Southland Conference

Southland Conference
Name	Southland Conference
Founded	1963
Association	NCAA
Division	Division I
Headquarters	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Commissioner	Tom Burnett
Region	Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas

Southland Conference The Southland Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Division I with a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football presence; it was founded in 1963 and has headquarters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Member institutions include public and private universities from Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas that field teams in sports such as football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, and soccer, while the conference negotiates media rights and championship arrangements with broadcasters and postseason organizations like the NIT and FCS Playoffs.

History

The conference was established in 1963 by institutions from Texas and Louisiana seeking a regional competitive association; early members included North Texas Mean Green, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters, Trinity University, and Arkansas State Red Wolves, and the league expanded and contracted through affiliations with schools such as Texas State University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and McNeese State Cowboys and Cowgirls. During the 1970s and 1980s the conference navigated changes related to NCAA reclassification, aligning with national trends exemplified by institutions like Florida State Seminoles and University of Texas at Austin that similarly shifted conference affiliations; later realignment waves in the 1990s and 2000s saw members depart for the Sun Belt Conference, Conference USA, and the American Athletic Conference. In the 2010s and 2020s the conference experienced further membership turnover tied to media rights negotiations with networks such as ESPN, CBS Sports Network, and FOX Sports, and to regional strategic moves involving institutions like University of the Incarnate Word and Houston Baptist University (now Houston Christian University). The league's history reflects broader trends including television revenue, postseason access via the NCAA Tournament, and conference realignment dynamics that also affected conferences such as the Big 12 Conference, Southeastern Conference, and Western Athletic Conference.

Member Schools

Current members encompass a mix of public research universities and private institutions from the South Central United States, including schools with prominent athletics programs such as McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Lamar University, University of New Orleans, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, University of the Incarnate Word, Northwestern State University, and Southeastern Louisiana University. Affiliate members and past associates have included entities like Arkansas–Little Rock Trojans, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Abilene Christian University, and Incarnate Word Cardinals (as they shifted affiliations). Member institutions participate in conference governance, scheduling, and championship qualification alongside interactions with national bodies such as the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and postseason entities like the NIT and College World Series qualifiers for baseball.

Sports and Championships

The conference sponsors championship competition in sports including football (FCS), men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, men's soccer, women's soccer, cross country, and track and field; conference champions earn automatic bids or consideration for postseason tournaments such as the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament, FCS Playoffs, and the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. Historically, teams from the league have produced NCAA Tournament representatives like McNeese State Cowboys, Nicholls State Colonels, and Sam Houston Bearkats (during their membership), and have showcased players who advanced to professional leagues such as the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and WNBA. Championship events are staged at campus venues and neutral sites, sometimes partnering with municipal arenas used by franchises like the New Orleans Pelicans and venues that have hosted College World Series regional events.

Governance and Administration

The conference is led by a commissioner and an administrative office that oversee championship administration, compliance, and media negotiations; recent commissioners have included figures active in collegiate athletics administration comparable to commissioners of the Sun Belt Conference, Big Sky Conference, and Ohio Valley Conference. The governance structure involves athletic directors from member institutions forming a council to set policy, manage scheduling, and administer bylaws in coordination with the NCAA. Compliance and student-athlete welfare efforts align with national initiatives led by entities such as the NCAA Division I Council, and the conference works with academic officers at members like Southeastern Louisiana University and McNeese State University to monitor graduation rates and NCAA Academic Progress Rate requirements.

Facilities and Media Rights

Member campuses maintain a range of facilities including stadiums, arenas, and ballparks such as Joe Miller Ballpark-style baseball venues, football stadiums akin to those at Provost Umphrey Stadium and John L. Guidry Stadium, and multipurpose arenas like those used by Lamar Cardinals and Nicholls State Colonels basketball programs. The conference negotiates media rights and streaming partnerships with regional and national broadcasters including ESPN, CBS Sports Network, and regional sports networks, while also leveraging digital platforms for live-streaming and on-demand content similar to arrangements used by the Atlantic Sun Conference and Big South Conference. Sponsorships and corporate partnerships with brands that support collegiate athletics help fund championships and facility improvements at member institutions.

Notable Alumni and Awards

Alumni from conference schools have progressed to professional success and received awards such as Heisman Trophy finalists, Pro Bowl selections, Major League Baseball All-Star Game participants, and NBA draft picks; notable individuals include NFL players drafted from programs like McNeese State, MLB players emerging from Nicholls State and Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, and coaches who later led teams in conferences such as the SEC and Big 12 Conference. Conference honors include all-conference selections, Player of the Year awards, Coach of the Year awards, and academic recognitions comparable to those bestowed by the NCAA Academic All-America program; many awardees have advanced to national recognition at tournaments like the NCAA Tournament and the FCS National Championship.

Category:College athletic conferences in the United States