Missouri Valley Conference

US college athletic conference

For the related football-only conference, see Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Missouri Valley Conference

Association| NCAA
Founded| 1907; 118 years ago (1907)
Commissioner| Jeff Jackson (since 2021)
Sports fielded|

* 18
* men's: 8
* women's: 10

Division| Division I
Subdivision| non-football
No. of teams| 11
Headquarters| St. Louis, Missouri
Region| Midwestern & Southern United States
Official website| mvc-sports.com
Locations

Missouri Valley Conference

220km
137miles

Miami

Ball State

Bowling Green

Western Michigan

Northern Illinois

Little Rock

Murray State

UIC

Belmont

Valparaiso

Southern Illinois

Northern Iowa

Indiana State

Illinois State

Evansville

Drake

Bradley

Location of MVC members:
full member  affiliate member

The Missouri Valley Conference (also called MVC or simply "The Valley") is the fourth-oldest collegiate athletic conference in the United States. The conference's members are primarily located in the Midwest though with substantial extension into the South in states like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

## History

[edit]

The MVC was established in 1907 (its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, and Washington University in St. Louis) as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA), 12 years after the Big Ten Conference, the only Division I conference that is older. It is the fourth-oldest college athletic conference in the United States, after the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA Division III's Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).[1][2]

The MVIAA split in 1928, with most of the larger schools (the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, Iowa Agricultural College (now Iowa State University), Kansas State University, and University of Oklahoma) forming a conference that retained the MVIAA name; this conference evolved into the Big Eight Conference. The Big Eight merged with four Texas schools of the Southwest Conference to form the Big 12 Conference in 1996.[3]

The smaller MVIAA schools (Drake, Grinnell and Washington University in St. Louis), plus Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University, which joined the Big Eight in 1957), were joined by Creighton to form the MVC, which retained the old MVIAA's administrative staff.

To this day, it has never been definitively established which conference was the original and which was the spinoff, though the Big Eight would go on to become the more prestigious of the two. During the Big Eight's run, both conferences claimed 1907 as their founding date, and the same history through 1927.

MVC teams held a 74–27 non-conference record during the 2006–07 college basketball season, including a record of 44–1 at home. The Valley finished in the top six of the RPI and ahead of a BCS conference for the second consecutive year, while also garnering multiple NCAA bids for the ninth straight year and 12th of 14.[4]

The MVC has not sponsored football since 1985, when it was a hybrid I-A/I-AA (now FBS and FCS, respectively) conference. However, five members have football programs in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) (known as the Gateway from 1985 to 2008) of Division I FCS, and two others compete in another FCS conference, the Pioneer Football League. The Missouri Valley Conference shares its name with the MVFC, and all three conferences operate from the same headquarters complex in St. Louis; however, the three are separate administratively.

After weeks of speculation,[5][6] Wichita State announced on April 7, 2017, that it would leave the conference to join the American Athletic Conference starting with the 2017–18 season.[7] The conference announced it extended an invitation to Valparaiso University on May 9, 2017;[8] and on May 25, the MVC announced that Valparaiso would officially join the following July 1.[9]

The most recent changes to the core MVC membership were announced during the 2021–22 school year. On September 28, 2021, the MVC and Belmont University jointly announced that the school would leave the Ohio Valley Conference for the MVC effective July 1, 2022.[10] Then, on November 16, Loyola University Chicago announced it would leave the MVC at the same time, joining the Atlantic 10 Conference.[11] On the same day Loyola announced its departure, CBS Sports reported that the MVC was actively pursuing further expansion, having entered into talks with the University of Missouri–Kansas City (known athletically as Kansas City), Murray State University, and the University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington). The report indicated that the latter two were considered the strongest candidates, but that all three were likely to receive invitations in the coming months.[12] On January 7, 2022, the MVC announced that Murray State would officially join the conference on July 1 of that year.[13] UT Arlington would soon remove itself from the list of candidates by announcing a 2022 move to the Western Athletic Conference.[14]

Shortly before Murray State was officially announced as an incoming MVC member, Matt Brown of the Extra Points college sports blog reported that the MVC was also in membership discussions with the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), then a member of the Horizon League. On the same weekend that Murray State's arrival was officially announced, MVC officials made a site visit to UIC. Brown's sources indicated that an invitation to UIC was likely. Brown noted that with the MVC losing Loyola, league officials believed that maintaining a presence in the city was a top priority, stating (emphasis in original):[15]

> Throughout this process, multiple administrators at MVC institutions stressed the importance of getting access to new urban areas to recruit more students, not just athletes. With so many schools depending heavily on Chicago, and especially Chicago's suburbs, for enrollment, continuing to have a presence in the city was seen as a major priority.

