | Green Wave |
University of Tulsa | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 1894  | 2005  | Golden Hurricane |

Notes

1. ^ a b FAU and UAB remain CUSA affiliate members in beach volleyball.
2. ^ UAB was a full but non-football member at two different times—1995–96 to 1998–99, when the school was independent in football, and 2015–16 to 2016–17, after UAB discontinued its football program. UAB football returned for the 2017 fall season (effective the 2017–18 school year).[20]
3. ^ The UCF campus has an Orlando mailing address but is entirely located in unincorporated Orange County.
4. ^ East Carolina was an affiliate in football from the 1997 to 2000 fall seasons (1997–98 to 2000–01 school years).
5. ^ Houston was a founding member of CUSA in 1995 but did not begin competition until the 1996–97 season because of its commitments to the final year of competition in the Southwest Conference.
6. ^ Old Dominion was an affiliate in men's golf, women's golf, rowing, men's tennis, and women's tennis in 2012–13; full but non-football member in 2013–14.
7. ^ South Florida became an affiliate member for beach volleyball in 2025.
8. ^ The SMU campus has a Dallas mailing address, but is located almost entirely in University Park, a separate city contained within the Dallas city limits.
9. ^ TCU returned to CUSA as a beach volleyball affiliate in 2023, but left after the 2024 season when the Big 12 began sponsoring that sport.
10. ^ Tulane returned to CUSA as a beach volleyball affiliate in 2022, and added bowling to its CUSA membership in 2023.

### Former affiliate members

[edit]

In this table, all dates reflect each school's actual entry into and departure from Conference USA. In the case of the two former affiliates that became full CUSA members, the "left" date reflects their elevation to full membership.

For spring sports, the joining date is the calendar year before the start of competition. For fall sports, the departure date is the calendar year after the last season of competition.

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joined  | Left  | Type  | Nickname  | Colors  | CUSA
sport  | Primary
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 1831  | 2009  | 2014  | Public  | Crimson Tide |  | Rowing (w)  | SEC
United States Military Academy (Army)  | West Point, New York | 1802  | 1998  | 2005  | Federal  | Black Knights |  | Football  | Patriot[a]
California State University, Bakersfield[b] | Bakersfield, California | 1965  | 2007  | 2010  | Public  | Roadrunners |  | Swimming & diving (w)  | Big West
California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State)  | Sacramento, California | 1947  | 2013  | 2014  | Hornets |  | Rowing (w)  | Big Sky[c]
(Big West in 2026)
Coastal Carolina University | Conway, South Carolina | 1954  | 2021  | 2022  | Chanticleers |  | Beach volleyball[21]
Soccer (m)  | Sun Belt
Colorado College | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 1874  | 2006  | 2014  | Private  | Tigers |  | Soccer (w)  | Southern Collegiate[d][e]
Georgia State University | Atlanta, Georgia | 1913  | 2021[21] | 2022  | Public  | Panthers |  | Beach volleyball  | Sun Belt
Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, Alabama | 1883  | 2022  | 2023  | Gamecocks |  | Beach volleyball  | CUSA[f]
University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas | 1865  | 2009  | 2014  | Jayhawks |  | Rowing (w)  | Big 12
Kansas State University | Manhattan, Kansas | 1863  | Wildcats |
University of Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky | 1865  | 2005  | 2022  | Wildcats |  | Soccer (m)  | SEC[g]
Missouri State University | Springfield, Missouri | 1905  | 2023  | 2025  | Beach Bears |  | Beach volleyball  | CUSA[h]
University of New Mexico | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 1889  | 2013  | 2019  | Lobos |  | Soccer (m)  | Mountain West[i]
University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, North Dakota | 1883  | 2008  | 2011  | Fighting Hawks |  | Swimming & diving (w)  | Summit
University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, Colorado | 1889  | 2007  | 2010  | Bears |  | Big Sky[j]
University of Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma | 1890  | 2009  | 2014  | Sooners |  | Rowing (w)  | SEC
San Diego State University | San Diego, California | 1947  | 2013  | Aztecs |  | Mountain West[k]
(Pac-12 in 2026)
University of South Carolina | Columbia, South Carolina | 1801  | 2005  | 2022  | Gamecocks |  | Soccer (m)  | SEC[g]
University of Southern Mississippi (Southern Miss)  | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | 1910  | 2021  | Golden Eagles |  | Beach volleyball  | Sun Belt
Stephen F. Austin State University (Stephen F. Austin)  | Nacogdoches, Texas | 1923  | 2023  | 2025  | Ladyjacks |  | Bowling  | Southland[l]
Texas Christian University (TCU)  | Fort Worth, Texas | 1873  | 2023  | 2024  | Private  | Horned Frogs |  | Beach volleyball  | Big 12
University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Tennessee | 1794  | 2009  | 2014  | Public  | Lady Volunteers |  | Rowing (w)  | SEC
University of Texas at Austin | Austin, Texas | 1883  | Longhorns |  | SEC
University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM)  | Monroe, Louisiana | 1865  | 2021[21] | 2022  | Warhawks |  | Beach volleyball  | Sun Belt
West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia | 1867  | 2012  | 2014  | Mountaineers |  | Rowing (w)  | Big 12

Notes

1. ^ Football competed as an FBS independent through the 2023 season, and joined The American in 2024.
2. ^ The university began rebranding its athletic program as the Bakersfield Roadrunners in 2023–24.
3. ^ Rowing affiliate of the WCC.
4. ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
5. ^ Women's soccer affiliate of the Mountain West.
6. ^ Jacksonville State joined CUSA beach volleyball a year before becoming a full member.
7. ^ a b Men's soccer affiliate of the Sun Belt.
8. ^ Missouri State joined CUSA beach volleyball two years before becoming a full member.
9. ^ Dropped men's soccer after the 2018 season (2018–19 school year).
10. ^ Women's swimming & diving affiliate of the WAC.
11. ^ Dropped rowing after the 2020–21 season; had previously been an affiliate of the American Athletic Conference in that sport.
12. ^ Dropped bowling after the 2024–25 season.

