Southland Conference

American collegiate athletic conference

Southland Conference

Formerly| Southland Football League (1996–2002, football-only)
Association| NCAA
Founded| 1963
Commissioner| Chris Grant (since 2022)
Sports fielded|

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

Division| Division I
Subdivision| FCS
No. of teams| 12
Headquarters| Frisco, Texas
Region| West South Central
Official website| southland.org
Locations

The Southland Conference (SLC) is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the South Central United States (specifically Texas and Louisiana). It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Southland sponsors 18 sports, 10 for women and eight for men, and is governed by a presidential Board of Directors and an Advisory Council of athletic and academic administrators. Chris Grant became the Southland's seventh commissioner on April 5, 2022.[1] From 1996 to 2002, for football only, the Southland Conference was known as the Southland Football League.[2]

The conference's offices are located in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas. According to a press release from April 11, 2022, the conference was to undergo a rebrand in 2022 that included a new name and logo.[3] The rebranding was unveiled in March 2023, with a new logo but no change to the conference name.[4]

## History

[edit]

### Chronological timeline

[edit]

Southland Conference

120km
75miles

Houston Christian

UTRGV

Stephen F. Austin

Southeastern Louisiana

Texas A&M–Corpus Christi

Northwestern State

Nicholls

New Orleans

East Texas A&M

Lamar

McNeese

Incarnate Word

Location of Southland members:  full

Founded in 1963, its members were Abilene Christian College (now Abilene Christian University; departed in 1973 for NCAA Division II, but moved to Division I and rejoined the Southland in 2013), Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University; departed in 1987, now a member of the Sun Belt Conference), Arlington State College (now the University of Texas at Arlington, departed in 2012 and now in the Western Athletic Conference),[5] Lamar State College of Technology (now Lamar University; departed in 1987, rejoined in 1999, left again in 2021, returned in 2022),[6] and Trinity University (departed in 1972, now participating in NCAA Division III).

Since its founding, the Southland Conference has been the home for 18 college and university all-sports programs (see membership timeline below). In addition, the conference has also been home to some schools for one sport only. In the case of football, Troy University fielded a team from 1996 to 2000 and Jacksonville State University did so from 1997 to 2002. This has also been the case for some Olympic sports like men's tennis, in which the University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA; since merged into the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, or UTRGV) and the University of New Orleans (UNO) fielded teams as affiliate members before 2013, when UTPA joined the WAC and UNO became a full Southland member.

The Southland underwent major turmoil in 2021, losing five members. On January 14, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced that four Southland members - Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin \- would join that conference in July 2022.[7] Within a week, the Southland expelled those four schools, leading the WAC to move their entry up to July 2021.[8][9] A fifth member, Central Arkansas, announced on January 29 that it would join the Atlantic Sun Conference effective that July.[10] At the time, the ASUN was a non-football conference, but soon entered into a football partnership with the WAC that gave Central Arkansas and two other incoming ASUN members a football home until an ASUN football league was established.[11]

The Southland began the process of rebuilding its core membership in September 2021, announcing that East Texas A&M University, then named Texas A&M University-Commerce, would start a transition from NCAA Division II and join the conference in July 2022.[12] The SLC also announced a football scheduling alliance with the Ohio Valley Conference, another FCS league that had experienced major membership losses during the early-2020s realignment cycle, for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.[13] However, shortly after Texas A&M-Commerce was announced as a future member, the SLC was set to experience further attrition when the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) announced that it would leave for the WAC after the 2021–22 school year.[14] Ultimately, however, this did not come to pass, as UIW announced it would be staying in the SLC only 7 months after announcing its departure.[15] McNeese was also courted by the WAC, and also flirted with a move to Conference USA, but eventually stayed in the SLC. According to the American Press, the daily newspaper of McNeese's home of Lake Charles, Louisiana, McNeese became "the de facto lead school in the league". It was set to host the SLC's football media day through at least the 2026 season, as well as the conference tournaments in men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball through 2026.[16]

More recently, Lamar announced it would return to the SLC effective in 2023–24.[17] In addition, on April 11, 2022 the conference announced in a press release that it had partnered with Troika Media Group to institute a rebrand to be implemented before the end of the calendar year. The release stated that the rebrand would include, among other things, a new name for the conference.[18] On July 11, 2022, Lamar and the Southland Conference announced Lamar's accelerated return to the SLC effective immediately.[19] The following day saw the SLC lose two of its women's golf associates when the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Northeast Conference (NEC) announced a partnership for baseball and men's and women's golf that saw all MEAC schools that sponsored those sports become NEC associates. Accordingly, Delaware State and Maryland Eastern Shore, which had joined SLC women's golf just a year earlier, moved that sport to the NEC.[20]