On January 22, 2022, Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com reported that UIC's July entry to the MVC was "a done deal", with his sources indicating that the MVC wanted to announce the move before the Conference Commissioners Association held its annual meeting in Naples, Florida in early February.[16] UIC's entry was officially announced on January 26.[17]

On May 10, 2024, Missouri State announced it would leave the MVC to transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and join Conference USA, effective for the 2025–26 season.[18]

The MVC's decades-long ties with the MVFC were formalized when the latter announced a new conference structure on May 5, 2025, taking effect that July. Under the new structure, the MVFC's top two administrative positions will be filled by the commissioners of the MVC and the also non-football Summit League, and both multisport conferences will share administrative operations. The MVC and Summit are the full-time conference homes of all but one of the MVFC's 10 members in the 2025 season.[19]

## Member schools

[edit]

### Current full members

[edit]

Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Type | Enrollment[20] | Endowment
(millions) | Nickname | Colors

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Belmont University | Nashville, Tennessee | 1890  | 2022[a] | Private

(Christian)

| 8,700  | $356.8  | Bruins |
Bradley University | Peoria, Illinois | 1897  | 1948,
1955[b] | Private  | 5,451  | $350  | Braves |
Drake University | Des Moines, Iowa | 1881  | 1907,
1956[b] | Private  | 5,270  | $219.8  | Bulldogs |
University of Evansville | Evansville, Indiana | 1854  | 1994  | Private

(UMC)

| 2,526  | $157  | Purple Aces |
University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | 1946  | 2022  | Public  | 30,539  | $3,380[c] | Flames |
Illinois State University | Normal, Illinois | 1857  | 1981  | Public  | 20,683  | $240  | Redbirds |
Indiana State University | Terre Haute, Indiana | 1865  | 1976[d] | Public  | 13,584  | $102.9[21] | Sycamores |
Murray State University | Murray, Kentucky | 1922  | 2022  | Public  | 10,495  | $100.2  | Racers |
University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 1876  | 1991  | Public  | 12,273  | $163  | Panthers |
Southern Illinois University | Carbondale, Illinois | 1869  | 1975  | Public  | 11,695  | $171.8  | Salukis |
Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, Indiana | 1859  | 2017[e] | Private

(Lutheran)

| 2,900  | $254.2  | Beacons[f] |

Notes

1. ^ Belmont had been an MVC affiliate in men's soccer for the 2000 fall season (2000–01 school year).
2. ^ a b Bradley and Drake both withdrew from the MVC during the 1951–52 school year in protest over the Johnny Bright incident, a racially motivated on-field attack by an Oklahoma A&M football player against Drake player Johnny Bright in a 1951 game. Bradley returned to the MVC for non-football sports in the 1955–56 school year, with Drake doing the same a year later (1956–57 school year). However, Bradley never returned to MVC football, dropping the sport after the 1970 fall season (1970–71 school year), and Drake did not return for football until the 1971 fall season (1971–72 school year).
3. ^ Entire U of I system.
4. ^ The Indiana State men's basketball team joined the MVC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (1977–78).
5. ^ Valparaiso had been an MVC affiliate in women's soccer from the 1996 to the 1998 fall seasons (1996–97 to 1998–99 school years).
6. ^ Valparaiso officially adopted the "Beacons" nickname shortly before the start of classes in the 2021–22 school year after abandoning its previous nickname of Crusaders due to unfavorable connotations.

### Affiliate members

[edit]

Note: In the case of spring sports, the year of joining is the calendar year before the start of competition.

Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Primary
conference | MVC
sport(s)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
(Little Rock)  | Little Rock, Arkansas | 1927  | 2013–14  | Public  | 13,167  | Trojans | OVC | women's swimming
Ball State University | Muncie, Indiana | 1918  | 2024–25  | 21,597  | Cardinals | MAC | men's swimming and diving
Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, Ohio | 1910  | 2023–24[a] | 18,142  | Falcons | men's soccer
University of Massachusetts Amherst | Amherst, Massachusetts | 1863  | 2025–26  | 27,420  | Minutemen | men's swimming and diving
Miami University | Oxford, Ohio | 1809  | 2024–25  | 18,880  | RedHawks | men's swimming and diving
Missouri State University | Springfield, Missouri | 1905  | 2025–26[b] | 26,000[24] | Bears/Lady Bears | CUSA | men's and women's swimming & diving
Northern Illinois University | DeKalb, Illinois | 1895  | 2023–24  | 16,769  | Huskies | MAC | men's soccer
Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, Michigan | 1903  | 2023–24  | 19,887  | Broncos | MAC | men's soccer

Notes

1. ^ Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan's full-time home of the Mid-American Conference suspended men's soccer as a conference sport after the conclusion of the 2022 season.[22][23]
2. ^ Measured from Missouri State's departure from full MVC membership.