### Membership timeline

[edit]

Full members (all-sports) Full members (non-football) Affiliate members (football-only) Affiliate member (other sport) Other Conference Other Conference

## History

[edit]

CUSA (abbreviated "C-USA" before 2023) was founded in 1995 by the merger of the Metro Conference and Great Midwest Conference, two Division I conferences that did not sponsor football. However, the merger did not include either Great Midwest member Dayton or Metro members VCU and Virginia Tech.[22] Since this left an uneven number of schools in the conference, Houston of the dissolving Southwest Conference was extended an invitation and agreed to join following the SWC's disbanding at the end of the 1995–96 academic year. The conference immediately started competition in all sports, except football which started in 1996.

Being the result of a merger, CUSA was originally a sprawling, large league that stretched from Florida to Missouri, Wisconsin to Texas. Many of its original schools were located in major urban centers and had strong basketball traditions, which helped establish the league on a national basis.

### 2005–06 realignment

[edit]

The conference saw radical changes for the 2005–06 academic year. The Big East Conference had lost several members, and looked to Conference USA to attract replacements. Five CUSA members departed for the Big East, including three football-playing schools (Cincinnati, Louisville, and South Florida) and two non-football schools (DePaul and Marquette; both joined the New Big East in 2013). Another two schools (Charlotte and Saint Louis) left for the Atlantic 10; TCU joined the Mountain West (and is now in the Big 12 with several other former Southwest Conference members); and a ninth member, Army, which was C-USA football-only, opted to become an independent in that sport again.

With the loss of these members, CUSA lured six schools from other conferences: UCF and Marshall from the MAC, as well as Rice, SMU, Tulsa, and later UTEP from the WAC. UCF played in the MAC for football only; for all other sports, it was a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN).

With CUSA's membership now consisting of 12 schools, all of which sponsor football, the conference adopted a two-division alignment.

### 2013–14 realignment

[edit]

In 2013, CUSA entered its next phase with the departure of four schools (Houston, Memphis, SMU, and UCF) for the American Athletic Conference, the football-sponsoring portion of the former Big East Conference. This was again the result of Big East schools leaving for the ACC, this time being Syracuse and Pittsburgh, as well as Notre Dame for non-football sports.

However, when the conferences discussed their plans with the NCAA, they were told that if they merged, the new league would receive only one automatic bid to NCAA championships; at least one of the former conferences would lose expected future revenues from the NCAA men's basketball tournament; and at least one former conference would lose exit fees from any schools that departed for the new league. As a result, both CUSA and the MW backed away from a full merger. As of April 2012[update], the likeliest scenario was an all-sports alliance in which both conferences retained separate identities.[23] However, after the MW added more members, the alliance was apparently abandoned.

For men's soccer, there was a chance that the MW, SEC, and CUSA along with the one Sun Belt member (FIU), that sponsor the sport, would play under the CUSA's men's soccer program. The MW, which does not sponsor men's soccer, would take three of the four members that offer the sport (UNLV, Air Force, New Mexico—San Diego State is a Pac-12 associate member in that sport), join CUSA's three full members that offer the sport (UAB, Marshall, Tulsa), the two SEC members already in CUSA for the sport (Kentucky, South Carolina), and the Sun Belt's FIU.[23] However, the only MW member school that ultimately moved to CUSA men's soccer was New Mexico.

For the 2013–14 season CUSA invited five new members to join their conference, with all accepting. UTSA and Louisiana Tech joined from the WAC and North Texas and FIU, (an affiliate member of CUSA joining for men's soccer in 2005), from the Sun Belt Conference. Old Dominion, which already housed five of its sports in CUSA, moved the rest of its athletic program from the CAA (except for field hockey, women's lacrosse and wrestling, with the three sports joining the new Big East, the Atlantic Sun, and the MAC respectively because CUSA does not sponsor those sports) and upgraded its football program from the Football Championship Subdivision. Charter member Charlotte returned from the A-10 and accelerated its recently established football program, which was set to begin play in 2013 as an FCS school, to FBS in 2015 with full conference rights in 2016.

### 2014–15 realignment

[edit]

Conference USA members after the 2014–15 realignment

On November 27, 2012, it was announced that Tulane would leave the conference, effective in the 2014 season, to join the Big East in all sports, and East Carolina would join the Big East for football only (ECU's membership was upgraded to all-sports in March 2013 after the Big East's non-football members, except ACC-bound Notre Dame, announced they were leaving to form a new conference which took the Big East name, leaving the football-playing members to become the American Athletic Conference). Conference USA responded by adding Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic, both from the Sun Belt.

On April 1, 2013, Conference USA announced it was adding Western Kentucky, also from the Sun Belt, to offset Tulsa's departure to The American in all sports which was confirmed the next day.[24][25]

### 2014–2021

[edit]

The board of trustees in the University of Alabama system (of which UAB is a member) voted to shut down that football program on December 2, 2014, in a highly controversial move that many have attributed to a pro-Tuscaloosa bias (including trustees such as Paul Bryant Jr., son and namesake of Alabama football coaching legend Bear Bryant). According to Conference USA bylaws, member schools must sponsor football. In January 2015, UAB announced an independent re-evaluation of the program and the finances involved, leaving open a possible resumption of the program as early as the 2016 season. On January 29, 2015, the conference announced that there was no time pressure in making a decision regarding UAB's future membership. The conference also stated that it would wait for the new study results before any further discussions on the subject.[26] On June 1, UAB announced that it would reinstate football effective with the 2016 season, presumably keeping the school in CUSA for the immediate future.[27] The return of football was later pushed back to 2017[20] with their first game in September.[28] The Blazers won the 2018 conference championship their second year back and won the CUSA title again in 2020.

