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The Mid-South Conference (MSC) is a
college athletic conference In college athletics in the United States, institutions typically join in Athletic conference, conferences for regular play under different governing bodies. Varsity sports There are several national and regional associations governing the var ...
affiliated with the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for higher education, colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic schola ...
(NAIA). Member institutions are located in
Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...
and
Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
. The league is headquartered in
Bowling Green, Kentucky Bowling Green is a city in Warren County, Kentucky, United States, and its county seat. Its population was 72,294 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Kentucky, third-most populous city in the stat ...
, and the commissioner is Eric Leach. The Mid-South Conference has 7 full members: Bethel (TN), Campbellsville, Cumberland (TN), Cumberlands (KY), Freed–Hardeman, Georgetown (KY) and Lindsey Wilson. Six of these members sponsor football; Freed–Hardeman does not. The Mid-South Conference also has six associate members that compete primarily in other conferences.
Faulkner William Cuthbert Faulkner (; September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962) was an American writer. He is best known for his novels and short stories set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, a stand-in for Lafayette County where he s ...
, Kentucky Christian, Union Commonwealth and recently former member Bluefield are associate members of the MSC for football and men's volleyball, and Reinhardt is an associate member of the MSC for football and men's volleyball. This gave the conference 13 members for football. In the spring of 2016, the conference expanded to 20 members, adding the six football members of the
Sun Conference The Sun Conference (TSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Eight of the ten full member institutions are located in Florida, with two in Georgia. The Sun Conference co ...
, as well as Faulkner University for football, On January 4, 2018, the conference added Keiser University for football, and St. Thomas announced in July they were joining the conference for football in 2019. Another Sun Conference member, Florida Memorial in
Miami Gardens, Florida Miami Gardens is a city in north-central Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It is a suburb of Miami and located north of Greater Downtown Miami, downtown Miami with city boundaries that stretch from Interstate 95 in Florida, I-95 and N ...
, joined the MSC as an affiliate member for football in 2020, after re-adding the sport.


History

In April 2018,
Thomas More University Thomas More University is a private Catholic university in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, United States. It serves about 2,000 full and part-time students. The university was founded in 1921 by the local Benedictine Sisters as Villa Madonna College ...
(then Thomas More College), which had been an NAIA member before moving to
NCAA Division III NCAA Division III (D-III) is the lowest division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. D-III consists of athletic programs at colleges and universities that do not offer athletic scholarships to student- ...
in 1990, announced that it had been formally invited to rejoin the NAIA in the 2019–20 academic year as a member of the Mid-South Conference. The school, while acknowledging that it was considering this move, denied published reports that it had accepted the invitation. Thomas More eventually confirmed in July that it would join the Mid-South in 2019. In 2020, Bethel University became a Mid-South full member, brought track and field back to the MSC, and transferred all sports other than football and archery to the conference (prior to that, Bethel was an associate member of the MSC for football and archery only); additionally, Freed–Hardeman and UT Southern, then known as Martin Methodist College, also joined Mid-South. In December 2020,
Life University Life University is a private university focused on training chiropractors and located in Marietta, Georgia, United States. It was established in 1974 by a chiropractor, Sid E. Williams. A 2024 report found that students in Life's doctor of chi ...
also announced its departure from the MSC for the
Southern States Athletic Conference The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The 13 member universities that compete in 19 sports are located in Alabama, Georgia, ...
for the 2022–23 academic year. Most recently, Thomas More announced in August 2021 that it would return to the NCAA, but this time in Division II as a member of the
Great Midwest Athletic Conference The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. It was named the 24th (at the time) NCAA Division II conference and op ...
(G-MAC). It joined the G-MAC as a provisional member in July 2022, but continued as an NAIA member and in the Mid-South through 2022–23, after which it started G-MAC competition. Later, the Sun Conference announced on December 22, 2021, that it would reinstate football starting with the 2022 season. Then in July 2022, the
Appalachian Athletic Conference The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Members of the conference are located in the Southeastern United States in Tennessee, Kentu ...
announced it would add football as a sponsored sport.