### Former members

[edit]

#### Former full members (26)

[edit]

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Butler University | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1855  | 1932  | 1934  | Private  | 4,667  | Bulldogs | Big East
University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | 1819  | 1957  | 1970  | Public  | 42,421  | Bearcats | Big 12
Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska | 1878  | 1928,
1976[a] | 1948,
2013  | Private  | 7,730  | Bluejays | Big East
University of Detroit[b] | Detroit, Michigan | 1877  | 1949  | 1956  | Private  | 5,450  | Titans | Horizon
Grinnell College | Grinnell, Iowa | 1846  | 1918  | 1939  | Private  | 1,688  | Pioneers | Midwest[c]
University of Houston | Houston, Texas | 1927  | 1951  | 1959  | Public  | 39,820  | Cougars | Big 12
University of Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa | 1847  | 1907  | 1908  | Public  | 30,328  | Hawkeyes | Big Ten
Iowa State College[d] | Ames, Iowa | 1858  | 1907  | 1928  | Public  | 29,887  | Cyclones | Big 12
University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas | 1865  | 1907  | 1928  | Public  | 29,462  | Jayhawks | Big 12
Kansas State College[e] | Manhattan, Kansas | 1863  | 1913  | 1928  | Public  | 23,863  | Wildcats | Big 12
University of Louisville | Louisville, Kentucky | 1798  | 1963[f] | 1975  | Public  | 19,743  | Cardinals | ACC
Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | 1870  | 2013  | 2022  | Private  | 16,437[25] | Ramblers | Atlantic 10
Memphis State University[g] | Memphis, Tennessee | 1912  | 1968  | 1973  | Public  | 23,031  | Tigers | The American
University of Missouri | Columbia, Missouri | 1839  | 1907  | 1928  | Public  | 33,805  | Tigers | SEC
Missouri State University | Springfield, Missouri | 1905  | 1990  | 2025  | Public  | 26,000[26] | Bears/Lady Bears[h] | CUSA
University of Nebraska | Lincoln, Nebraska | 1869  | 1907,
1921  | 1919,
1928  | Public  | 24,593  | Cornhuskers | Big Ten
New Mexico State University[i] | Las Cruces, New Mexico | 1888  | 1970  | 1983  | Public  | 18,497  | Aggies | CUSA
North Texas State University[j] | Denton, Texas | 1890  | 1957  | 1975  | Public  | 35,694  | Mean Green | The American
University of Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma | 1890  | 1919  | 1928  | Public  | 30,303  | Sooners | SEC
Oklahoma A&M College[k] | Stillwater, Oklahoma | 1890  | 1925  | 1956  | Public  | 21,419  | Aggies/Cowboys[l] | Big 12
Saint Louis University | St. Louis, Missouri | 1818  | 1937  | 1974  | Private  | 13,785  | Billikens | Atlantic 10
University of Tulsa | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 1894  | 1935  | 1996  | Private  | 4,165  | Golden Hurricane | The American
Washburn University | Topeka, Kansas | 1865  | 1935  | 1942  | Public  | 7,303  | Ichabods | MIAA[m]
Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis, Missouri | 1853  | 1907  | 1942  | Private  | 14,070  | Bears | UAA[c]
West Texas State University[n] | Canyon, Texas | 1910  | 1972  | 1986  | Public  | 7,843  | Buffaloes | Lone Star[m]
Wichita State University | Wichita, Kansas | 1895  | 1949  | 2017  | Public  | 14,495  | Shockers | The American

Notes

1. ^ Creighton previously withdrew from the MVC from 1948–49 to 1975–76.
2. ^ Currently known as the University of Detroit Mercy.
3. ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
4. ^ Currently known as Iowa State University.
5. ^ Currently known as Kansas State University.
6. ^ The Louisville men's basketball team joined the MVC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (1964–65).
7. ^ Currently known as the University of Memphis.
8. ^ In beach volleyball, a sport not sponsored by the MVC, Missouri State uses Beach Bears instead of Lady Bears.
9. ^ The New Mexico State football team joined the MVC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (1971–72); while its men's basketball team joined the MVC two years after (1972–73).
10. ^ Currently known as the University of North Texas.
11. ^ Currently known as Oklahoma State University–Stillwater.
12. ^ During Oklahoma A&M's tenure in the MVC, the nicknames "Aggies" and "Cowboys" were used interchangeably. When the school adopted its current name in 1957, the "Cowboys" nickname was exclusively adopted.
13. ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
14. ^ Currently known as West Texas A&M University.

#### Former affiliate members

[edit]

This list does not include current full members Belmont and Valparaiso. As noted above, the Bruins played men's soccer in the MVC for the 2000 fall season (2000–01 school year), and the Beacons, then known as the Crusaders, played women's soccer in the MVC from the 1996 to 1998 fall seasons (1996–97 to 1998–99 school years).