Commissioner Britton Banowsky stepped down on September 15, 2015, to become the head of the College Football Playoff Foundation. Executive associate commissioner and chief operating officer Judy MacLeod was subsequently named interim commissioner. On October 26 MacLeod was named the conference's third official commissioner, also becoming the first woman to head an FBS conference.[29]

Marshall University's men's soccer program captured the league's first team national championship with its 1–0 overtime win over Indiana in the 2020 College Cup, held in May 2021 due to COVID-19 issues, in Cary, North Carolina.[30]

### 2020s realignment

[edit]

See also: 2021–2026 NCAA conference realignment

On October 18, 2021, Yahoo Sports reported that the American Athletic Conference, which had been rocked by the impending departure of three of its most prominent schools (Cincinnati, Houston, UCF) for the Big 12 Conference, was preparing to receive applications from six CUSA members: Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA.[31] ESPN reported the next day that The American had received all six schools' applications,[32] and The American announced all six as future members on October 21, though it did not announce the effective date.[33] The entry date would eventually be confirmed as July 1, 2023.[34]

The day after The American announced its expansion, The Action Network reported that Southern Miss had accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference in 2023, a move which was formally announced by the university on October 26.[35] The report added that the Sun Belt was preparing to add two other CUSA members in Marshall and Old Dominion, as well as FCS program James Madison. Old Dominion officially announced its move to the Sun Belt Conference on October 27,[36] followed later in the week by Marshall.[37] On March 29, 2022, CUSA agreed to allow Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss to move to the Sun Belt beginning July 1, 2022, a year earlier than initially announced.[38]

In response to these losses, on November 5, Conference USA announced the addition of four new members to start the 2023 athletic season. These included two ASUN schools, Liberty and Jacksonville State, along with two from the WAC, New Mexico State and Sam Houston. Liberty and New Mexico State previously played football as FBS independents, while Jacksonville State and Sam Houston played at the FCS level in their respective conferences.[39][40]

On October 7, 2022, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that current football-sponsoring ASUN member Kennesaw State was in talks to become the tenth member of Conference USA for the 2024 season.[41] One week later, CUSA officially announced Kennesaw State's 2024 entry.[42]

This was followed by the Sun Belt Conference adding beach volleyball for the 2023 season (2022–23 school year), taking with it the three full SBC members that had previously housed that sport in CUSA: Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, and Louisiana–Monroe. Southern Miss also left CUSA beach volleyball as part of its full-time move to the SBC.[43] CUSA would add three new beach volleyball members for that season; Jacksonville State joined CUSA for beach volleyball in advance of full membership that July,[44] Tulane became an associate member, and full member UTEP added a new beach volleyball program. Tarleton announced on April 24, 2023, that it would join CUSA as an associate member for the school's first season of varsity beach volleyball in 2024;[45] CUSA confirmed this on May 11, adding that Missouri State and TCU would also join in beach volleyball for the 2024 season, and that Florida Atlantic and UAB would remain in CUSA beach volleyball after otherwise departing for The American.[46]

On May 10, 2023, CUSA announced that it would add bowling, a women-only sport in the NCAA, effective in 2023–24. The Southland Bowling League, a single-sport conference established by the Southland Conference, was merged into CUSA.[47] The bowling league added Wichita State when it elevated its club team to varsity status in 2024–25.[48]

The conference unveiled a "brand refresh" on July 1, 2023, the same day that Jacksonville State, Liberty, New Mexico State, and Sam Houston joined. The former abbreviation of "C-USA" was retired in favor of "CUSA", and the logo was slightly updated.[49]

On November 27, 2023, Pete Thamel reported on X that Conference USA was expected to add Delaware as a new member for the 2025–26 season.[50] On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, both CUSA and Delaware announced on their websites and social the official move to make Delaware the eleventh all-sports member of the conference.[51][52] Six months later, on May 10, 2024, both CUSA and Missouri State University jointly announced on their respective websites that Missouri State would also join the league for the 2025–26 season, bringing league membership up to 12.[53][54] The 12-member lineup will last only one year, as UTEP, the longest-tenured current member, will leave for the Mountain West Conference in 2026.[55]

On November 5, 2024, the conference announced that former full member South Florida would join as an affiliate member in beach volleyball in 2025.[56] Bowling affiliate Stephen F. Austin announced on May 22, 2025 that it had dropped the sport effective immediately.[57]

## Hall of Fame

[edit]

In 2019, Conference USA inducted its first Hall of Fame class, comprising 20 student-athletes, three coaches, and two administrators.[58] The inductees included former University of Cincinnati basketball player Kenyon Martin, baseball player Kevin Youkilis, and men's basketball head coach Bob Huggins.[58]

## Commissioners

[edit]

* Michael Slive 1995–2002
* Britton Banowsky 2002–2015
* Judy MacLeod 2015–present

## Sports

[edit]

### Sports sponsored

[edit]

Conference USA sponsors championship competition in eight men's and 11 women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[59] Eleven schools are affiliate members—one in baseball, four in beach volleyball, five in bowling, and one in both beach volleyball and bowling. The most recent changes in sports sponsorship were the dropping of men's soccer and women's swimming and diving after the 2021–22 season, plus the addition of bowling in 2023–24.

Teams in CUSA competition[a] Sport | Men's | Women's

|
|

Baseball | 12 | –
Basketball | 12 | 12
Beach volleyball | – | 9
Bowling | – | 12
Cross Country | 10 | 12
Football | 12 | –
Golf | 11 | 10
Soccer | – | 12
Softball | – | 12
Tennis | 6 | 12
Track and Field (Indoor) | 8 | 12
Track and Field (Outdoor) | 9 | 12
Volleyball | – | 12

1. ^ Numbers of teams are as of the 2023–24 school year.

### Men's sponsored sports by school

[edit]

Member  | Baseball  | Basketball  | XCountry  | Football  | Golf  | Tennis  | Indoor
Track
& Field  | Outdoor
Track
& Field  | Total
CUSA
Sports

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Delaware | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 5
FIU | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | 5
Jacksonville State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 6
Kennesaw State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Liberty | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Louisiana Tech | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7
Middle Tennessee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Missouri State | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | 4
New Mexico State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Sam Houston | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7
UTEP | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 6
Western Kentucky | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7
Affiliate members
Dallas Baptist | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | 1
Total | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 80
Total in 2026 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 74

#### Men's varsity sports not sponsored by Conference USA

[edit]

School | Lacrosse | Rifle[a] | Soccer | Swimming & diving

|
|
|
|

Delaware | A-10 | No | Summit | ASUN
FIU | No | No | American | No
Jacksonville State | No | IND | No | No
Liberty | No | No | OVC[b] | No
Missouri State | No | No | American | MVC

1. ^ NCAA rifle is a coeducational team sport, with men and women competing with and against one another as equals. Jacksonville State fields a single coed team.
2. ^ Joining the Southern Conference in 2026.