On March 25, 2024, the Southland expanded again with the announcement that UTRGV would join the conference effective July 1, 2024, joining Lamar from the WAC.[21] Two months later, multiple media reports indicated that Stephen F. Austin would return to the SLC in July 2024;[22][23] this move was officially announced on May 29.[24]

## Member schools

[edit]

### Current full members

[edit]

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

East Texas A&M University[a] | Commerce, Texas | 1889  | 2022  | Public
(TAMUS)  | 10,785[25] | $33.2[b] | Lions |
Houston Christian University | Houston, Texas | 1960  | 2013  | Private
(Baptist)  | 4,276[26] | $132  | Huskies |
University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio, Texas | 1881  | 2013  | Private
(Catholic \- CCVI)  | 9,191[27] | $175  | Cardinals |
Lamar University | Beaumont, Texas | 1923  | 1963;
1999;
2022[c][28] | Public
(TSUS)  | 17,898[29] | $161  | Cardinals/Lady Cardinals |
McNeese State University | Lake Charles, Louisiana | 1939  | 1972  | Public
(UL System)  | 7,648[30] | $118  | Cowboys/Cowgirls |
University of New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1958  | 2013  | Public
(UL System)  | 8,151[31] | $25.8  | Privateers |
Nicholls State University | Thibodaux, Louisiana | 1948  | 1991  | Public
(UL System)  | 6,366[32] | $30  | Colonels |
Northwestern State University | Natchitoches, Louisiana | 1884  | 1987  | Public
(UL System)  | 8,847[33] | $20.8  | Demons/Lady Demons |
Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond, Louisiana | 1925  | 1997  | Public
(UL System)  | 14,440[34] | $22.6  | Lions/Lady Lions |
Stephen F. Austin State University | Nacogdoches, Texas | 1923  | 1987; 2024[d] | Public
(UT System)  | 10,472[35] | $128.0[36][e] | Lumberjacks & Ladyjacks |
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi, Texas | 1947  | 2006  | Public
(TAMUS)  | 12,174[37] | $21.3[b] | Islanders |
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
(UTRGV)  | Edinburg, Texas[f] | 2015[g] | 2024[h] | Public
(UT System)  | 32,419[38] | $103.7[i] | Vaqueros |

Notes

1. ^ Formerly known as Texas A&M University-Commerce prior to November 2024.
2. ^ a b This refers to the endowment under direct institutional control, and does not include any funds the school receives from the state's Permanent University Fund as part of the Texas A&M University System.
3. ^ Lamar departed in 1987, rejoined in 1999, left again in 2021, returned in 2022.
4. ^ Stephen F. Austin was previously a member of the Southland from 1987 until 2021.
5. ^ The referenced report was issued before SFA joined the University of Texas System. The legislation that added SFA to the UT System also gave it rights to receive funding from the state's Permanent University Fund.
6. ^ UTRGV has multiple campuses within its service area, but its academic and athletic administrations are at the Edinburg campus it inherited from its athletic predecessor of the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA).
7. ^ UTRGV was formally founded in 2013, but did not start instruction until 2015.
8. ^ While UTRGV formally joined the Southland in 2024, the athletic program traces its history through UTPA, which was a Southland affiliate in men's tennis from 2000 until 2013. The UTRGV athletic program inherited UTPA's memberships in Division I and the Western Athletic Conference.
9. ^ This refers to the endowment under direct UTRGV control, and does not include any funds it receives from the Permanent University Fund as a member of the UT System.

### Associate members

[edit]

The Southland added four associate members in golf effective with the 2021–22 school year. One school joined in men's golf only, two in women's golf only, and one in both.[39][40] A fifth school joined at the same time for both men's and women's tennis,[41] and two more schools joined in July 2022, one for men's and women's golf and tennis and the other for beach volleyball.[42][43] However, as noted previously, two of these schools left a year later when their full-time home of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference entered into a women's golf partnership with the Northeast Conference. The Southland Conference announced UIC joining the conference as an affiliate in men's tennis for the 2022–23 season on July 14.[44] San Jose State was added as a multi-year beach volleyball affiliate beginning with the 2023 season (2022–23 school year).[45] UIC would only spend one season in SLC men's tennis, moving that sport to the Mid-American Conference in July 2023.[46]

Institution  | Nickname  | Location  | Founded  | Type  | Enrollment  | Joined  | Current
primary
conference  | Southland
sport(s)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Augusta University | Jaguars | Augusta, Georgia | 1828  | Public  | 9,274  | 2021–22  | Peach Belt (PBC)[a] | Men's golf
Women's golf
Boise State University | Broncos | Boise, Idaho | 1932  | Public  | 22,064  | 2022–23  | Mountain West (MW)
(Pac-12 in 2026) | Beach volleyball
San Jose State University | Spartans | San Jose, California | 1857  | Public  | 33,848  | 2022–23  | Mountain West (MW) | Beach volleyball

Notes

1. ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

### Former full members

[edit]

School names and nicknames listed here reflect those in use in each institution's final school year of Southland Conference membership.

