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Mid-South Conference

College athletic conference in the United States

Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

The Mid-South Conference (MSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Member institutions are located in Kentucky and Tennessee. The league is headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and the interim commissioner is Chris Wells.

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 five associate members that compete primarily in other conferences. Kentucky Christian, Union Commonwealth and Reinhardt are associate members for football and men's volleyball. Former full member Bluefield is also an associate member 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, 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, joined the MSC as an affiliate member for football in 2020, after re-adding the sport.

01History

In April 2018, Thomas More University (then Thomas More College), which had been an NAIA member before moving to NCAA Division III 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 also announced its departure from the MSC for the Southern States Athletic Conference 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 (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 announced it would add football as a sponsored sport.

On March 26, 2026, Faulkner left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football to become an NAIA independent for the 2026 fall season.

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 and Union College (now Union Commonwealth University), beginning the 1987 fall season (1987-88 academic year).
  • 1988, The University of Evansville joined the conference in the 1988 fall season (1988-89 academic year).
  • 1989, Kentucky Wesleyan College and Tennessee Wesleyan University 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 joined the Mid-South in the 1990 fall season (1990-91 academic year).
  • 1991, Cumberland (Tenn.) and Tennessee Wesleyan departed from the conference after the 1990 fall season (1990-91 academic year).
  • 1991, Tusculum University 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 [Tenn.] rejoining as well).
  • 1996, Tusculum departed from the conference as a football affiliate after the 1995 fall season (1995-96 academic year).
  • 1996, Cumberland (Tenn.) and Lambuth moved their other sports to the Mid-South as full members for the 1996-97 academic year.
  • 1997, Bethel (Tenn.) left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football after the 1996 fall season (1996-97 academic year).
  • 2000, Lindsey Wilson College (now Lindsey Wilson University) 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 (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:
  • 2002, The University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVa Wise) joined the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football in the 2002 fall season (2002-03 academic year).
  • 2003, Bethel (Tenn.) 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 (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 Tech or WVU Tech) joined the Mid-South in the 2006-07 academic year.
  • 2007, Bethel (Tenn.) 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 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:
  • 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 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 (KIAC; now known as the River States Conference), beginning the 2015-16 school year) after the 2011-12 academic year.
  • 2012, Shorter (Ga.) 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 (now Bluefield University) joined the Mid-South (with Cumberland [Tenn.] rejoining for all sports) in the 2012-13 academic year.
  • 2012, Bethel (Tenn.) and Union (Ky.) 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 (MEC) after spending provisionally one season in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) after the 2012-13 academic year.
  • 2013, Bethel (Tenn.) left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for track & field after the 2013 spring season (2012-13 academic year).
  • 2013, Reinhardt University 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 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 ranks and the American Southwest Conference 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:
  • 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:
  • 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 (N.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:
  • 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:
  • 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 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 (now Blue Mountain Christian University), Marian (Ind.) 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 joined the Mid-South (with Bethel [Tenn.] 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:
  • 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 (Ind.) 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:
  • 2022, Life left the Mid-South to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (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 (N.C.) and Warner for football and men's volleyball
    • Brewton-Parker for men's wrestling
    • Florida Memorial and Southeastern (Fla.) to join The Sun for football
    • Keiser for women's lacrosse and men's wrestling
    • Kentucky Christian, Point and Union (Ky.) to join the AAC for football
    • Lincoln (Ill.) for men's and women's swimming
    • Marian (Ind.) for women's lacrosse
    • St. Thomas (Fla.) for men's wrestling
    • Truett McConnell for men's volleyball
    • and Webber International for men's volleyball and women's lacrosse
  • 2022, Wilberforce University joined the Mid-South in the 2022-23 academic year.
  • 2022, Montreat College, Rochester University (now Rochester Christian University) and Siena Heights University 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:
  • 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:
    • Brescia, Midway and Rio Grande for men's volleyball
    • and St. Andrews (N.C.) for women's wrestling
  • 2024, Rio Grande added women's wrestling into its Mid-South affiliate membership in the 2024-25 academic year.
  • 2026, Faulkner left the Mid-South as an affiliate member for football to become an NAIA Independent after the 2025 fall season (2025-26 academic year).
  • 2027, Christian Brothers University will join the Mid-South in the 2027-28 academic year.

02Member schools

Current members

The Mid-South currently has seven full members, all private schools.

Notes

Future members

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joining Current
conference
Christian Brothers University Memphis, Tennessee 1871 Catholic
(FSC)
1,813 Buccaneers 2027 Gulf South (GSC)
Notes

Affiliate members

The Mid-South currently has 16 associate members. All but two are private schools; one is fully public, and the other operates private and public institutions within a single entity.