Chronological timeline

* 1987 – The Mid-South Conference (MSC) was founded as a football-only conference. Charter members included Campbellsville College (now Campbellsville University), Cumberland College of Kentucky (now the University of the Cumberlands),
Georgetown College Georgetown College is a private Christian liberal arts college in Georgetown, Kentucky. Chartered in 1829, Georgetown was the first Baptist college west of the Appalachian Mountains. The college offers over 40 undergraduate degrees and a Mas ...
and
Union College Union College is a Private university, private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and second in the s ...
(now Union Commonwealth University), beginning the 1987 fall season (1987–88 academic year). * 1988 – The
University of Evansville The University of Evansville (UE) is a private university in Evansville, Indiana. It was founded in 1854 as Carnegie Hall of Moores Hill College, Moores Hill College. The university operates a satellite center, Harlaxton Manor, Harlaxton College ...
joined the conference in the 1988 fall season (1988–89 academic year). * 1989 –
Kentucky Wesleyan College Kentucky Wesleyan College (KWC) is a private Methodist college in Owensboro, Kentucky. Fall 2018 enrollment was 830 students. History Kentucky Wesleyan College was founded in 1858 by the Kentucky Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It ...
and
Tennessee Wesleyan University Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) is a Private university, private United Methodist Church, Methodist university in Athens, Tennessee. It was founded in 1857 and is affiliated with the Holston :wikt:conference, Conference of the United Meth ...
joined the conference in the 1989 fall season (1989–90 academic year). * 1990 – Kentucky Wesleyan dropped out of the conference after the 1989 fall season (1989–90 academic year). * 1990 – Cumberland College of Tennessee (now Cumberland University) and
Lambuth University Lambuth University was a private Methodist university in Jackson, Tennessee. It was active from 1843 to 2011 and was supported by the Memphis Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. The university began as the Memphis Conference Fema ...
joined the Mid-South in the 1990 fall season (1990–91 academic year). * 1991 – Cumberland enn.and Tennessee Wesleyan departed from the conference after the 1990 fall season (1990–91 academic year). * 1991 –
Tusculum University Tusculum University is a Private university, private Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbyterian university with its main campus in Tusculum, Tennessee. It is Tennessee's first university and the 28th-oldest operating college or university in the ...
joined the Mid-South in the 1991 fall season (1991–92 academic year). * 1992 – Evansville left the Mid-South after the 1991 fall season (1991–92 academic year). * 1995 – The Mid-South became a multi-sport conference. North Greenville College (now North Greenville University) joined the conference beginning the 1995–96 academic year, while Bethel College of Tennessee joined as an affiliate member for football (with Cumberland enn.rejoining as well). * 1996 – Tusculum departed from the conference as a football affiliate after the 1995 fall season (1995–96 academic year). * 1996 – Cumberland enn.and Lambuth moved their other sports to the Mid-South as full members for the 1996–97 academic year. * 1997 – Bethel enn.left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football after the 1996 fall season (1996–97 academic year). * 2000 –
Lindsey Wilson College Lindsey Wilson College is a private, United Methodist-related college in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 as a training school, the college now offers in-person and online degree programs, offered at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and ...
and Pikeville College (now the University of Pikeville; a.k.a. UPike) joined the Mid-South in the 2000–01 academic year. * 2001 – North Greenville left the Mid-South to join the Division II ranks of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
(NCAA) as an NCAA D-II Independent after the 2000–01 academic year. * 2002 – Two institutions left the Mid-South as full members to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2001–02 academic year; while they remained in the conference as affiliate members for football: ** Cumberland enn.to the
TranSouth Athletic Conference The TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) was a college athletic conference for smaller colleges and universities located in the Southern United States. It was affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compe ...
(TranSouth or TSAC) ** and Union Commonwealth to the
Appalachian Athletic Conference The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Members of the conference are located in the Southeastern United States in Tennessee, Kentu ...
(AAC) * 2002 – The
University of Virginia's College at Wise The University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA Wise) is a public liberal arts college adjacent to Wise, Virginia. It is part of the University of Virginia, though separately accredited, and was established in 1954 as Clinch Valley College of t ...
(UVa Wise) joined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2002 fall season (2002–03 academic year). * 2003 – Bethel enn.rejoined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2003 fall season (2003–04 academic year). * 2004 – Kentucky Wesleyan rejoined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2004 fall season (2004–05 academic year). * 2005 – Shorter College of Georgia (now Shorter University) joined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2005 fall season (2005–06 academic year). * 2006 – Lambuth left the Mid-South to join the
TranSouth Athletic Conference The TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) was a college athletic conference for smaller colleges and universities located in the Southern United States. It was affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compe ...