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joined  | Left  | Type  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Primary
conference  | MVC
sport(s)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, Arkansas | 1927  | 1998–99  | 1999–2000  | Public  | 13,167  | Trojans | OVC | women's soccer
University of Central Arkansas | Conway, Arkansas | 1907  | 2010–11  | 2018–19  | Public  | 13,863  | Bears | ASUN | men's soccer
Dallas Baptist University | Dallas, Texas | 1898  | 2013–14  | 2022–23  | Private  | 5,545  | Patriots | Lone Star[a][b] | baseball
Drury University | Springfield, Missouri | 1873  | 1999–2000  | 2004–05  | Private  | 5,474  | Panthers | GLVC[a] | women's soccer
Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, Illinois | 1895  | 1996–97  | 2010–11  | Public  | 11,651  | Panthers | OVC | men's soccer
University of Hartford | Hartford, Connecticut | 1877  | 2014–15  | 2015–16  | Private  | 6,935  | Hawks | CNE[c] | men's tennis[d]
Marshall University | Huntington, West Virginia | 1837  | 2022–23[27][e] | 2023–24  | Public  | 11,926  | Thundering Herd | Sun Belt | women's swimming
University of Maryland, Baltimore County | Catonsville, Maryland[f] | 1966  | 2014–15  | 2015–16  | Public  | 13,908  | Retrievers | America East | men's tennis[g]
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville[29] | Edwardsville, Illinois | 1957  | 2010–11
2021–22  | 2017–18
2023–24  | Public  | 14,000  | Cougars | OVC | men's soccer
Southern Methodist University | University Park, Texas[h] | 1911  | 2000–01  | 2004–05  | Private  | 12,000  | Mustangs | ACC | men's soccer
Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, New York | 1957  | 2014–15  | 2022–23  | Public  | 24,594  | Seawolves | CAA | men's tennis (until 2016–17), women's tennis[i]
Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, Texas | 1873  | 2000–01  | 2000–01  | Private  | 9,518  | Horned Frogs | Big 12 | men's soccer[j]
University of Tulsa[k] | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 1894  | 2000–01  | 2004–05  | Private  | 4,165  | Golden Hurricane | The American | men's soccer
Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Tennessee | 1873  | 1997–98  | 2005–06  | Private  | 12,714  | Commodores | SEC | men's soccer[l]
Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, Kentucky | 1906  | 1997–98  | 2007–08  | Public  | 21,048  | Hilltoppers | CUSA | men's soccer[m]

Notes

1. ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
2. ^ Dallas Baptist plays baseball in CUSA.
3. ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
4. ^ Hartford dropped men's tennis after the 2015–16 school year.
5. ^ Marshall will be an MVC affiliate for the 2022–23 season only. Marshall's full-time home of the Sun Belt Conference will add women's swimming & diving in 2023–24.[28]
6. ^ The camous has a Baltimore mailing address.
7. ^ UMBC dropped men's tennis after the 2015–16 season.
8. ^ The camous has a Dallas mailing address.
9. ^ Stony Brook dropped men's tennis after the 2016–17 season. The school's women's tennis team remained an MVC affiliate, but left when it joined the CAA in July 2022.[30]
10. ^ TCU dropped men's soccer after the 2002 fall season (2002–03 school year).
11. ^ Tulsa was a full member from 1935–36 to 1995–96, but re-joined the MVC as a men's soccer associate from the 2000 to 2004 fall seasons (2000–01 to 2004–05 school years).
12. ^ Vanderbilt dropped men's soccer after the 2005 fall season (2005–06 school year).
13. ^ Western Kentucky dropped men's soccer after the 2007 fall season (2007–08 school year).

### Membership timeline

[edit]

Full members Full members (non-football) Assoc. members (football only) Assoc. member (other sports) Other Conference Other Conference

## Commissioners

[edit]

1. C. E. McClung (1907–19??)[31]
2. Arthur (Artie) E. Eilers (1925–1957)[31]
3. Norvell Neve (1957–1969)[31][32]
4. DeWitt T. Weaver (1969–1972)[31]
5. Mickey Holmes (1972–1979)[33][31]
6. David Price (1979–1981)[34][31]
7. Richard D. Martin (1981–1985)[31]
8. James A. Haney (1985–1988)[35][31]
9. Doug Elgin (1988–2021)[31][36]
10. Jeff Jackson (2021–present)

## Sports

[edit]

Former Missouri Valley Conference logo

The Missouri Valley Conference sponsors championship competition in eight men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[37] Ball State (men), Little Rock (women), and Miami (OH) (men) are affiliates in swimming and diving, and Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan are affiliates in men's soccer.