### Women's sponsored sports by school

[edit]

Departing members in pink.

Member  | Basketball  | Beach
Volleyball  | Bowling  | XCountry  | Golf  | Soccer  | Softball  | Tennis  | Indoor
Track
& Field  | Outdoor
Track
& Field  | Volleyball  | Total
CUSA
Sports

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Delaware | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
FIU | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Jacksonville State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11
Kennesaw State | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Liberty | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Louisiana Tech | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Middle Tennessee | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Missouri State | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
New Mexico State | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Sam Houston | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11
UTEP | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[a] | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Western Kentucky | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Affiliate members
Arkansas State |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Florida Atlantic |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Nebraska |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Sacred Heart |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
South Florida |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Tarleton State |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Tulane |  | Yes | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
UAB |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Valparaiso |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Vanderbilt |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Wichita State |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Wright State |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Youngstown State |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Total | 12 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 125
Total in 2026 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 116

1. ^ UTEP is dropping women's tennis after the 2024–25 season.

#### Women's varsity sports not sponsored by Conference USA

[edit]

School | Acrobatics
& Tumbling[a] | Equestrian[a] | Field hockey | Ice Hockey | Lacrosse | Rifle[b] | Rowing | Stunt[a] | Swimming
& Diving

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Delaware | No | No | IND | AHA | ASUN | No | MAC | No | ASUN
FIU | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | American
Jacksonville State | No | No | No | No | No | IND | No | No | No
Kennesaw State | No | No | No | No | ASUN | No | No | No | No
Liberty | No | No | Big East | No | ASUN | No | No | No | American
Missouri State | IND | No | No | No | No | No | No | IND | MVC
New Mexico State | No | IND | No | No | No | No | No | No | MPSF
UTEP | No | No | No | No | No | PRC | No | No | No

1. ^ a b c Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. Acrobatics & tumbling and stunt are now expected to become official NCAA championship sports in 2026–27.
2. ^ Rifle is technically classified as a men's sport by the NCAA, but allows competitors of both sexes, and also allows schools to field any combination of coed and single-sex teams. Jacksonville State and UTEP respectively field coed and women-only teams.

### Football

[edit]

Conference USA used a divisional format for football from 2005 to 2021.

For the upcoming season, see 2025 Conference USA football season.
Team  | First
season  | All-time
record  | All-time
win %  | Bowl
appearances  | Bowl
record  | Conference
titles  | Head coach

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

FIU | 2002  | 92–178  | .341  | 5  | 2–3  | 1  | Mike MacIntyre
Jacksonville State | 1904  | 621–423–40  | .573  | 2  | 1–1  | 25  | Rich Rodriguez
Liberty | 1973  | 307–258–4  | .543  | 6  | 3–3  | 8  | Jamey Chadwell
Louisiana Tech | 1901  | 645–504–38  | .559  | 14  | 8–5–1  | 25  | Sonny Cumbie
Middle Tennessee | 1911  | 608–472–28  | .561  | 14  | 6–8  | 13  | Derek Mason
New Mexico State | 1893  | 459–679–30  | .406  | 6  | 4–1–1  | 4  | Tony Sanchez
Sam Houston | 1912  | 573–489–36  | .538  | 5  | 3–1–1  | 15  | K. C. Keeler
UTEP | 1914  | 415–626–28  | .401  | 15  | 5–10  | 2  | Scotty Walden
Western Kentucky | 1908  | 615–426–31  | .588  | 11  | 7–4  | 13  | Tyson Helton

[60]

CUSA champions

Main article: Conference USA Football Championship Game

Bowl games

Through the 2023 season, the highest-ranked champion from the so-called "Group of Five" conferences (The American, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) was guaranteed a berth in one of the non-semifinal bowls of the College Football Playoff if the group's top team was not in the playoff.[61] Starting in 2024, at least one Group of Five conference champion will receive a berth in the expanded 12-team CFP.

Name  | Location  | Stadium  | Opposing Conference

|
|
|

Cotton Bowl Classic | Arlington, Texas | AT&T Stadium | at-large
Fiesta Bowl | Glendale, Arizona | State Farm Stadium | at-large
Peach Bowl | Atlanta, Georgia | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | at-large

For the 2014–19 seasons, Conference USA was guaranteed at least five of the following bowl games. Stadiums and names reflect those in use during that period.

Name  | Location  | Stadium  | Opposing Conference

|
|
|

Arizona Bowl | Tucson, Arizona | Arizona Stadium | Mountain West
Armed Forces Bowl | Fort Worth, Texas | Amon G. Carter Stadium | The American
Army
Big 12
Big Ten
Mountain West
Bahamas Bowl | Nassau, Bahamas | Thomas Robinson Stadium | The American
MAC
Sun Belt
Boca Raton Bowl | Boca Raton, Florida | FAU Stadium | The American
MAC
First Responder Bowl | Dallas, Texas | Cotton Bowl | Big 12
Big Ten
Frisco Bowl | Frisco, Texas | Toyota Stadium | The American
Hawaii Bowl | Honolulu, Hawaii | Aloha Stadium | Mountain West
Independence Bowl | Shreveport, Louisiana | Independence Stadium | ACC
SEC
Miami Beach Bowl | Miami, Florida | Marlins Park | The American
New Mexico Bowl | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Dreamstyle Stadium | Mountain West
New Orleans Bowl | New Orleans, Louisiana | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | Sun Belt
Gasparilla Bowl | Tampa, Florida | Raymond James Stadium | The American

Rivalries

Current or former CUSA in-conference rivalries:

Teams | Rivalry Name | Trophy | Meetings | Record | Series Leader | Current Streak

|
|
|
|
|
|

Florida Atlantic | FIU | Shula Bowl | Don Shula Award | 19 | 14–5 | Florida Atlantic | Florida Atlantic won 4
Louisiana Tech | Southern Miss | Rivalry in Dixie | — | 52 | 17–35 | Southern Miss | Louisiana Tech won 2
Middle Tennessee | Western Kentucky | 100 Miles of Hate | — | 70 | 35–34–1 | Middle Tennessee | WKU won 2
Middle Tennessee | Troy | Battle for the Palladium | The Palladium | 22 | 13–9 | Middle Tennessee | Middle Tennessee won 1
Western Kentucky | Marshall | Moonshine Throwdown  | — | 13 | 8–5 | Marshall | Western Kentucky won 1

### Men's basketball

[edit]

For the most recent season, see 2024–25 Conference USA men's basketball season.