(TSAC or TranSouth) after the 2005–06 academic year; while their football team remained in the Mid-South as an affiliate member. * 2006 – Kentucky Wesleyan left the Mid-South again as an affiliate member for football after the 2005 fall season (2005–06 academic year). * 2006 –
West Virginia University Institute of Technology West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech, WVIT, WVU Beckley, or West Virginia Tech) is a public college in Beckley, West Virginia. It is a divisional campus of West Virginia University. History The college was founded in 189 ...
(West Virginia Tech or WVU Tech) joined the Mid-South in the 2006–07 academic year. * 2007 – Bethel enn.and Shorter added track & field into their Mid-South affiliate memberships in the 2008 spring season (2007–08 academic year). * 2008 – St. Catharine College joined the Mid-South in the 2008–09 academic year. * 2008 – Faulkner University joined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2008 fall season (2008–09 academic year). * 2009 – The
University of Rio Grande The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College (originally Rio Grande College) is a private university and public community college merged into one institution in Rio Grande, Ohio. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commissi ...
joined the Mid-South in the 2009–10 academic year. * 2009 – Two institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2009–10 academic year: ** Kentucky Christian University for football ** and Cumberland enn.for men's wrestling * 2010 – Lambuth left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football after the 2009 fall season (2009–10 academic year). * 2010 –
Shawnee State University Shawnee State University (SSU) is a public university in Portsmouth, Ohio, United States, established in 1986. It is the southernmost member of the University System of Ohio. History Although its roots date back to 1945 when Ohio University est ...
joined the Mid-South (with UVa Wise joining for all sports) in the 2010–11 academic year. * 2010 – Shorter added men's wrestling into their Mid-South affiliate membership in the 2010–11 academic year. * 2012 – West Virginia Tech left the Mid-South to become an NAIA Independent (which would later join the
Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference The River States Conference (RSC), formerly known as the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC), is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Although it was historica ...
(KIAC; now known as the River States Conference), beginning the 2015–16 school year) after the 2011–12 academic year. * 2012 – Shorter a.left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football, track & field and men's wrestling after the 2011–12 academic year. * 2012 –
Bluefield College Bluefield University is a private Baptist university in Bluefield, Virginia. It offers 22 majors and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The campus is about from the state line between Virginia and West Virgini ...
(now Bluefield University) joined the Mid-South (with Cumberland enn.rejoining for all sports) in the 2012–13 academic year. * 2012 – Bethel enn.and Union Commonwealth added men's and women's bowling into their Mid-South affiliate memberships in the 2013 spring season (2012–13 academic year). * 2013 – UVa Wise left the Mid-South and the NAIA entirely to fully align with the NCAA Division II ranks, while joining the
Mountain East Conference The Mountain East Conference (MEC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level and officially began competition on September 1, 2013. It consists of 11 schools, m ...
(MEC) after spending provisionally one season in the
Great Midwest Athletic Conference The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. It was named the 24th (at the time) NCAA Division II conference and op ...
(G-MAC) after the 2012–13 academic year. * 2013 – Bethel enn.left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for track & field after the 2013 spring season (2012–13 academic year). * 2013 –
Reinhardt University Reinhardt University is a private university with its main campus in Waleska, Georgia, and its Cauble School of Nursing and Health Sciences in Jasper, Georgia, Jasper. Over 50 graduate and undergraduate programs are offered on campus and online ...
joined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2013 fall season (2013–14 academic year). * 2014 – Two institutions left the Mid-South to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2013–14 academic year: ** Rio Grande to join the KIAC ** Bluefield to rejoin the AAC; while their football team remained in the Mid-South as an affiliate member. * 2014 –
Life University Life University is a private university focused on training chiropractors and located in Marietta, Georgia, United States. It was established in 1974 by a chiropractor, Sid E. Williams. A 2024 report found that students in Life's doctor of chi ...
joined the Mid-South in the 2014–15 academic year. * 2015 – Belhaven left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football to join the
NCAA Division III NCAA Division III (D-III) is the lowest division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. D-III consists of athletic programs at colleges and universities that do not offer athletic scholarships to student- ...
ranks and the
American Southwest Conference The American Southwest Conference (ASC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference, founded in 1996, whose member schools compete in the NCAA's Division III. All member schools are located in the state of Texas. The conference competes in baseb ...
after the 2014 spring season (2014–15 academic year). * 2015 – Eight institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2015–16 academic year: **
Brewton–Parker College Brewton–Parker College is a private Baptist college in Mount Vernon, Georgia, United States. Brewton–Parker was founded in 1904 and is affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention.Turner, Ann C."Brewton-Parker College"New Georgia Enc ...
, St. Andrews University, Southeastern University of Florida and Truett McConnell College (now Truett McConnell University) for men's wrestling **