The most recent change to the roster of sports came in the 2024–25 school year, when the MVC reinstated men's swimming & diving after a 22-year absence. The inaugural season of the relaunched league features 7 sponsoring members, with full members Evansville, UIC, Missouri State, Southern Illinois, and Valparaiso joined by new affiliates Ball State and Miami (OH)— previously, all these programs were housed in the Mid-American Conference.[38]

Teams in Missouri Valley Conference competition Sport | Men's | Women's

|
|

Baseball |

Basketball |

Cross country |

Golf |

Soccer |

Softball |

Swimming & diving |

Tennis |

Track and field (indoor) |

Track and field (outdoor) |

Volleyball |

### Men's sponsored sports by school

[edit]

School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross
country | Golf | Soccer | Swimming
& diving | Track & field
(indoor) | Track & field
(outdoor) | Total MVC
sports

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Belmont | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7
Bradley | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7
Drake | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 6
Evansville | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
UIC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7
Illinois State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | 6
Indiana State | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | 5
Murray State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | 4
Northern Iowa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | 5
Southern Illinois | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7
Valparaiso | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes[a] | Yes | Yes | 7
Totals | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 5+3[b] | 4+4[c] | 10 | 10 | 69+7

1. ^ Valparaiso does not include diving in its intercollegiate aquatics program.
2. ^ Men's soccer associates Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan. NIU will leave after the 2025 season when it rejoins the Horizon League, which sponsors that sport.
3. ^ Men's swimming & diving associates Ball State, Miami (Ohio), Missouri State, and UMass.

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Missouri Valley Conference which are played by Valley schools:

School | Football | Rifle[a] | Tennis | Wrestling

|
|
|
|

Belmont | No | No | Horizon | No
Drake | Pioneer League | No | Summit | No
UIC | No | No | MAC | No
Illinois State | MVFC | No | Summit | No
Indiana State | MVFC | No | No | No
Murray State | MVFC | OVC[b] | No | No
Northern Iowa | MVFC | No | No | Big 12
Southern Illinois | MVFC | No | No | No
Valparaiso | Pioneer League | No | No | No

1. ^ Rifle is a fully coeducational sport, though the NCAA treats it as a men's sport for purposes of its sports sponsorship regulations.
2. ^ Murray State fields a single coeducational rifle team.

### Women's sponsored sports by school

[edit]

School | Basketball | Cross
country | Golf | Soccer | Softball | Swimming | Tennis | Track & field
(indoor) | Track & field
(outdoor) | Volleyball | Total MVC
sports

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Belmont | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Bradley | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Drake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Evansville | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
UIC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Illinois State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Indiana State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Murray State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Northern Iowa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Southern Illinois | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Valparaiso | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[a] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Totals | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 7+2[b] | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 82+2

1. ^ Valparaiso does not include diving in its intercollegiate aquatics program for either men or women.
2. ^ Swimming & diving associates Little Rock and Missouri State

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Missouri Valley Conference which are played by Valley schools:

School | Bowling | Gymnastics | Rifle[a] | Rowing

|
|
|
|

Drake | No | No | No | MAAC
Illinois State | No | MIC | No | No
Murray State | No | No | OVC[b] | No
Valparaiso | CUSA | No | No | No

1. ^ Rifle is a fully coeducational sport, though the NCAA treats it as a men's sport for purposes of its sports sponsorship regulations.
2. ^ Murray State fields a single coeducational rifle team.

## Facilities

[edit]

School  | Soccer Stadium  | Capacity  | Basketball Center  | Capacity  | Softball Complex  | Capacity  | Baseball Field  | Capacity

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Belmont[39] | E. S. Rose Park | 300  | Curb Event Center | 5,085  | E. S. Rose Park  | 250  | E. S. Rose Park  | 750
Bradley[40] | Shea Stadium | 3,800  | Men: Carver Arena
Women: Renaissance Coliseum | 11,060
4,200  | Louisville Slugger Sports Complex  | 1,000  | Dozer Park | 7,500
Drake[41] | Mediacom Stadium  | 4,000  | The Knapp Center | 6,424  | Ron Buel Field  | 500  | Non-baseball school
Evansville[42] | Arad McCutchan Stadium | 2,500  | Men: Ford Center
Women: Meeks Family Fieldhouse  | 10,000
1,087  | James & Dorothy
Cooper Stadium  | 650  | Charles H. Braun Stadium | 1,200
UIC[43] | Flames Field  | 1,200  | Credit Union 1 Arena | 8,000  | Flames Field  | 500  | Curtis Granderson Stadium | 2,000
Illinois State[44] | Adelaide Street Field  | 1,000  | CEFCU Arena | 10,200  | Marian Kneer Softball Stadium  | 1,050  | Duffy Bass Field | 1,000
Indiana State[45] | Memorial Stadium | 12,764  | Hulman Center | 9,000  | Eleanor Forsythe St. John Softball Complex  | 700  | Sycamore Stadium | 2,000
Murray State[46] | Cutchin Field  | 250  | CFSB Center | 8,600  | Racer Field  | 500  | Johnny Reagan Field | 800
Northern Iowa[47] | UNI Soccer Field  | —  | McLeod Center | 6,500  | Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex  | —  | Non-baseball school
Southern Illinois[48] | Saluki Stadium | 15,000  | Banterra Center | 8,339  | Charlotte West Stadium  | 502  | Itchy Jones Stadium | 2,000
Valparaiso[49] | Brown Field | 5,000  | Athletics–Recreation Center | 5,000  | Valpo Softball Complex  | —  | Emory G. Bauer Field | 500
Affiliate members
Bowling Green[50] | Mickey Cochrane Stadium | 1,500  | Men's soccer-only member
Northern Illinois[51] | NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex | 1,500
Western Michigan[52] | WMU Soccer Complex | 1,000