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Mid-South
sport(s)
Primary
conference
Brewton-Parker College Mount Vernon, Georgia 1904 Baptist 1,123 Barons 2017 women's wrestling Southern States (SSAC)
Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, Indiana 1930 Nonsectarian 2,862 Warriors 2020 women's wrestling Wolverine-Hoosier (WHAC)
Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, Indiana 1920 Wesleyan Church 14,957 Wildcats 2018w.sw.
2021m.sw.
women's swimming
men's swimming
Crossroads
Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Kentucky 1919 Christian 541 Knights 2017 archery Appalachian (AAC)
Life University Marietta, Georgia 1974 Nonsectarian 2,711 Running
Eagles
2022 women's wrestling Southern States (SSAC)
Lourdes University Sylvania, Ohio 1958 Catholic 1,014 Gray Wolves 2020 women's wrestling Wolverine-Hoosier (WHAC)
Midway University Midway, Kentucky 1847 Disciples of Christ 1,945 Eagles 2018m.wr.
2019m.bw.
2019w.bw.
2020m.sw.
2020w.sw.
2023arch.
men's wrestling
men's bowling
women's bowling
men's swimming
women's swimming
archery
River States (RSC)
Montreat College Montreat, North Carolina 1916 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
932 Cavaliers 2022 women's wrestling Appalachian (AAC)
University of Pikeville Pikeville, Kentucky 1889 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
2,610 Bears 2023arch.
2023m.bw.
2023w.bw.
archery
men's bowling
women's bowling
Appalachian (AAC)
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876 Hybrid 2,168 RedStorm 2020m.wr.
2024w.wr.
men's wrestling
women's wrestling
River States (RSC)
Rochester Christian University Rochester Hills, Michigan 1959 Churches of Christ 1,173 Warriors 2022 women's wrestling Appalachian (AAC)
Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio 1986 Public 3,206 Bears 2023m.sw.
2023w.sw.
men's swimming
women's swimming
River States (RSC)
Siena Heights University Adrian, Michigan 1919 Catholic
(O.P.)
1,832 Saints 2022 women's wrestling Wolverine-Hoosier (WHAC)
Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, Tennessee 1857 United Methodist 1,074 Bulldogs 2015m.bw.
2015w.bw.
men's bowling
women's bowling
Appalachian (AAC)
Union Commonwealth University Barbourville, Kentucky 1879 United Methodist 1,129 Bulldogs 2012m.bw.
2012w.bw.
2018arch.
men's bowling
women's bowling
archery
Appalachian (AAC)
Notes

Former members

The Mid-South has 14 former full members. Ten of these are private schools, and one other operates private and public institutions within a single entity.

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Subsequent
conference
Current
conference
Bluefield College Bluefield, Virginia 1922 Baptist 989 Rams 2012 2014 Appalachian (AAC)
(2014-present)
Lambuth University Jackson, Tennessee 1843 United
Methodist
N/A Eagles 1996 2006 TranSouth (TSAC)
(2006-09)
NAIA/D-II
Independent

(2009-11)
Closed in 2011
Life University Marietta, Georgia 1974 Nonsectarian 2,711 Running
Eagles
2014 2022 Southern States (SSAC)
(2022-present)
North Greenville College Tigerville, South Carolina 1891 Baptist 2,219 Crusaders 1995 2001 D-II Independent
(2001-11)
Carolinas (CC)
(2011-present)
University of Pikeville Pikeville, Kentucky 1889 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
2,610 Bears 2000 2023 Appalachian (AAC)
(2023-present)
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876 Hybrid 2,168 RedStorm 2009 2014 River States (RSC)
(2014-present)
Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio 1986 Public 3,206 Bears 2010 2023 River States (RSC)
(2023-present)
St. Catharine College St. Catharine, Kentucky 1873 Catholic
(D.S.P.)
N/A Patriots 2008 2016 Closed in 2016
Thomas More University Crestview Hills, Kentucky 1921 Catholic 1,947 Saints 2021 2023 Great Midwest (G-MAC)
(2023-present)
Union College Barbourville, Kentucky 1879 United
Methodist
1,129 Bulldogs 1995 2002 Appalachian (AAC)
(2002-present)
University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, Tennessee 1870 Historically Methodist 978 FireHawks 2020 2023 Southern States (SSAC)
(2023-present)
University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, Virginia 1954 Public 1,911 Highland
Cavaliers
2010 2013 various South Atlantic (SAC)
(2019-present)
West Virginia University Institute of Technology Montgomery, West Virginia 1895 Public 1,448 Golden
Bears
2006 2012 USCAA/NAIA
Independent