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Abilene Christian University | Abilene, Texas | 1906  | 1963;
2013  | 1973;
2021  | Private  | Wildcats |     | WAC[a]
(UAC in 2026)
Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, Arkansas | 1909  | 1963  | 1987  | Public  | Indians[b] |     | Sun Belt
University of Central Arkansas | Conway, Arkansas | 1907  | 2006  | 2021  | Public  | Bears/Sugar Bears |     | ASUN[a]
(UAC in 2026)
Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, Louisiana | 1894  | 1971  | 1987  | Public  | Bulldogs
Lady Techsters |
| CUSA
(Sun Belt by 2027)
University of Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe, Louisiana | 1931  | 1982  | 2006  | Public  | Indians[c] |     | Sun Belt
University of North Texas | Denton, Texas | 1890  | 1982  | 1996  | Public  | Mean Green |     | The American
Oral Roberts University | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 1963  | 2012  | 2014  | Private  | Golden Eagles |       | Summit League
University of Southwestern Louisiana[d] | Lafayette, Louisiana | 1898  | 1971  | 1982  | Public  | Ragin' Cajuns |     | Sun Belt
Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Texas | 1879  | 1987  | 2021  | Public  | Bearkats |     | CUSA
Texas State University[e] | San Marcos, Texas | 1899  | 1987  | 2012  | Public  | Bobcats |     | Sun Belt
(Pac-12 in 2026)
University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, Texas | 1895  | 1963  | 2012  | Public  | Mavericks |       | WAC
(UAC in 2026)
University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas | 1969  | 1991  | 2012  | Public  | Roadrunners |       | The American
Trinity University | San Antonio, Texas | 1869  | 1963  | 1972  | Private  | Tigers |     | SCAC[f]

Notes

1. ^ a b Abilene Christian and Central Arkansas play football in the United Athletic Conference, a football-only partnership between the ASUN and WAC.
2. ^ Arkansas State changed its nickname to Red Wolves after leaving the Southland Conference.
3. ^ Louisiana–Monroe changed its nickname to Warhawks after leaving the Southland Conference.
4. ^ Southwestern Louisiana changed its institutional name to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1999, after leaving the Southland Conference. Still later, the school changed its athletic branding to "Louisiana", with no city identifier.
5. ^ Texas State dropped its city of San Marcos from its institutional name in 2013, a year after leaving the Southland Conference.
6. ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.

### Former associate members

[edit]

Institution | Nickname | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Joined | Left | Current
primary
conference | Current conference
in former
SLC sport(s) | SLC
sport(s)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Bryant University | Bulldogs | Smithfield, Rhode Island | 1863  | Private  | 3,751  | 2022–23  | 2024–25  | America East | Ohio Valley | Men's golf
Women's golf
Women's tennis
2025–26  | Big South | Men's tennis
Centenary College of Louisiana[a] | Gentlemen | Shreveport, Louisiana | 1825  | Private/United Methodist  | 500  | 2000-01  | 2002-03  | SCAC[b][47] | N/A  | men's tennis
Delaware State University | Hornets | Dover, Delaware | 1891  | Public[c]
(HBCU)  | 5,054  | 2021–22  | 2021–22  | MEAC | NEC | Women's golf
Francis Marion University | Patriots | Florence, South Carolina | 1970  | Public  | 4,187  | 2021–22  | 2025–26  | Carolinas (CC)[d] | Big Sky | Men's golf
Jacksonville State University | Gamecocks | Jacksonville, Alabama | 1883  | Public  | 9,490  | 1997–98  | 2002–03  | CUSA | football
University of Illinois Chicago | Flames | Chicago, Illinois | 1859  | Public  | 34,199  | 2022–23  | 2023–24  | Missouri Valley | MAC | Men's tennis
University of Southwestern Louisiana[e] | Ragin' Cajuns | Lafayette, Louisiana | 1898  | Public  | 16,885  | 1982–83  | 1986–87  | Sun Belt | women's sports
University of Maryland Eastern Shore | Hawks | Princess Anne, Maryland | 1886  | Public  | 2,888  | 2021–22  | 2021–22  | MEAC | NEC | Women's golf
University of New Orleans | Privateers | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1958  | Public  | 9,825  | 2012-13  | 2012-13  | Southland  | men's tennis
New Jersey Institute of Technology | Highlanders | Newark, New Jersey | 1881  | Public  | 12,332  | 2021–22  | 2025–26  | America East (AmEast) | Big South | Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | Islanders | Corpus Christi, Texas | 1947  | Public  | 9,600  | 2003-04  | 2005-06  | Southland  | men's tennis
University of Texas-Pan American[f] | Broncs[g] | Edinburg, Texas[h] | 1927  | Public  | 17,048  | 2000-01  | 2012-13  | Southland (as UTRGV)  | men's tennis
Troy State University[i] | Trojans | Troy, Alabama | 1887  | Public  | 29,689  | 1996-97  | 2000-01  | Sun Belt | football