See also: Conference USA men's basketball tournament and Conference USA Men's Basketball Player of the Year

This list goes through the 2022–23 season.[62]

Team  | First
season[a] | All-time
record  | All-time
win %  | NCAA Tournament
appearances[b] | NCAA Tournament
record  | Arena  | Head coach

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

FIU | 1982  | 486–714  | .405  | 1  | 0–1  | Ocean Bank Convocation Center | Jeremy Ballard
Jacksonville State | 1926  | 1238–884  | .583  | 2  | 0–2  | Pete Mathews Coliseum | Ray Harper
Liberty | 1973  | 793–753  | .513  | 5  | 1–5  | Liberty Arena[c] | Ritchie McKay
Louisiana Tech | 1910  | 1452–1074  | .575  | 5  | 4–5  | Thomas Assembly Center | Talvin Hester
Middle Tennessee | 1914  | 1302–1133  | .535  | 9  | 4–9  | Murphy Center | Nick McDevitt
New Mexico State | 1905  | 1302–1133  | .535  | 26  | 11–27  | Pan American Center | Jason Hooten
Sam Houston | 1918  | 1401–1174  | .544  | 2  | 0–2  | Bernard Johnson Coliseum | Chris Mudge
UTEP | 1915  | 1448–1126  | .563  | 17  | 14–16  | Don Haskins Center | Joe Golding
Western Kentucky | 1915  | 1872–973  | .658  | 23  | 19–24  | E. A. Diddle Arena | Rick Stansbury

1. ^ Reflects the calendar year in which the first season ended.
2. ^ Division I only.
3. ^ Liberty also schedules occasional games at the Vines Center.

### Women's basketball

[edit]

See also: Conference USA women's basketball tournament

This list goes through the 2022–23 season.[63]

Team  | First
season[a] | All-time
record  | All-time
win %  | NCAA Tournament
appearances[b] | NCAA Tournament
record  | Arena  | Head coach

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

FIU | 1976  | 758–606  | .556  | 0  | 0–0  | Ocean Bank Convocation Center | Jesyka Burks-Wiley
Jacksonville State | 1984  | 519–600  | .464  | 0  | 0–0  | Pete Mathews Coliseum | Rick Pietri
Liberty | 1976  | 824–547  | .601  | 16  | 2–16  | Liberty Arena[c] | Carey Green
Louisiana Tech | 1975  | 1193–387  | .755  | 30  | 65–28  | Thomas Assembly Center | Brooke Stoehr
Middle Tennessee | 1976  | 998–450  | .689  | 20  | 5–20  | Murphy Center | Rick Insell
New Mexico State | 1983  | 634–572  | .526  | 6  | 0–6  | Pan American Center | Jody Adams-Birch
Sam Houston | 1970  | 659–834  | .441  | 0  | 0–0  | Bernard Johnson Coliseum | Ravon Justice
UTEP | 1975  | 632–716  | .469  | 2  | 1–2  | Don Haskins Center | Keitha Adams
Western Kentucky | 1915  | 1070–541  | .664  | 20  | 17–20  | E. A. Diddle Arena | Greg Collins

1. ^ Reflects the calendar year in which the first season ended.
2. ^ Division I only,
3. ^ Liberty also schedules occasional games at the Vines Center,

### Baseball

[edit]

See also: Conference USA Baseball Tournament

## Championships

[edit]

### Current CUSA champions

[edit]

"RS" is regular season, "T" is tournament.

Fall 2024

| Sport  | School

|

Football  | Jacksonville State (RS & Championship Game)
Soccer (W)  | FIU (RS & T)
Liberty (RS)
Volleyball (W)  | Western Kentucky (RS & T)
Cross Country (M)  | Liberty
Cross Country (W)  | Liberty

Winter 2024–25

| Sport  | School

|

Basketball (M)  | Liberty (RS & T)
Basketball (W)  | Liberty (RS & T)
Middle Tennessee (RS)
Bowling (W)  | Wichita State
Indoor Track & Field (M)  | Kennesaw State
Indoor Track & Field (W)  | Liberty

Spring 2025

| Sport  | School

|

Baseball  | Dallas Baptist (RS)
Western Kentucky (T)
Softball  | Liberty (RS & T)
Beach Volleyball (W)  | Florida Atlantic[a]
Outdoor Track & Field (M)  | Kennesaw State
Outdoor Track & Field (W)  | Liberty
Golf (M)  | Sam Houston
Golf (W)  | Western Kentucky
Tennis (M)  | Middle Tennessee
Tennis (W)  | FIU

1. ^ No regular-season championship is awarded because teams do not play the same number of conference matches.

### National champions

[edit]

Only two current CUSA members, one full member and one associate, have won national team championships while representing the conference, both in bowling. Full member Jacksonville State won the 2024 NCAA championship in its first season of both varsity bowling and CUSA membership, and associate member Youngstown State won the 2025 NCAA title. The only other school to have won such a championship while a CUSA member at any level is Marshall, which moved to the Sun Belt Conference in 2022. Marshall won the 2020–21 men's soccer championship in May 2021 (with the tournament having moved from its normal schedule in fall 2020 to spring 2021 due to COVID-19).

The following current and future CUSA teams have won national championships when they were not affiliated with CUSA. Current associate members, indicated in italics, are listed with championships they won in their CUSA sports.

