We are excited about joining a conference with the WAC's history and visibility,' said Dr. A new West Division will feature California Baptist, Dixie State, Grand Canyon, New Mexico State, Seattle, Southern Utah and Utah Valley universities. A Southwest Division will be composed of ACU, Lamar, SHSU, SFA, Tarleton State and Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

The expanded WAC will host competition for championships in two divisions. 'It not only stabilizes the conference for the future it also positions it for significant growth and success,' Hurd added. Hurd said the result could not have been accomplished without the collaboration and shared visions of the WAC's Board of Directors and presidents of incoming institutions.

'The opportunity to bring five quality institutions into the conference, to significantly strengthen the WAC's national basketball brand and other championship sport profiles, and to bring football back under the WAC umbrella is one that made sense.' 'I cannot overstate my level of excitement in making this expansion announcement,' said WAC commissioner Jeff Hurd. Southern Utah is still expected to join in 2022.

ACU, Lamar, SHSU and SFA are petitioning the WAC Board of Directors for entry July 1, 2021, instead. The remaining Southland members, however, exercised their ability to accelerate the exit of the 'Texas Four' a year early. Austin, and Big Sky Conference member Southern Utah.Īll five universities have planned to join the WAC July 1, 2022. HOUSTON – Abilene Christian University expects to begin intercollegiate competition in the Western Athletic Conference in 2021, joining four other NCAA Division I institutions making a milestone move to the WAC, it was announced today in a press conference at the NRG Center.ĪCU will transition from the Southland Conference – a league it co-founded in 1973 and rejoined in 2013 – along with Lamar, Sam Houston and Stephen F.

Sfa wac conference