Notes

1. ^ Centenary no longer sponsors men's tennis.
2. ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
3. ^ Delaware State 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.
4. ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
5. ^ Currently known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and branded athletically as Louisiana.
6. ^ Texas–Pan American (UTPA) ceased to exist at the start of the 2015–16 school year, when it merged with the nearby University of Texas at Brownsville to create the new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), which becomes a full SLC member in July 2024.[48]
7. ^ Nearly a year before the merger, the University of Texas System announced that UTRGV would directly inherit the UTPA athletic program.[49] The new nickname of Vaqueros was announced in November 2014.[50] The UTRGV athletic program thus claims all of UTPA's athletic history and records.
8. ^ The UTRGV athletic program continues to be based at the former UTPA main campus in Edinburg.
9. ^ Currently known as Troy University.

### Membership timeline

[edit]

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

1\. - Southwestern Louisiana became the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Louisiana–Lafayette, now athletically branded as simply Louisiana) in 1999.
2\. - Northeast Louisiana became the University of Louisiana at Monroe (Louisiana–Monroe) in 1999.
3\. - UTPA merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville to become the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in 2015.

## Sports

[edit]

The Southland Conference sponsors championship competition in eight men's and 10 women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[51] The most recently added sport is beach volleyball, with SLC competition starting in 2019–20.[52]

Teams in Southland Conference competition Sport | Men's | Women's

|
|

Baseball |

Basketball |

Beach Volleyball |

Cross Country |

Football |

Golf |

Soccer |

Softball |

Tennis |

Track and Field (Indoor) |

Track and Field (Outdoor) |

Volleyball (Indoor) |

### Men's sponsored sports by school

[edit]

School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country | Football | Golf | Tennis | Track & Field
(Indoor) | Track & Field
(Outdoor) | Total Southland Sports

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

East Texas A&M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 6
Houston Christian | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7
Incarnate Word | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Lamar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
McNeese | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7
New Orleans | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7
Nicholls | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 6
Northwestern State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | 6
Southeastern Louisiana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7
Stephen F. Austin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6
UTRGV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Affiliate members
Augusta |  |  |  |  | Yes |  |  |  | 1
Totals | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 84

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Southland Conference which are played by SLC schools:

School | Soccer | Swimming &
Diving | Fencing

|
|
|

Houston Christian | OVC | No | No
Incarnate Word | OVC | MPSF | MPSF
UTRGV | WAC[a] | No | No

Notes

1. ^ Joining the Ohio Valley Conference in 2026.

### Women's sponsored sports by school

[edit]

School | Basketball | Beach Volleyball | Cross Country | Golf | Soccer | Softball | Tennis | Track & Field
(Indoor) | Track & Field
(Outdoor) | Volleyball | Total Southland Sports

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

East Texas A&M | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Houston Christian | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Incarnate Word | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Lamar | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
McNeese | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
New Orleans | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7
Nicholls | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Northwestern State | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Southeastern Louisiana | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Stephen F. Austin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
UTRGV | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Affiliate members
Augusta |  |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Boise State |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
San Jose State |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Totals | 12 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 106

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Southland Conference which are played by SLC schools:

School | Swimming &
Diving | Fencing

|
|

Incarnate Word | MPSF | MPSF
UTRGV | MPSF | No

Notes

## Football

[edit]

Former and current players from the Southland that would go on to star in the National Football League include Gary Barbaro, Mike Barber, Fred Barnett, Bill Bergey, Derrick Blaylock, Bubby Brister, Ray Brown, Roger Carr, Mark Carrier, Larry Centers, Bruce Collie, Keith Davis, Fred Dean, Jackie Harris, Stan Humphries, Buford Jordan, Wade Key, Josh McCown, Tim McKyer, Jeff Novak, Kavika Pittman, Mike Quinn, Billy Ryckman, Ricky Sanders, Eugene Seale, Rafael Septién, Terrance Shaw, Marcus Spears, Chad Stanley, Pat Tilley, Jeremiah Trotter, Marvin Upshaw, Lardarius Webb and Spergon Wynn. The Southland was instrumental in founding the Independence Bowl, and the Southland champion served as the automatic home team for that bowl from 1976–1980.[53] On May 21, 2014, the Southland Conference approved the use of instant replay at all its home games becoming the first FCS league to fully commit to having all games utilize instant replay.[54][55]

## Men's basketball

[edit]

Among notable NBA stars attending Southland Conference schools include Karl Malone (Louisiana Tech), Joe Dumars (McNeese), Jeff Foster (Southwest Texas State, now known as Texas State), and Andrew Toney (Southwestern Louisiana, now known as Louisiana).