Cincinnati Christian University Cincinnati Christian University (CCU) was a private Christian university in Cincinnati, Ohio. CCU was supported by the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, which are part of the Restoration Movement. The university was accredited by the Hi ...
for football ** Lindenwood University–Belleville for men's & women's bowling and men's & women's swimming ** and
Martin Methodist College The University of Tennessee Southern (UT Southern or UTS) is a public university in Pulaski, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1870, it was a private institution for over 150 years until joining the University of Tennessee System in 2021. It ...
(now the University of Tennessee Southern, a.k.a. UT Southern) and
Tennessee Wesleyan College Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) is a private Methodist university in Athens, Tennessee. It was founded in 1857 and is affiliated with the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. It maintains a branch campus in Knoxville, where ...
(now Tennessee Wesleyan University) for men's and women's bowling * 2016 – St. Catherine's left the Mid-South as the school had ceased operations after the 2015–16 academic year. * 2016 – Three institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2015–16 academic year: **
Loyola University New Orleans Loyola University New Orleans is a Private university, private Jesuit university in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the nam ...
for men's and women's swimming ** Reinhardt for men's wrestling ** and
Warner University Warner University is a private Christian university in Lake Wales, Florida, United States. It is affiliated with the Church of God. History "Warner Southern College" was founded in 1968 by the Southeastern Association of the Church of G ...
for football * 2017 – Four institutions left the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2016–17 academic year: ** Reinhardt, St. Andrews .C.and Truett McConnell for men's wrestling after the 2016–17 academic year: ** and Lindenwood–Belleville for men's and women's bowling * 2017 – Nine institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2017–18 academic year: **
Ave Maria University Ave Maria University (AMU) is a Private university, private Catholic Church, Catholic university in Ave Maria, Florida. It existed formerly as "Ave Maria College" in Ypsilanti, Michigan, which was founded in 1998 and reestablished in 2007 along ...
,
Edward Waters College Edward Waters University is a private Christian historically Black university in Jacksonville, Florida. It was founded in 1866 by members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME Church) as a school to educate freedmen and their childre ...
(now Edward Waters University),
Point University Point University is a private college, private Evangelicalism, evangelical Christianity, Christian college in West Point, Georgia and was founded in 1937 as Atlanta Christian College in East Point, Georgia, East Point. The college announced i ...
and St. Andrews .C.for football ** Bethel enn.for archery ** Brewton–Parker and Lindenwood–Belleville for women's wrestling ** Kentucky Christian for archery, baseball and softball ** and
Midland University Midland University is a private Lutheran university in Fremont, Nebraska. It has an approximate enrollment of 1,600 students on campus. Known as Midland Lutheran College from 1962 to 2010, the college is affiliated with the Evangelical Luther ...
for men's and women's swimming * 2018 – Twelve institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2018–19 academic year: ** Ave Maria,
Keiser University Keiser University is a private university with its main campus in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and flagship residential campus in West Palm Beach, Florida. Additional campuses are located in other parts of Florida and internationally. Keiser provides ...
and Marian University of Indiana for women's lacrosse ** Bluefield, Brewton–Parker, Cincinnati Christian, St. Andrews .C. Warner and
Webber International University Webber International University (Webber or WIU) is a private university in Babson Park, Florida. History Webber International was founded as "Webber College" by Roger Babson, an entrepreneur and business theorist in the first half of the 20t ...
for men's volleyball **
Indiana Wesleyan University Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a private evangelical Christian university headquartered in Marion, Indiana, and affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. It is the largest private university in Indiana. The university system includes IWU—M ...
for women's swimming **
Midway University Midway University is a Private university, private Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian university in Midway, Kentucky. Related by covenant to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), it enrolls approximately 1,900 students earnin ...
for men's volleyball and men's wrestling ** and Union Commonwealth for archery * 2019 – Five institutions left the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2018–19 academic year: ** Brewton–Parker for men's volleyball ** Edward Waters for football ** Kentucky Christian for baseball and softball ** Lindenwood–Belleville for women's wrestling and men's and women's swimming ** and Midland for men's and women's swimming * 2019 –
Thomas More University Thomas More University is a private Catholic university in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, United States. It serves about 2,000 full and part-time students. The university was founded in 1921 by the local Benedictine Sisters as Villa Madonna College ...
joined the Mid-South in the 2019–20 academic year. * 2019 – Six institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2019–20 academic year: **
Blue Mountain College Blue Mountain Christian University (BMCU), formerly Blue Mountain College, is a private Baptist college in Blue Mountain, Mississippi. Founded as a women's college in 1873, the college's board of trustees voted unanimously for the college to ...