Note

1. For football venues of the member schools who participate in the sport, see Missouri Valley Football Conference | Facilities and  Pioneer Football League | Conference facilities.

## Basketball tournament champions by year

[edit]

Main articles: Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament and Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball tournament

The Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament is often referred to as Arch Madness, in reference to the Gateway Arch at the tournament's present location of St. Louis, Missouri, and a play on "March Madness". The women's tournament is currently promoted as Hoops in the Heartland.

Season | Men's Champion | Women's Champion

|
|

1977 | Southern Illinois | No Tournament
1978 | Creighton | No Tournament
1979 | Indiana State | No Tournament
1980 | Bradley | No Tournament
1981 | Creighton | No Tournament
1982 | Tulsa | No Tournament
1983 | Illinois State | Illinois State
1984 | Tulsa | No Tournament
1985 | Wichita State | No Tournament
1986 | Tulsa | No Tournament
1987 | Wichita State | Southern Illinois
1988 | Bradley | Eastern Illinois
1989 | Creighton | Illinois State
1990 | Illinois State | Southern Illinois
1991 | Creighton | Southwest Missouri State
1992 | Southwest Missouri State | Southwest Missouri State
1993 | Southern Illinois | Southwest Missouri State
1994 | Southern Illinois | Southwest Missouri State
1995 | Southern Illinois | Drake
1996 | Tulsa | Southwest Missouri State
1997 | Illinois State | Illinois State
1998 | Illinois State | Illinois State
1999 | Creighton | Evansville
2000 | Creighton | Drake
2001 | Indiana State | Southwest Missouri State
2002 | Creighton | Creighton
2003 | Creighton | Southwest Missouri State
2004 | Northern Iowa | Southwest Missouri State
2005 | Creighton | Illinois State
2006 | Southern Illinois | Missouri State
2007 | Creighton | Drake
2008 | Drake | Illinois State
2009 | Northern Iowa | Evansville
2010 | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa
2011 | Indiana State | Northern Iowa
2012 | Creighton | Creighton
2013 | Creighton | Wichita State
2014 | Wichita State | Wichita State
2015 | Northern Iowa | Wichita State
2016 | Northern Iowa | Missouri State
2017 | Wichita State | Drake
2018 | Loyola Chicago | Drake
2019 | Bradley | Missouri State
2020 | Bradley | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 | Loyola Chicago | Bradley
2022  | Loyola Chicago  | Illinois State
2023  | Drake  | Drake
2024  | Drake  | Drake
2025  | Drake  | Murray State

NB: Missouri State was known as Southwest Missouri State until August 2005.

### Postseason history multiple bids

[edit]

NCAA tournament | Year | MVC Rep.

|

1979 | (1) Indiana State  | (10) New Mexico State
1981 | (6) Wichita State  | (8) Creighton
1984 | (4) Tulsa  | (8) Illinois State
1985 | (6) Tulsa  | (9) Illinois State  | (11) Wichita State
1986 | (7) Bradley  | (10) Tulsa
1987 | (11) Tulsa  | (11) Wichita State
1988 | (9) Bradley  | (12) Wichita State
1994 | (11) Southern Illinois  | (12) Tulsa
1995 | (6) Tulsa  | (10) Southern Illinois
1996 | (8) Bradley  | (11) Tulsa
1999 | (10) Creighton  | (11) Evansville  | (12) Southwest Missouri State
2000 | (10) Creighton  | (12) Indiana State
2001 | (10) Creighton  | (13) Indiana State
2002 | (11) Southern Illinois  | (12) Creighton
2003 | (6) Creighton  | (11) Southern Illinois
2004 | (9) Southern Illinois  | (14) Northern Iowa
2005 | (7) Southern Illinois  | (10) Creighton  | (11) Northern Iowa
2006 | (7) Wichita State  | (10) Northern Iowa  | (11) Southern Illinois  | (13) Bradley
2007 | (4) Southern Illinois  | (10) Creighton
2012 | (5) Wichita State  | (8) Creighton
2013 | (7) Creighton  | (9) Wichita State
2015 | (5) Northern Iowa  | (7) Wichita State
2016 | (11) Northern Iowa  | (11) Wichita State
2021 | (8) Loyola Chicago  | (11) Drake