## Women's basketball

[edit]

Former member Louisiana–Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana) advanced to the 1985 NCAA Women's Final Four.

## Championships

[edit]

* Southland Conference men's basketball tournament
* Southland Conference women's basketball tournament
* Southland Conference baseball tournament
* Southland Conference women's soccer tournament
* Southland Conference softball tournament

## Spending and revenue

[edit]

Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights/licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, food and novelties. Total expenses includes coaching/staff, scholarships, buildings/ground, maintenance, utilities and rental fees and all other costs including recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues and insurance costs.

Conference Rank (2023–24)  | Institution  | 2023-24 Total Revenue from Athletics[56] | 2023-24 Total Expenses on Athletics[56]

|
|
|

1  | Incarnate Word | $24,959,864  | $24,959,864
2  | Stephen F. Austin | $23,836,563  | $23,836,563
3  | Lamar | $23,698,410  | $23,698,410
4  | Houston Christian | $20,045,332  | $20,045,332
5  | UTRGV | $20,007,469  | $20,007,469
6  | Texas A&M Commerce | $18,000,481  | $17,433,995
7  | Southeastern Louisiana | $17,404,468  | $17,404,468
8  | McNeese | $16,868,726  | $16,868,726
9  | Texas A&M Corpus Christi | $15,904,566  | $15,904,566
10  | Northwestern State | $15,228,540  | $12,032,739
11  | Nicholls | $13,331,867  | $12,953,173
12  | New Orleans | $7,856,085  | $7,856,085
Notes

Note 1 - Data from U.S. Department of Education Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool Database. OPE Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool used in order to provide ranking for private institutions in the conference.
Note 2 - Current non-football programs. Note: UTRGV joined the SLC as a non-football member for the 2024–25 school year.
Note 3 - Joined SLC effective July 1, 2024.
Note 3 - Reporting period is from midyear 2023 to midyear 2024.

## Facilities

[edit]

School  | Football stadium  | Capacity  | Soccer stadium  | Capacity  | Basketball arena  | Capacity  | Baseball stadium  | Capacity  | Softball stadium  | Capacity

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

East Texas A&M | Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium | 11,582 | Lion Soccer Field | 500 | The Field House | 3,055 | Non-baseball school | John Cain Family Softball Complex | 800
Houston Christian | Husky Stadium | 5,000[57] | Sorrels Field | 500 | Sharp Gymnasium | 1,000 | Husky Field | 500[58] | Husky Field | 300
Incarnate Word | Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium | 6,000 | Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium | 6,000 | McDermott Convocation Center | 2,000 | Sullivan Field | 1,000 | H-E-B Field | 250
Lamar | Provost Umphrey Stadium | 16,000 | Lamar Soccer Complex | 500 | Montagne Center | 10,080 | Vincent-Beck Stadium | 3,500 | Lamar Softball Complex | 500[59]
McNeese | Cowboy Stadium | 17,610 | Cowgirl Field | 300 | The Legacy Center | 4,242[60] | Joe Miller Ballpark | 2,000 | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond | 1,200
New Orleans | Non-football school | Non-soccer school | Lakefront Arena | 8,933 | Maestri Field at Privateer Park | 2,900[61] | Non-softball school
Nicholls | Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium | 10,500 | Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex[62] | 1,000 | Stopher Gymnasium | 3,800 | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field | 2,100 | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park | 500
Northwestern State | Harry Turpin Stadium | 15,971 | Lady Demon Soccer Complex | 1,000 | Prather Coliseum | 3,900 | H. Alvin Brown-C. C. Stroud Field | 1,200 | Lady Demon Diamond | 1,000[63]
Southeastern Louisiana | Strawberry Stadium | 7,408 | Southeastern Soccer Complex | 1,000 | University Center | 7,500 | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field | 2,500 | North Oak Park | 500
Stephen F. Austin | Homer Bryce Stadium | 14,575 | SFA Soccer Field  | 400 | William R. Johnson Coliseum | 7,203 | Jaycees Field | 1,000 | SFA Softball Field | 750
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | Non-football school | Dr. Jack Dugan Soccer & Track Stadium  | 1,000 | American Bank Center[a] | 9,385 | Chapman Field[b] | 750 | Chapman Field | 200
UTRGV | Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium[c] | 12,000[d] | UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex[66] | 1,555 | UTRGV Fieldhouse[e] | 2,500[68] | UTRGV Baseball Stadium | 5,000[69] | Non-softball school