(now Blue Mountain Christian University), Marian nd.and Midway for men's and women's bowling ** Reinhardt and Truett McConnell for men's volleyball ** and Keiser for men's wrestling * 2020 – Cincinnati Christian left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football and men's volleyball after the 2019 fall semester (without completing the rest of the 2019–20 academic year due to the school having to cease operations). * 2020 –
Freed–Hardeman University Freed–Hardeman University is a private university associated with the Churches of Christ and located in Henderson, Tennessee. It is primarily undergraduate and residential. The university also serves some commuting, part-time and adult student ...
joined the Mid-South (with Bethel enn.and Martin Methodist (now UT Southern) upgrading as full members for all sports) in the 2020–21 academic year. * 2020 – Nine institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2020–21 academic year: **
Florida Memorial University Florida Memorial University is a Private university, private Historically black colleges and universities, historically black college in Miami Gardens, Florida. Founded as the Florida Baptist Institute, today it claims a focus on broader Christ ...
for football **
Indiana Institute of Technology Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) is a private university in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was founded in 1930 as Indiana Technical College by John A. Kalbfleisch, who was also the school's first president. The university today is organi ...
, Lourdes University and St. Andrews .C.for women's wrestling ** Midway for men's and women's swimming ** the
University of Rio Grande The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College (originally Rio Grande College) is a private university and public community college merged into one institution in Rio Grande, Ohio. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commissi ...
for men's and women's swimming, and men's wrestling ** St. Thomas University of Florida for men's wrestling ** Truett McConnell for men's volleyball ** and Webber International for women's lacrosse * 2021 – Two institutions left the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), both effective after the 2020–21 academic year: ** Marian nd.men's and women's bowling ** and Rio Grande for men's and women's swimming * 2021 – Three institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2021–22 academic year: ** Indiana Wesleyan for men's swimming ** Lincoln College of Illinois for men's and women's swimming ** and Rio Grande for men's volleyball * 2022 – Life left the Mid-South to join the
Southern States Athletic Conference The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The 13 member universities that compete in 19 sports are located in Alabama, Georgia, ...
(SSAC) after the 2021–22 academic year; while their women's wrestling team remained in the Mid-South as an affiliate member. * 2022 – Seventeen institutions left the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2021–22 academic year: ** Ave Maria for football and women's lacrosse ** Bluefield, Reinhardt, St. Andrews .C.and Warner for football and men's volleyball ** Brewton–Parker for men's wrestling ** Florida Memorial and Southeastern la.to join The Sun for football ** Keiser for women's lacrosse and men's wrestling ** Kentucky Christian, Point and Union Commonwealth to join the AAC for football ** Lincoln ll.for men's and women's swimming ** Marian nd.for women's lacrosse ** St. Thomas la.for men's wrestling ** Truett McConnell for men's volleyball ** and Webber International for men's volleyball and women's lacrosse * 2022 –
Wilberforce University Wilberforce University (WU) is a private university in Wilberforce, Ohio. It is one of three historically black universities established before the American Civil War. Founded in 1856 by the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC), it is named after ...
joined the Mid-South in the 2022–23 academic year. * 2022 – Montreat College, Rochester University (now Rochester Christian University) and
Siena Heights University Siena Heights University (SHU) is a Private university, private Catholic university in Adrian, Michigan, United States. It was founded by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 1919. History The institution was founded for women in 1919 as St. Joseph's ...
joined the Mid-South as affiliate members for women's wrestling in the 2022–23 academic year. * 2023 – Thomas More left the Mid-South and the NAIA entirely to fully align with the NCAA Division II ranks and the G-MAC after the 2022–23 academic year. During that same school year, they returned to the NCAA to join the G-MAC as a provisional member, while remaining committed to compete in their final season within the Mid-South and the NAIA. * 2023 – Four institutions left the Mid-South to join their respective new home primary conferences, all effective after the 2022–23 academic year: ** Shawnee State to the RSC; while their men's and women's swimming teams remained in the Mid-South as an affiliate member. ** Pikeville (UPike) to the AAC; while their archery and men's and women's bowling teams remained in the Mid-South as an affiliate member. ** UT Southern to rejoin the SSAC ** and Wilberforce as an NAIA Independent within the Continental Athletic Conference * 2023 – Two institutions joined the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2023–24 academic year: **
Brescia University Brescia University is a private Catholic college in Owensboro, Kentucky, United States. It was founded as a junior college for women and is now a coeducational institution, offering undergraduate and master's programs. History Brescia Universit ...
for men's volleyball ** and Midway for archery * 2024 – Four institutions left the Mid-South as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2023–24 academic year: ** and Brescia, Midway and Rio Grande for men's volleyball ** St. Andrews .C.for women's wrestling * 2024 – Rio Grande added women's wrestling into its Mid-South affiliate membership in the 2024–25 academic year.