School | National titles | Sport | Years

|
|
|

Delaware | 17  | Equestrian  | 1997
Figure Skating  | 2002, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Field Hockey  | 2016
Football (Division I FCS)  | 2003
Football (Division II)  | 1979
Football (College Division)  | 1946, 1963, 1971, 1972
Women's Lacrosse  | 1983
Women's Lacrosse (AIAW Division II)  | 1981, 1982
FIU | 2  | Men's Soccer (Division II)  | 1982, 1984
Jacksonville State | 6  | Baseball (Division II)  | 1990, 1991
Men's basketball (Division II)  | 1985
Football (Division II)  | 1992
Women's gymnastics (Division II)  | 1984, 1985
Kennesaw State | 5  | Baseball (Division II)  | 1996
Men's basketball (Division II)  | 2004
Women's soccer (Division II)  | 2003
Softball (Division II)  | 1995, 1996
Louisiana Tech | 5  | Football (Division II)  | 1972, 1973
Women's basketball  | 1981 (AIAW), 1982, 1988
Missouri State | 3  | Field hockey (AIAW Division II)  | 1979
Men's golf (Division II)  | 1983
Softball (AIAW)  | 1974
Sam Houston | 2  | Bowling  | 2014
Football (Division I FCS)  | 2020
UTEP | 21  | Men's basketball  | 1966
Men's outdoor track and field  | 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
Men's indoor track and field  | 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982
Men's cross country  | 1969, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981
Vanderbilt | 3  | Bowling  | 2007, 2018, 2023
Western Kentucky | 1  | Football (Division I FCS)  | 2002
Total  | 84  |  |

See also: List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships and List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships

## Facilities

[edit]

Departing members are denoted in red.

School  | Football stadium  | Capacity  | Basketball arena  | Capacity  | Baseball park  | Capacity

|
|
|
|
|
|

Dallas Baptist | Baseball-only member | Horner Ballpark | 3,492
Delaware | Delaware Stadium | 18,500  | Bob Carpenter Center | 5,000  | Bob Hannah Stadium | 1,300
FIU | Pitbull Stadium | 20,000  | Ocean Bank Convocation Center | 5,000  | Infinity Insurance Park | 2,000
Jacksonville State | AmFirst Stadium | 22,500  | Pete Mathews Coliseum | 3,500  | Rudy Abbott Field | 1,000
Kennesaw State | Fifth Third Stadium | 10,200  | KSU Convocation Center | 4,600  | Fred Stillwell Stadium | 900
Liberty | Williams Stadium | 25,000  | Liberty Arena[a] | 4,000  | Liberty Baseball Stadium | 2,500
Louisiana Tech | Joe Aillet Stadium | 28,562  | Thomas Assembly Center | 8,098  | J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park | 2,000
Middle Tennessee | Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium | 27,303  | Murphy Center | 11,802  | Reese Smith Jr. Field | 2,600
Missouri State | Robert W. Plaster Stadium | 17,500  | Great Southern Bank Arena | 11,000  | Hammons Field | 7,986
New Mexico State | Aggie Memorial Stadium | 28,853  | Pan American Center | 12,482  | Presley Askew Field | 1,000
Sam Houston | Bowers Stadium[b] | 12,593  | Bernard Johnson Coliseum | 6,110  | Don Sanders Stadium | 1,163
UTEP | Sun Bowl Stadium | 51,500  | Don Haskins Center | 12,222  | Non-baseball school
Western Kentucky | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium | 23,776  | E. A. Diddle Arena | 7,326  | Nick Denes Field | 1,500

Notes

1. ^ Liberty also schedules basketball games at the Vines Center (capacity 9,547).
2. ^ Sam Houston schedules one nominal home game each season at NRG Stadium (capacity 72,220) in Houston.

## Athletic department revenue by school

[edit]

Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights and licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, concessions, and novelties.

Total expenses includes coach and staff salaries, scholarships, buildings and grounds, maintenance, utilities and rental fees, recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues, and insurance.

The following table shows institutional reporting to the United States Department of Education as shown on the DOE Equity in Athletics website for the 2023–24 academic year.[64]

Incoming school in light gray.

Institution  | 2023–24 Total Revenue from Athletics  | 2023–24 Total Expenses on Athletics

|
|

Liberty University | $69,076,595  | $69,076,595
University of Delaware | $48,411,479  | $48,411,479
Middle Tennessee State University | $43,275,343  | $43,275,343
Florida International University | $41,981,914  | $41,981,914
New Mexico State University | $38,923,972  | $38,923,972
University of Texas at El Paso | $37,006,248  | $36,602,226
Western Kentucky University | $36,875,120  | $36,875,120
Kennesaw State University | $32,926,067  | $32,926,067
Louisiana Tech University | $30,305,928  | $30,305,928
Jacksonville State University | $29,060,404  | $29,060,404
Sam Houston State University | $26,631,390  | $26,567,953

## Media

[edit]

In 2016, CUSA began a long-term television contract with lead partners ESPN and CBS Sports Network, with ESPN carrying 5 football games and the football championship game; and CBSSN carrying 6 football games, 5 basketball games, and both the men's and women's basketball championship games.[65] CUSA also renewed and expanded its partnership with American Sports Network; owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, ASN will carry between 15 and 30 football games; between 13 and 55 men's basketball games; and between 2 and 5 women's basketball games. ASN will also carry 10 events in other C-USA sports.[66]

The conference also entered into a contract with beIN Sports for 10 football games (marking the first domestic American football rights the network has ever acquired, and the first broadcast rights deal it had ever entered into with a college conference), 10 men's and 10 women's basketball games, 12 baseball and 12 softball games, 10 men's and 10 women's soccer games (excluding conference men's soccer games at Kentucky and South Carolina, covered by their primary conference's contract), and 10 women's volleyball games.[67]

The total values of the 2016 contracts are notably lower than those of the previous contracts (which included Fox Sports).[65]

Former men's soccer associate members Kentucky and South Carolina have an agreement with their primary conference for other sports to carry all home matches online through the SEC Network service. This included all of those teams' matches against CUSA opponents before the two schools moved men's soccer to the Sun Belt Conference in 2022. ESPN and the SEC Network had first rights to all CUSA home men's soccer matches featuring both schools.