Notes

1. ^ Texas A&M-Corpus Christi also schedules some home basketball games at the Dugan Wellness Center (capacity 1,200).
2. ^ Texas A&M-Corpus Christi uses off-campus Whataburger Field as their home field for some high-profile games and some tournaments.[64]
3. ^ UTRGV also plans to play one home game a year at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville (Capacity 10,300).[65]
4. ^ Capacity for UTRGV's first season of varsity football in 2025.
5. ^ UTRGV also schedules home basketball games at Bert Ogden Arena (capacity 7,700).[67]

## Media

[edit]

### Southland Conference Television Network

[edit]

The Conference began its own syndicated broadcast entity in 2008, the Southland Conference Television Network. It aired in over 25 markets in the league's four-state region, plus on national networks such as Fox College Sports, ESPN GamePlan, and ESPN3. In 2008-09, the network featured 35 broadcasts, and over 30 in each of the next four seasons.

For 2013 and 2014, the syndicated network was restricted to only regular season football games. The remainder of the schedule was available on ESPN3 or regional sports networks, including regular season and tournament basketball as well as championships in soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball. ESPN3 also carried an exclusive package of football games beyond the syndicated network's schedule.

SLCTV dissolved on July 1, 2015. Beginning with the 2015–16 school year, the Southland Conference entered into an agreement with the American Sports Network to syndicate and televise selected games,[70] while also continuing its association with ESPN3.[71] A separate deal allowed Louisiana-based Cox Sports Television to air select games.[72]

After ASN folded following the 2016–17 academic year, the Southland announced a television agreement with Eleven Sports.[73] During 2017-18, conference-controlled games aired on ESPN3, Eleven Sports, Fox Sports Southwest and Cox Sports Television. For 2018-19, ESPN productions began to be split between ESPN3 and ESPN+ platforms. On October 8, 2020, the Southland Conference announced a multi-year extension through the 2024–25 academic year as well as an expansion of its media rights agreement with ESPN.[74]

## Academics

[edit]

Institution  | University System  | Endowment[75][76] | U.S. News
rank[75] | Carnegie
Foundation
Classification[77]

|
|
|
|

East Texas A&M University  | Texas A&M University System | $34,200,000[78] | 377
(National)  | Doctoral
(R2:High research)
Houston Christian University  | Not Applicable  | $131,000,000[79] | 70
(Regional: West)  | Masters
(Larger Programs)
University of the Incarnate Word  | Not Applicable  | $143,800,000[80] | 288
(National)  | Doctoral
(Professional Universities)
Lamar University  | Texas State University System | $131,000,000[81][82] | 392-434
(National)  | Doctoral
(R2:High research)
McNeese State University  | University of Louisiana System | $118,000,000[83] | 78
(Regional: South)  | Masters
(Larger Programs)
University of New Orleans  | University of Louisiana System  | $22,100,000[84] | 392-434
(National)  | Doctoral
(R2:High Research)
Nicholls State University  | University of Louisiana System  | $8,190,000[85] | 72
(Regional: South)  | Masters
(Medium Programs)
Northwestern State University  | University of Louisiana System  | $16,400,000[86] | 57
Regional: South)  | Masters
(Larger Programs)
Southeastern Louisiana University  | University of Louisiana System  | $20,000,000[87] | 82
(Regional: South)  | Masters
(Larger Programs)
Stephen F. Austin State University  | University of Texas System | $111,000,000[88] | 35
(Regional: West)  | Masters
(Larger Programs)
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi  | Texas A&M University System  | $21,300,000[89] | 392-434
(National)  | Doctoral
(R2:High research)
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley  | University of Texas System | $129,000,000[90] | 220
(National)  | Doctoral
(R2:High research)

## References

[edit]