Member schools


Current members

The Mid-South currently has seven full members, all are
private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...
schools: ;Notes:


Affiliate members

The Mid-South currently has 16 associate members. All but one are
private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...
schools; the remaining school operates private and public institutions within a single entity. ;Notes:


Former members

The Mid-South has 14 former full members. Ten of these are
private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...
schools, and one other operates private and public institutions within a single entity. ;Notes:


Former affiliate members

The Mid-South had 38 associate members, all but two were
private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...
schools: ;Notes:


Membership timeline

DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:1987 till:2030 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5 Colors = id:line value:black id:bg value:white id:Full value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports id:FullxF value:rgb(0.9,0.8,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football id:AssocF value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.8,0.9,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference when the other color has already been used PlotData = width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s bar:1 color:AssocF from:1987 till:1995 text: Campbellsville (1987–present) bar:1 color:Full from:1995 till:end text: bar:2 color:AssocF from:1987 till:1995 text: Cumberlands (Ky.) (1987–present) bar:2 color:Full from:1995 till:end text: bar:3 color:AssocF from:1987 till:1995 text: Georgetown (Ky.) (1987–present) bar:3 color:Full from:1995 till:end text: bar:4 color:AssocF from:1987 till:1995 text: Union (Ky.) (1987–2002) bar:4 color:Full from:1995 till:2002 text: bar:4 color:AssocF from:2002 till:2022 text: Appalachian (2002–present; MSC assoc. sports) bar:4 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text: bar:5 color:AssocF from:1988 till:1992 text:
Evansville Evansville is a city in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 118,414 at the 2020 census, it is Indiana's third-most populous city after Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the most populous city in S ...
(1988–1992) bar:6 color:AssocF from:1989 till:1990 text: Kentucky Wesleyan (1989–1990) bar:6 color:AssocF from:2004 till:2006 text:(2004–2006) bar:7 color:AssocF from:1989 till:1991 text: Tennessee Wesleyan (1989–1991) bar:8 color:AssocF from:1990 till:1991 text: Cumberland (Tenn.) (1990–1991, 1995–2002) bar:8 color:AssocF from:1995 till:1996 text: bar:8 color:Full from:1996 till:2002 text: bar:8 color:AssocF from:2002 till:2012 text: TranSouth (2002–2012; MSC football) bar:8 color:Full from:2012 till:end text:(2012–present) bar:9 color:AssocF from:1990 till:1996 text: Lambuth (1990–2006) bar:9 color:Full from:1996 till:2006 text: bar:9 color:AssocF from:2006 till:2010 text: TranSouth (2006–2010; MSC football) bar:10 color:AssocF from:1991 till:1996 text:
Tusculum Tusculum is a ruined Classical Rome, Roman city in the Alban Hills, in the Latium region of Italy. Tusculum was most famous in Roman times for the many great and luxurious patrician country villas sited close to the city, yet a comfortable dist ...
(1991–1996) bar:11 color:Full from:1995 till:2001 text: North Greenville (1995–2001) bar:11 shift:(20) color:OtherC1 from:2001 till:2011 text: D-II Ind. bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:2011 till:end text:
Carolinas The Carolinas, also known simply as Carolina, are the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina considered collectively. They are bordered by Virginia to the north, Tennessee to the west, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the southwes ...
bar:12 color:AssocF from:1995 till:1997 text: Bethel (Tenn.) (1995–1997) bar:12 color:AssocF from:2003 till:2020 text:(2003–2020) bar:12 color:Full from:2020 till:end text:(2020–present) bar:13 color:AssocF from:1997 till:2015 text: Belhaven (1997–2015) bar:14 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2010 text: Lindsey Wilson (2000–present) bar:14 color:Full from:2010 till:end text: bar:15 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2001 text: Pikeville (2000–2023) bar:15 color:Full from:2001 till:2023 text: bar:15 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text: Appalachian (MSC assoc. sports) bar:16 color:AssocF from:2003 till:2010 text: UVa Wise (2003–2010) bar:16 color:Full from:2010 till:2013 text:(2010–2013) bar:16 shift:(10) color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2019 text: Mountain East bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:2019 till:end text:
South Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for ...
bar:17 color:AssocF from:2005 till:2012 text: Shorter (2005–2012) bar:18 color:Full from:2006 till:2012 text: West Virginia Tech (2006–2012) bar:18 shift:(35) color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2016 text: NAIA Ind. bar:18 color:OtherC2 from:2016 till:end text: River States bar:19 color:FullxF from:2008 till:2016 text: St. Catherine (Ky.) (2008–2016) bar:20 color:AssocF from:2008 till:end text:
Faulkner William Cuthbert Faulkner (; September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962) was an American writer. He is best known for his novels and short stories set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, a stand-in for Lafayette County where he s ...
(2008–present) bar:21 color:FullxF from:2009 till:2014 text:
Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( or ) in the United States or the Río Bravo (del Norte) in Mexico (), also known as Tó Ba'áadi in Navajo language, Navajo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the Southwestern United States a ...
(2009–2014) bar:21 shift:(25) color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:2020 text: River States bar:21 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:end text:
RSC RSC may refer to: Arts * Royal Shakespeare Company, a British theatre company * Reduced Shakespeare Company, a touring American acting troupe * Richmondshire Subscription Concerts, a music society in Richmond, North Yorkshire, England * Rock Ste ...
(2020–present; MSC assoc. sports) bar:22 color:AssocF from:2009 till:2022 text: Kentucky Christian (2009–present) bar:22 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text: bar:23 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2023 text: Shawnee State (2010–2023) bar:23 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text: River States bar:24 color:Full from:2012 till:2014 text: Bluefield (2012–2014) bar:24 shift:(70) color:AssocF from:2014 till:2022 text: Appalachian (2014–present; MSC assoc. sports) bar:25 color:AssocF from:2013 till:2022 text: Reinhardt (2013–2022) bar:26 color:FullxF from:2014 till:2022 text:
Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...
(2014–2022) bar:26 shift:(-40) color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text: SSAC (2022–present; MSC w. wrestling) bar:27 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2022 text: Brewton–Parker (2015–2022) bar:28 color:AssocF from:2015 till:2020 text: Cincinnati Christian (2015–2020) bar:29 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2019 text: Lindenwood–Belleville (2015–2019) bar:30 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2017 text: St. Andrews (2015–2024) bar:30 color:AssocF from:2017 till:2022 text: bar:30 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:2024 text: bar:31 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2022 text: Southeastern (Fla.) (2015–2022) bar:32 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:end text: Tennesse Wesleyan (2015–present) bar:33 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2020 text: UT Southern (2015–2020) bar:33 shift:(25) color:FullxF from:2020 till:2023 text:(2020–2023; full) bar:33 shift:(45) color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text: SSAC bar:34 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2017 text: Truett McConnell (2015–2017, m.wr.; 2019–2022, m.vb) bar:34 color:AssocOS from:2019 till:2022 text: bar:35 color:AssocOS from:2016 till:2022 text: Loyola (La.) (2016–2022) bar:36 color:AssocF from:2016 till:2022 text:
Warner Warner can refer to: People * Warner (writer) * Warner (given name) * Warner (surname) Fictional characters * Yakko, Wakko, and Dot Warner, stars of the animated television series ''Animaniacs'' * Aaron Warner, a character in '' Shatter M ...
(2016–2022) bar:37 color:AssocF from:2017 till:2019 text: Edward Waters (2017–2019) bar:38 color:AssocOS from:2017 till:2019 text: Midland (2017–2019) bar:39 color:AssocF from:2017 till:2022 text: Point (2017–2022) bar:40 color:AssocF from:2018 till:2022 text:
Ave Maria The Hail Mary or Ave Maria (from its first words in Latin), also known as the Angelic or Angelical Salutation, is a traditional Catholic prayer addressing Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary, the mother of Jesus. The prayer is based on two biblical pa ...
(2018–2022) bar:41 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:end text: Indiana Wesleyan (2018–present) bar:42 color:AssocF from:2018 till:2022 text: Keiser (2018–2022) bar:43 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:2022 text: Marian (Ind.) (2018–2022) bar:44 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:end text: Midway (2018–present) bar:45 color:AssocF from:2018 till:2022 text: Webber International (2018–2022) bar:46 color:Full from:2019 till:2022 text:
Thomas More Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535), venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, theologian, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VII ...
(2019–2022) bar:46 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:2023 text: bar:46 shift:(50) color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text: G-MAC bar:47 color:AssocOS from:2019 till:2022 text: Blue Mountain (2019–2022) bar:48 color:AssocF from:2020 till:2022 text: Florida Memorial (2020–2022) bar:49 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:end text: Indiana Tech (2020–present) bar:50 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:end text:
Lourdes Lourdes (, also , ; ) is a market town situated in the Pyrenees. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. Prior to the mid-19th century, the town was best known for its Château fort, a ...
(2020–present) bar:51 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:2022 text: St. Thomas (Fla.) (2020–2022) bar:52 color:FullxF from:2020 till:end text: Freed–Hardeman (2020–present) bar:53 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2022 text: Lincoln (Ill.) (2021–2022) bar:54 shift:(-100) color:FullxF from:2022 till:2023 text: Wilberforce (2022–2023) bar:54 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:2024 text: Cont. bar:54 shift:(20) color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text: HBCUAC bar:55 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text: Montreat (2022–present) bar:56 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text: Rochester Christian (2022–present) bar:57 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text: Siena Heights (2022–present) bar:58 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:2024 text:
Brescia Brescia (, ; ; or ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the region of Lombardy, in Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Lake Garda, Garda and Lake Iseo, Iseo. With a population of 199,949, it is the se ...
(2023–2024) bar:N color:powderblue from:1987 till:1995 text:Mid-South (football) bar:N color:blue from:1995 till:end text:Mid-South (multi-sport) ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:1988 TextData = fontsize:M textcolor:black pos:(0,25) tabs:(400-center) text:^"Mid-South Conference membership history" #> If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space. <#


