Southwestern Athletic Conference

Southwestern Athletic Conference
Name	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Established	1920
Association	NCAA
Division	Division I (FCS)
Members	12
Sports	18
Headquarters	Birmingham, Alabama
Commissioner	Charles McClelland
Region	Southern United States

Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, primarily competing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Founded in 1920, it is one of the premier Historically Black College and University (HBCU) conferences in the United States. The conference's member institutions are located across the Southern United States and have a rich legacy in academics, athletics, and cultural impact.

History

The conference was established on December 29, 1920, at a meeting in Houston, Texas, by a group of administrators from several institutions. Among its founding members were Prairie View A&M University, Texas College, and Wiley College. The league was a foundational pillar for intercollegiate competition among Historically Black Colleges during the era of racial segregation in the United States. Key early figures in its development included John B. Watson of Prairie View A&M University and Matthew W. Dogan of Wiley College. The conference has undergone several membership changes, with notable additions like Alabama State University and Jackson State University solidifying its geographic footprint. A significant modern shift occurred in 2021 when two prominent members, Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University, announced a move to the Western Athletic Conference for most sports, though they later reaffirmed their commitment.

Member schools

The conference comprises twelve full member institutions. The current members include Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, Arkansas–Pine Bluff, University of, Bethune–Cookman University, Florida A&M University, Grambling State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University, and Texas Southern University. Bethune–Cookman University and Florida A&M University joined from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2021, expanding the conference's reach into Florida. Each institution is a public university except for the private Bethune–Cookman University. The conference headquarters are located in Birmingham, Alabama.

Sports sponsored

The conference sponsors championship competition in eighteen sports, nine for men and nine for women. Men's sponsored sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, tennis, and bowling. Women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. The conference does not sponsor wrestling, ice hockey, or lacrosse. Its football champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I FCS football playoffs, and its basketball champions receive automatic bids to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.

Conference championships

The conference crowns champions in each sponsored sport, with its premier events being the SWAC Football Championship Game and the SWAC men's basketball tournament. The football championship, held at the home stadium of the division winner with the best record, has been contested since 1999 and often features rivals like Grambling State University and Southern University in the event known as the "Bayou Classic." In basketball, the tournament winner receives the automatic NCAA tournament bid, with historic programs like Texas Southern University and Alcorn State University having frequent success. The conference also hosts championships in track and field at venues like the Birmingham CrossPlex and in baseball at sites such as Wesley Barrow Stadium.

Facilities

Member institutions compete in notable athletic venues, many with significant historical importance. Prominent football stadiums include Alabama State University's Hornet Stadium, Jackson State University's Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, and Grambling State University's Eddie Robinson Stadium, named for legendary coach Eddie Robinson. Iconic basketball arenas include Texas Southern University's Health and Physical Education Arena and Southern University's F. G. Clark Activity Center. The conference's baseball championship has been held at Urban Youth Academy in New Orleans, and track events utilize the Birmingham CrossPlex. These facilities regularly host events like the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

Notable alumni

Conference institutions have produced a distinguished array of alumni excelling in professional sports, entertainment, and public service. Legendary football figures include Walter Payton (Jackson State University), Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State University), and Steve McNair (Alcorn State University). In basketball, notable players are Avery Johnson (Southern University) and Larry Smith (Alcorn State University). Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Brock attended Southern University. Beyond athletics, alumni include civil rights activist Medgar Evers (Alcorn State University), music icon Toni Braxton (Bowie State University), and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson (West Virginia State University). The conference's legacy is also shaped by iconic coaches like Eddie Robinson of Grambling State University and John Merritt of Jackson State University.

Category:NCAA conferences Category:College athletic conferences in the United States Category:Historically black colleges and universities Category:Sports in the Southern United States Category:1920 establishments in the United States