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2. ^ George Becnel (July 13, 2015). The Southland Conference: Small College Football, Big Dreams. AuthorHouse. pp. 394, 519. ISBN 978-1-5049-1887-9.
3. ^ "Southland Conference and Troika Media Group Announce 2022 Rebrand" (Press release). Southland Conference. April 11, 2022.
4. ^ "Southland Conference Navigates Its Path with Dynamic Rebrand" (Press release). Southland Conference. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
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7. ^ "WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
8. ^ Blum, Sam (January 14, 2021). "As WAC announces addition of 5 schools, Frisco-based Southland Conference left in no man's land". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
9. ^ "WAC Announces Expedited Entrance for Four Texas Institutions" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
10. ^ "ASUN Conference Announces Three New Institutions; Adds Football as 20th Sport" (Press release). ASUN Conference. January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
11. ^ "ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021" (Press release). ASUN Conference. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
12. ^ "Southland Conference Extends Membership to Texas A&M University–Commerce" (Press release). Southland Conference. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
13. ^ "Southland and Ohio Valley Conferences Announce Football Scheduling Alliance" (Press release). Southland Conference. October 11, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
14. ^ "University of the Incarnate Word Accepts Invitation to Join the WAC" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
15. ^ "University of the Incarnate Word Staying in the Southland Conference" (Press release). Southland Conference. June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
16. ^ Gazzolo, Jim (November 9, 2021). "McNeese sticks with Southland in move that will bring millions in for SW La. tourism". American Press. Lake Charles, LA. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
17. ^ "Lamar University Is Coming Home to the Southland Conference" (Press release). Southland Conference. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
18. ^ "Southland Conference and Troika Media Group Announce 2022 Rebrand".
19. ^ Thomas Scott (July 11, 2022). "Lamar moving to Southland Conference -- immediately". Hearst. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
20. ^ "NEC & MEAC Announce Three-Sport Associate Member Partnership" (Press release). Northeast Conference. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
21. ^ "UTRGV Athletics Accepts Invitation to Join Southland Conference in 2024-25" (Press release). UTRGV Vaqueros Athletics. March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
22. ^ Hogue, Cory (May 24, 2024). "CONFIRMED: SFA returning to the Southland Conference". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
23. ^ Herder, Sam (May 25, 2024). "SFA Returning To The Southland Conference This Summer". Hero Sports. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
24. ^ "SFA Athletics Accepts Invitation to Join Southland Conference in 2024-25" (Press release). Southland Conference. May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
25. ^ Total Texas A&M Commerce Common Data Set 2021 - 2022. The Texas A&M University System
26. ^ "Houston Christian University Fall Enrollment By Sex 1963-2024" (PDF). Houston Christian University. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
27. ^ "UIW by the Numbers". UIW Media Relations. September 6, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
28. ^ "LAMAR UNIVERSITY PREPARES FOR EARLY MOVE TO SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE". southland.org. Southland Conference. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
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31. ^ "UNO Enrollment Trends from 1958 to 2015" (PDF). September 1, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
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33. ^ "Northwestern State has fall enrollment increase". September 15, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
34. ^ "Enrollment by Class" (PDF). SLU Institutional Research. April 2, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
35. ^ "UT System Fall Enrollment Tables". The University of Texas System. December 31, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
36. ^ https://www.sfasu.edu/bondholder-information/documents/SFA_Annual_Report_2021-signed.pdf Page 5
37. ^ "Enrollment Continues to Rise at the Island University". TAMUCC Marketing & Communications. January 9, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
38. ^ "UTRGV preliminary enrollment steady". UTRGV Student Media. August 23, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
39. ^ "Southland Conference Adds Men's & Women's Golf Affiliate Members" (Press release). Southland Conference. June 24, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
40. ^ "Southland Adds Maryland Eastern Shore as Women's Golf Affiliate Member" (Press release). Southland Conference. August 11, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
41. ^ "NJIT Men's and Women's Tennis Joins Southland Conference" (Press release). NJIT Highlanders. June 22, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
42. ^ "Bryant Joins Southland Conference as Affiliate Member for Men's & Women's Golf and Tennis" (Press release). Southland Conference. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
43. ^ "Southland Conference Adds Boise State as Beach Volleyball Affiliate Member" (Press release). Southland Conference. June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
44. ^ "Southland Conference Adds UIC as Men's Tennis Affiliate Member". Southland Conference. July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
45. ^ "Southland Conference Adds San José State as Beach Volleyball Affiliate Member" (Press release). Southland Conference. August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
46. ^ "University of Illinois Chicago to Join MAC As Affiliate Member in Men's Tennis" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
47. ^ "Centenary College to Join Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference". Archived from the original on 2012-07-06.
48. ^ "Project South Texas: Timeline". University of Texas System. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
49. ^ "Project South Texas: Ask a Question". University of Texas System. July 30, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
50. ^ Brito, Victoria (November 5, 2014). "UT-RGV mascot recommended to be the Vaquero". The Monitor. McAllen, Texas. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