## National team titles by institution

[edit]

School – Number – NCAA championships

* Belmont
* Bradley – 2 [53]
* Drake – 3 [53]
* Evansville – 0+5* [53]
* UIC
* Illinois State – 0+1* [53]
* Indiana State – 1 [53]
* Missouri State – 0 +2* [53]
* Murray State
* UNI – 1+2* [53]
* Southern Illinois – 5+3* [53]
* Valparaiso – 0[53]

NCAA Championships as of March 2013

(*-Titles won by schools in Division II/College Division prior to their moving to Division I in the late 1960s or early 1970s)

Football poll, Helms and AIAW titles are not included in the NCAA Championship count.

## Men's basketball attendance

[edit]

Sources:[54][55][56]

The Valley is well known for having some of the most dedicated fanbases in all of college basketball, with several members regularly selling out their large arenas on a nightly basis throughout the year. Former member Creighton had the sixth highest attendance for Division I in 2012–13, while Bradley, Illinois State, Missouri State, and Indiana State were all among the NCAA's top 100 teams in home attendance.

In 2010–11, 2011–12, and 2012–13, the Valley maintained its position as the eighth ranked conference in average attendance.

The Valley made history in March 2007, with record attendance for four days at St. Louis' Scottrade Center as 85,074 fans turned out to watch the five sessions of the conference tournament. The two sellout crowds of 22,612 for the semifinals and final of the 2007 tournament set an all-time attendance record for basketball at the arena and also gave the Valley the distinction of having the largest championship crowd for any of the 30 NCAA conference tournaments in 2007.[57]

## Football champions by year

[edit]

Main article: Missouri Valley Conference football

* All MVC schools that currently play football are part of the Missouri Valley Football Conference except for Drake and Valparaiso, which play in the Pioneer Football League.

## MVC TV Network

[edit]

Since at least 1993, the MVC has produced an in-house package of sports as part of the MVC TV Network.[58]Starting in 1996, those telecasts were produced, in part, by Bally Sports Midwest (formerly Fox Sports Midwest). These games were distributed to regional sports networks including Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Southeast, and NBC Sports Chicago (now Chicago Sports Network), as well as shown on Bally Sports Midwest.[59] Until the 2020–21 season, some of these telecasts also aired on Fox College Sports. Outside of regional networks these telecasts were also available on ESPN3 until the 2018–19 season; those telecasts were then migrated over to ESPN+.[60]

Starting with the 2024–25 academic year, production and distribution rights were acquired by Gray Media, with Gray Media-owned Indianapolis-based Tupelo Honey handling the actual production and distribution.[61] It is a linear over-the-air station package distributed in Gray Media markets within the MVC member states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee as well as third-party broadcast partners in markets within those same states where Gray Media has no presence; in addition, simulcasts will be available live nationally (via ESPN+ and through the ESPN app) without any digital blackouts (prior contracts prohibited simulcast availability within the MVC footprint).

The MVC TV Network serves as the home for the opening and quarterfinal rounds of Arch Madness (the nickname for the MVC men's basketball tournament).

## See also

[edit]

* Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "History of the MIAA – America's Oldest Collegiate Conference". MIAA. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. ^ "Merger Creates Dynamite Dozen". Los Angeles Times. August 27, 1996. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
4. ^ "MVC in the NCAA and NIT" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 8, 2018.
5. ^ Thamel, Pete. "Sources: Wichita State in talks to join AAC". SI.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
6. ^ Katz, Andy. "Source: Wichita St. eyes 2017 move to AAC". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
7. ^ "American Athletic Conference - Wichita State to Become Member of American Athletic Conference". American Athletic Conference. February 21, 2017. Archived from the original on May 14, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
8. ^ "Missouri Valley Conference - The Valley Invites Valparaiso University". Mvc-sports.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
9. ^ "It's Official. Welcome, Valparaiso" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. May 25, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
10. ^ "Belmont University to Join Missouri Valley Conference" (Press release). Belmont Bruins. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
11. ^ "Atlantic 10 Conference Accepts Loyola University Chicago as Full Member Institution" (Press release). Atlantic 10 Conference. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
12. ^ Norlander, Matt (November 16, 2021). "Missouri Valley Conference loses Loyola Chicago but pursuing Murray State, UT Arlington and Kansas City". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
13. ^ "Murray State University Joins The Missouri Valley Conference" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
14. ^ "University of Texas at Arlington Accepts Invitation to Join WAC" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
15. ^ Brown, Matt (January 5, 2022). "MVC expected to add Murray State, likely to add more". Extra Points. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
16. ^ Norlander, Matt (January 22, 2022). "UIC to join Missouri Valley Conference in July, rounding out league's expansion effort at 12 teams". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
17. ^ "UIC to Join the Missouri Valley Conference" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
18. ^ "Missouri State Accepts Invitation to Join Conference USA" (Press release). Missouri State Bears Athletics. May 10, 202. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
19. ^ "Missouri Valley Football Conference, Summit League Forge Partnership" (Press release). Missouri Valley Football Conference. May 5, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
20. ^ "US News Education – Best Colleges – Best Graduate Schools – Online Schools – US News". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
21. ^ "Making a BOLD Impact: 2022-2023 Annual Report".
22. ^ "MAC to Suspend Sponsoring Men's Soccer Following 2022 Season" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
23. ^ "Missouri Valley Conference To Expand in Men's Soccer for 2023" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
24. ^ "Missouri State University system sets another fall enrollment record". September 21, 2016. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017.
25. ^ "Loyola University Chicago | Loyola at a Glance Loyola at a Glance". Luc.edu. Archived from the original on October 14, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
26. ^ "Missouri State University system sets another fall enrollment record". September 21, 2016. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017.
27. ^ "Marshall Joins MVC As Women's Swimming & Diving Affiliate Member" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
28. ^ "Sun Belt Presidents/Chancellors add two sports, look into adding third" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
29. ^ "MVC Adds SIUE As Men's Soccer Affiliate". Missouri Valley Conference. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
30. ^ "Stony Brook Athletics to Discontinue Men's Tennis" (Press release). Stony Brook Seawolves. March 31, 2017. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
31. ^ a b c d e f g h i "2011–12 Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball media guide" (PDF). Missouri Valley Conference. 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2012.[permanent dead link]
32. ^ "ACC Jobs Expected To Be Filled". Greensboro, North Carolina: Radford News Journal. April 29, 1969. pp. 8 (on page 5). Retrieved February 20, 2013.
33. ^ Gregorian, Vahe (September 10, 2012). "FCS foes could pose problems for Mizzou, Illini; Former MVC head dies". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on November 13, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
34. ^ Missouri Valley Conference 75 1981 Football/Anniversary Issue. Missouri Valley Conference. p. Page 2.
35. ^ Weyler, John (March 9, 1988). "Haney Expected to Get PCAA Job : Missouri Valley Commissioner May Be Named This Week". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
36. ^ "Doug Elgin, current Commissioner". MVC-Sports.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
37. ^ "Missouri Valley Conference Sports". MVC-Sports.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
38. ^ "MVC To Sponsor Men's Swimming & Diving in 2024-25" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
39. ^ BELMONT UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC FACILITIES at BelmontBruins.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
40. ^ Bradley Athletics Facilities at BradleyBraves.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
41. ^ Facilities at GoDrakeBulldogs.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
42. ^ Facilities at GoPurpleAces.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
43. ^ Facilities at UICFlames.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
44. ^ Facilities at GoRedbirds.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
45. ^ Facilities at GoSycamores.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
46. ^ Facilities at GoRacers.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
47. ^ Facilities at UNIPanthers.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
48. ^ Facilities at SIUSalukis.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
49. ^ Facilities at ValpoAthletics.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
50. ^ Facilities at BGSUFalcons.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
51. ^ Facilities at NIUHuskies.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
52. ^ Facilities at WMUBroncos.com, URL accessed December 5, 2024.
53. ^ a b c d e f g h i "National Team Titles by Institution" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
54. ^ Pbrock (November 27, 2013). "NCAA Men's Basketball Attendance | NCAA.org – The Official Site of the NCAA". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. NCAA.org. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
55. ^ "Official NCAA attendance figures". Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
56. ^ "2012-13 NCAA Men's Basketball Records - Attendance" (PDF). NCAA.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 5, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
57. ^ "MVC official site:"This is the MVC"". Archived from the original on March 16, 2010.
58. ^ "MVC To Televise 24-Game Network Package". mvc-sports.com. October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
59. ^ "MVC TV Network (PDF) - Missouri Valley Conference" (PDF). mvc-sports.com. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
60. ^ "Everything You Need to Know About the MVC and ESPN+". mvc-sports.com. April 10, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
61. ^ "MVC & Gray Media Execute Multi-Year Broadcasting Agreement". mvc-sports.com. September 10, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.

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[edit]

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