Sports

Member teams compete in 28 sports: 13 men's, 13 women's and 2 mixed. In addition, the Mid-South Conference also conducts championships for
Esports Esports (), short for electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, played individually or as teams. ...
and
competitive dance Competitive dance is a popular, widespread sport in which competitors perform dances in any of several permitted dance styles—such as acro, ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, modern, musical theatre, tap, and improv—before a ...
. The MSC also stages invitational tournaments for
junior varsity A varsity team is the highest-level team in a sport or activity representing an educational institution. Varsity teams train to compete against each other during an athletic season or in periodic matches against rival institutions. At High school, ...
squads in the sports of men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, and women's volleyball, if enough schools sponsor JV teams in a given year.


Football divisions

Beginning with the 2017 season,
The Sun Conference The Sun Conference (TSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Eight of the ten full member institutions are located in Florida, with two in Georgia. The Sun Conference com ...
and Mid-South merged their football conferences into the largest football conference in college sports. Edward Waters was previously a full member of the Sun Conference from 2006 to 2010 and a football affiliate member from 2014 to 2016 seasons. Edward Waters left after the 2018 football season. However, the Sun Division folded when its teams left the Mid-South after the Sun Conference reinstated football for 2022, leaving the Mid-South with 15 football members. Later, the Appalachian Division folded when the AAC announced to sponsor the sport for the 2022 fall season, leaving the Mid-South with 9 football members. * Bethel (Tenn.) * Campbellsville * Cumberland (Tenn.) * Cumberlands (Ky.) * Faulkner * Georgetown * Lindsey Wilson * Pikeville * Thomas More ;Notes: - Mid-South full member - Mid-South affiliate member


References


External links

* {{National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 1987 establishments in the United States Organizations based in Kentucky Sports leagues established in 1987 Sports in Bowling Green, Kentucky