In 2017 American Sports Network and Campus Insiders merged creating Stadium.[68] Stadium's C-USA content will be available to stream on Twitter and Pluto TV.[69] In 2017 Stadium completed a deal with Facebook to exclusively stream some C-USA football games.[70] In 2017 CUSA entered an agreement with the streaming subscription service FloSports to stream three football games.[71]

### CUSA.tv

[edit]

In 2016 CUSA partnered with SIDEARM Sports to create a subscription based streaming service named CUSA.tv. In a statement CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod said, "Thanks to our partnership with SIDEARM Sports, this new site showcases a clean modern look with easy access to information and we are proud to offer live content and original feature stories through our CUSA.tv."[72] Various sports including football, basketball, and baseball will exclusively air on CUSA.tv when they are not picked up by other networks.

### Return to ESPN and CBS Sports Network

[edit]

In 2022, CUSA signed a new media rights agreement establishing CBS Sports Network and ESPN as primary rights holders beginning in 2023. As part of this agreement, CUSA agrees to schedule eight midweek football games per season during the month of October, to be aired on ESPN platforms including both linear ESPN channels and the ESPN+ streaming outlet. CBS Sports Network continues with tier 1 selection status for CUSA football and men's basketball [73]

## Academics

[edit]

A majority of the Conference's members are ranked as Tier One National Universities in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Best Colleges rankings.

Of the incoming members:

* Delaware is in the Carnegie Foundation's "very high research activity" classification, and tied for #76 in US News' "National Universities" classification.
* Jacksonville State is in the Carnegie Foundation's "Master's Colleges and Universities (Larger Programs)" classification, and is not ranked by US News as a national university, instead being classified as a Southern "Regional University".
* Kennesaw State is in the Carnegie Foundation's "high research activity" classification, and ranked between 331 and 440 in US News' "National Universities" classification.
* Liberty is in the Carnegie Foundation's "Doctoral/Professional" classification, and also ranked between 331 and 440 in US News' "National Universities" classification.
* New Mexico State is in the Carnegie Foundation's "high research activity" classification, and tied for #263 in US News' "National Universities" classification.
* Sam Houston is in the Carnegie Foundation's "high research activity" classification, and also in a tie for #263 in US News' "National Universities" classification.

University  | Affiliation  | Carnegie[74] | Endowment[75] | US News[76] | Forbes[77]

|
|
|
|
|

Florida International University | Public (SUSF)  | Research (Very High)  | $230,954,000  | 162  | 145
Louisiana Tech University | Public (UL System)  | Research (High)  | N/A[d 1] | 277  | 494
Middle Tennessee State University | Public (TBR)  | Doctoral/Professional  | $75,710,000  | 288  | 362
University of Texas at El Paso | Public (UT System)  | Research (Very High)  | N/A[d 1] | RNP[d 2] | 547
Western Kentucky University | Public  | Doctoral/Professional  | $118,396,000  | RNP[d 2] | 521