51. ^ "Southland Conference". southland.org.
52. ^ "Southland Conference Adds Beach Volleyball to Championship Sports Offerings" (Press release). Southland Conference. August 14, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
53. ^ "About the Southland". Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
54. ^ "Southland Conference spring meeting concludes". Southland Conference. May 21, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
55. ^ "Southland first FCS conference with full replay". Fox News. March 24, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
56. ^ a b "EADA Equity in Athletics Data Analysis". U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
57. ^ "2014 HBU Football Media Guide - Houston Baptist University" (PDF). www.hbuhuskies.com.
58. ^ "2014 HBU Baseball Media Guide". December 23, 2014. Houston Christian University Athletics. pp. 1, 68. "Opened during the 1993 season, the 500-seat ballpark boasts one of the better playing surfaces in the state."
59. ^ "2020 Softball Quick Facts" (PDF). Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
60. ^ "Legacy Center". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
61. ^ "University of New Orleans Privateers 2015 Baseball Quick Facts" (PDF). University of New Orleans Athletics. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
62. ^ "Thibodaux Regional Health System and Nicholls State University Expand Partnership to Provide Student-Athletes with State-of-the-Art Sports Facilities". Nicholls State University. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
63. ^ "Northwestern State University Softball 2015 Quick Facts" (PDF). Northwestern State University. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
64. ^ "2015 Islanders Baseball Schedule". Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Athletics. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
65. ^ "UTRGV announces purchase of sports, entertainment complex" (Press release). UTRGV Vaqueros Athletics. February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
66. ^ "Facilities: UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex". UTRGV Vaqueros. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
67. ^ "Men's Basketball 2023–24 Information Guide" (PDF). UTRGV Vaqueros. p. 5. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
68. ^ "Facilities: UTRGV Fieldhouse". UTRGV Vaqueros. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
69. ^ "Facilities: UTRGV Baseball Stadium". UTRGV Vaqueros. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
70. ^ "Southland, ASN team up for multi-year deal with 12 football games in 2015". American Sports Network. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
71. ^ "Southland reaches five-year deal with ESPN". Huntsville Item. 9 July 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
72. ^ "Southland Conference and Cox Sports Television ink multi-year broadcast deal". Cox Sports Television. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
73. ^ "Southland Announces Early Football TV Selections". Southland Conference. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
74. ^ "Southland Conference Announces New Media Rights Agreement with ESPN and ESPN+". Southland Conference. October 8, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
75. ^ a b "Best Colleges - U.S. News & World Report Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
76. ^ "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year FY) 2014 Endowment Market Value and Change* in Endowment Market Value from FY 2014 to FY 2015 (Revised February 201" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers and Commonfund Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 31, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
77. ^ "The Carnegie Classifications of Institutes of Higher Learning". Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
78. ^ "Data USA Texas A & M University-Commerce". Data USA. Deloitte. 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
79. ^ "Data USA Houston Baptist University". Deloitte. 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
80. ^ 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 20, 2021.
81. ^ Two endowments (Lamar University - $25,870 million (2020)) + (Lamar University Foundation - $105,423,375 (2019). 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 November 4, 2021.
82. ^ "Form 990 Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax" (PDF). Internal Revenue Service, US Government. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
83. ^ "McNeese Foundation Audit 2021" (PDF). Louisiana Legislative Auditor. 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
84. ^ "Data USA University of New Orleans". Deloitte. 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
85. ^ "Data USA Nicholls State University". Deloitte. 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
86. ^ "Data USA Northwestern State University of Louisiana". Deloitte. 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
87. ^ "Data USA Southeastern Louisiana University". Deloitte. 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
88. ^ "Data USA Stephen F. Austin State University". Data USA. Deloitte. 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
89. ^ "Data USA Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi". Data USA. Deloitte. 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
90. ^ "Data USA The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley". Data USA. Deloitte. 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Southland Conference.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Southland Conference

Full members|

* East Texas A&M Lions
* Houston Christian Huskies
* Incarnate Word Cardinals
* Lamar Cardinals
* McNeese State Cowboys
* Nicholls State Colonels
* New Orleans Privateers
* Northwestern State Demons
* Southeastern Louisiana Lions
* Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
* Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders
* UTRGV Vaqueros

Associate members|

* Boise State Broncos1
* San Jose State Spartans1
* Augusta Jaguars2
* Bryant Bulldogs3
* NJIT Highlanders1

Related entities|

* Southland Bowling League

* 1beach volleyball
* 2golf
* 3tennis (m)
* 4tennis (m/w)

* 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 Championship Subdivision conferences

Current conferences|

* Big Sky
* CAA (AmEast/CAA)
* Ivy
* MEAC
* MVFC (MVC/Summit)
* NEC
* OVC–Big South (OVC/Big South)
* Patriot
* Pioneer
* SoCon
* Southland
* SWAC
* UAC (ASUN / WAC)

Previous conferences|

* American West (defunct 1996)
* Great West (non-football 2012; defunct 2013)
* Gulf Star (defunct 1987)
* MAAC (non-football 2008)
* Yankee (became A10 1997)

Independents
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