Notes

1. ^ a b Louisiana Tech and UTEP did not participate in the 2013 NACUBO Endowment Study.
2. ^ a b In the 2022 US News national university rankings, UTEP and Western Kentucky are listed as Rank Not Published (RNP), otherwise known as Tier Two.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About C-USA". ConferenceUSA.com. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
2. ^ "2023–24 Championships". Conference USA. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
3. ^ "Facts & Figures | University of Delaware". www.udel.edu. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
4. ^ "UD Financial Profile | University of Delaware". www.udel.edu. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
5. ^ "Office of Planning & Institutional Research – Quick Facts". Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2007.
6. ^ "Jax Facts - Enrollment - Fall 2024". Jacksonville State University. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
7. ^ "Kennesaw State enrollment grows for fifth straight year". Kennesaw State University. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
8. ^ "Rankings". www.kennesaw.edu. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
9. ^ "Liberty University Student Life". U.S. News. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
10. ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
11. ^ "Louisiana Tech celebrates six-year enrollment milestone and record-setting freshman class". Louisiana Tech University. September 23, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
12. ^ "MTSU tops in Tennessee Board of Regents enrollment". September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
13. ^ "Missouri State University system sets another fall enrollment record". September 21, 2016. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017.
14. ^ "NMSU Enrollment Report - Fall 2024 Census" (PDF). NM State Office of Institutional Analysis. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
15. ^ "Fact Book - Sam Houston State University Enrollment". Retrieved November 28, 2024.
16. ^ "UTEP's fall enrollment breaks record for 16th consecutive year | KTSM News Channel 9 | News, Weather and Sports | el Paso, las Cruces, Juarez". www.ktsm.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
17. ^ "Fact Book 2024" (PDF). Western Kentucky University. p. 21. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
18. ^ "USF system facts: 2020-21" (PDF).
19. ^ "Facts and Figures – Tulane University". tulane.edu. March 15, 2016. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
20. ^ a b "UAB To Resume Rifle This Year, Bowling Next And Football In 2017" (Press release). UAB Athletics. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
21. ^ a b c "CCSA Announces Beach Volleyball Membership Split With Conference USA; 2022 Championship Dates Set" (Press release). Coastal Collegiate Sports Association. September 28, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
22. ^ "Digital Library and Archives, University, Virginia Tech". July 16, 2012. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012.
23. ^ a b McMurphy, Brett (April 17, 2012). "Conference Mountain West merger "unlikely"". College Football Insider. CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
24. ^ "Western Kentucky announces move to C-USA". April 2013.
25. ^ "Tulsa set to join league for 2014–15 season". April 2, 2013.
26. ^ "UAB eliminating football for 'greater good'". December 2, 2014.
27. ^ Scarborough, Alex (June 1, 2015). "UAB reinstates football for 2016". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
28. ^ UAB rolls FCS Alabama A&M in first game since 2014 season ESPN (Associated Press)
29. ^ "C-USA's MacLeod is 1st female commissioner of FBS league". AP-sports. October 26, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
30. ^ "National Champions! Marshall Beats Indiana 1–0 In OT For College Cup Title" (Press release). Conference USA. May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
31. ^ Thamel, Pete (October 18, 2021). "Sources: The AAC is close to massive 6-school expansion to reshape conference". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
32. ^ Dinich, Heather (October 19, 2021). "Source: Six schools officially apply to join American Athletic Conference". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
33. ^ "American Athletic Conference Announces the Addition of Six Universities" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
34. ^ "American Announces Entrance Agreements With Incoming Members for 2023–24 Season" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
35. ^ "Southern Miss Accepts Invitation to the Sun Belt Conference". Southern Miss. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
36. ^ "Old Dominion Joins Sun Belt Conference". sunbeltsports.org. October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
37. ^ "Marshall now third from C-USA to join Sun Belt". ESPN.com. October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
38. ^ Thamel, Pete (March 29, 2022). "Move of Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern Miss from Conference USA to Sun Belt now complete". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
39. ^ "Conference USA to add Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State beginning in 2023". ESPN.com. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
40. ^ "Conference USA Adds Four Members" (Press release). Conference USA. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
41. ^ "College football realignment: Kennesaw State a 'favorite' to join C-USA by 2024, per report". 247sports.com. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
42. ^ "C-USA Adds Kennesaw State, Owls to Join in 2024" (Press release). Conference USA. October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
43. ^ "Sun Belt Conference Adds Beach Volleyball For 2023" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
44. ^ "2023 Preseason Awards Announced" (Press release). Conference USA. February 23, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023. "The league serves up its second season with opening matches this weekend featuring (16) FIU, (12) Florida Atlantic and UAB, along with new members Jacksonville State and (ARV) Tulane."
45. ^ "Tarleton adds Beach Volleyball as 17th intercollegiate sport, will compete in Conference USA" (Press release). Tarleton Texans. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
46. ^ "BVB: C-USA Adds TCU, Tarleton State and Missouri State as Affiliate Members for Beach Volleyball" (Press release). Conference USA. May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
47. ^ "Conference USA to Add Bowling for 2023–24 Season" (Press release). Conference USA. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
48. ^ "BOWL: Wichita State Joins CUSA as an Affiliate Member for Bowling" (Press release). Conference USA. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
49. ^ "Conference USA Officially Welcomes Four New Members" (Press release). Conference USA. July 1, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
50. ^ Thamel, Pete. "Sources: Conference USA is expected to add Delaware as a new member for the 2025-26 season. The sides have been in talks and a decision is expected to be formalized in the upcoming days". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved November 27, 2023.
51. ^ "CUSA Adds Delaware, Blue Hens to Join in 2025". conferenceusa.com. November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
52. ^ "Delaware Accepts Invitation to Join Conference USA as Full Member". University of Delaware Athletics. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
53. ^ "CUSA Adds Missouri State, Bears to Join in 2025". conferenceusa.com. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
54. ^ "Missouri State Accepts Invitation to Join Conference USA". Missouri State University Athletics. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
55. ^ "Mountain West Officially Welcomes UTEP Into The Conference" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
56. ^ "BVB: CUSA Adds South Florida as Affiliate Member for Beach Volleyball". conferenceusa.com. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
57. ^ "SFA Announces Sports Sponsorship Changes" (Press release). SFA Athletics. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
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63. ^ "2023-24 Division I Women's Basketball Records" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
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71. ^ "FloSports Expands Division I Football Coverage With Conference USA Games on FloFootball.com – FloSports". August 31, 2017.
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73. ^ "Conference USA announces Multimedia Rights Deal".
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## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Conference USA.

* Official website

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Conference USA

Full members|

* Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
* FIU Panthers
* Jacksonville State Gamecocks
* Kennesaw State Owls
* Liberty Flames
* Louisiana Tech Bulldogs5
* Missouri State Bears
* Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
* New Mexico State Aggies
* Sam Houston Bearkats
* UTEP Miners4
* Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Affiliate members|

* Dallas Baptist Patriots1
* Florida Atlantic Owls2
* South Florida Bulls2
* Tarleton State Texans2
* Tulane Green Wave2 3
* UAB Blazers2
* Arkansas State Red Wolves3
* Nebraska Cornhuskers3
* Sacred Heart Pioneers3
* Valparaiso Beacons3
* Vanderbilt Commodores3
* Wichita State Shockers3
* Wright State Raiders3
* Youngstown State Penguins3

History|

* Metro Conference
* Great Midwest Conference
* 2005 NCAA conference realignment
* 2010–2013 Conference USA realignment
* 2021–2026 NCAA conference realignment
* Southland Bowling League

* 1baseball
* 2beach volleyball
* 3bowling
* 4leaving in 2026
* 5leaving by 2027

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I all-sports conferences

FBS|

* The American
* Atlantic Coast
* Big 12
* Big Ten
* CUSA
* Mid-American
* Mountain West
* Pac-12
* Southeastern
* Sun Belt

FCS - Full|

* Big Sky
* Ivy
* MEAC
* Northeast
* Patriot
* SoCon
* Southland
* SWAC

FCS - Alliance|

* CAA FB (CAA / America East)
* Missouri Valley FB (Missouri Valley / Summit)
* OVC–Big South (Ohio Valley / Big South)
* United (ASUN / WAC)

Non-Football|

* Atlantic 10
* Big East
* Big West
* Horizon
* MAAC
* West Coast

* v
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* e

NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision conferences

Current conferences|

| Power Four|

* ACC
* Big Ten
* Big 12
* SEC

|

Group of Five|

* The American
* CUSA
* Mid-American
* Mountain West
* Sun Belt

Others|

* Pac-12
* Independents

Past conferences|

* Big East (1991–2013)
* Big West (1978–2001)
* Big Eight (1978–1996)
* Ivy (1978–1982)
* Missouri Valley (1978–1986)
* SoCon (1978–1982)
* Southland (1978–1982)
* Southwest (1978–1996)
* WAC (1978–2012)

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