(2012-15)
River States (RSC)
(2015-present)
Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio 1856 A.M.E.
Church
617 Bulldogs 2022 2023 Continental
(2023-24)
HBCU (HBCUAC)
(2024-present)
Notes

Former affiliate members

The Mid-South had 38 associate members, all but two were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Mid-South
sport(s)
Primary
conference
Ave Maria University Ave Maria, Florida 2003 Catholic
(Diocese of Venice)
1,335 Gyrenes 2017fb.
2018w.lax.
2022fb.
2022w.lax.
football
women's lacrosse
The Sun
Belhaven University Jackson, Mississippi 1894 Presbyterian 3,616 Blazers 1998 2015 football C.C. South (CCS)
Bethel University McKenzie, Tennessee 1842 Cumberland
Presbyterian
2,974 Wildcats 1996 &
2003fb.
2007t.f.
2012m.bw.
2012w.bw.
2017arch.
1997 &
2020fb.
2013t.f.
2020m.bw.
2020w.bw.
2020arch.
football
track & field
men's bowling
women's bowing
archery
Mid-South (MSC)
Bluefield University Bluefield, Virginia 1922 Baptist 989 Rams 2014fb.
2018m.vb.
2022fb.
2022m.vb.
football
men's volleyball
Appalachian (AAC)
Blue Mountain College Blue Mountain, Mississippi 1873 Baptist 971 Toppers 2019m.bw.
2019w.bw.
2022m.bw.
2022w.bw.
men's bowling
women's bowling
Southern States (SSAC)
Brescia University Owensboro, Kentucky 1925 Catholic
(Ursulines)
638 Bearcats 2023 2024 men's volleyball River States (RSC)
Brewton-Parker College Mount Vernon, Georgia 1904 Baptist 1,123 Barons 2015m.wr.
2018m.vb.
2022m.wr.
2019m.vb.
men's volleyball Southern States (SSAC)
Cincinnati Christian University Cincinnati, Ohio 1924 Christian N/A Eagles 2015fb.
2018m.vb.
2020fb.
2019m.vb.
football
men's volleyball
N/A
Cumberland University Lebanon, Tennessee 1842 Nonsectarian 3,072 Bulldogs 1990 &
2002;fb.
2009m.wr.
1991 &
2012;fb.
2012m.wr.
football
men's wrestling
Mid-South (MSC)
Edward Waters University Jacksonville, Florida 1866 AME Church 1,175 Tigers 2017 2019 football Southern (SIAC)
University of Evansville Evansville, Indiana 1854 United
Methodist
2,109 Purple Aces 1988 1992 football Missouri Valley (MVC)
Faulkner University Montgomery, Alabama 1942 Churches of Christ 2,933 Eagles 2008 2026 football Southern States (SSAC)
Florida Memorial University Miami Gardens, Florida 1879 Baptist 1,365 Lions 2020 2022 football The Sun
Keiser University West Palm Beach, Florida 1977 Nonsectarian 20,102 Seahawks 2018w.lax.
2019m.wr.
2022w.lax.
2022m.wr.
women's lacrosse
men's wrestling
The Sun
Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Kentucky 1919 Christian 541 Knights 2009fb.
2017bsb.
2017sfb.
2022fb.
2019bsb.
2019sfb.
football
baseball
softball
Appalachian (AAC)
Kentucky Wesleyan College Owensboro, Kentucky 1858 United
Methodist
834 Panthers 1989;
2004
1990;
2006
football Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Lambuth University Jackson, Tennessee 1843 United
Methodist
N/A Eagles 1990;
2006
1995;
2010
football Closed in 2011
Lincoln College Lincoln, Illinois 1865 Nonsectarian N/A Lynx 2021m.sw.
2021w.sw.
2022m.sw.
2022w.sw.
men's swimming
women's swimming
Closed in 2022
Lindenwood University-Belleville Belleville, Illinois 2003 Catholic N/A Lynx 2015m.bw.
2015w.bw.
2015m.sw.
2015w.sw.
2017w.wr.
2017m.bw.
2017w.bw.
2019m.sw.
2019w.sw.
2019w.wr.
men's bowling
women's bowling
men's swimming
women's swimming
women's wrestling
Closed in 2020
Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana 1904 Catholic
(Jesuit)
4,351 Wolf Pack 2016m.sw.
2016w.sw.
2022m.sw.
2022w.sw.
men's swimming
women's swimming
Southern States (SSAC)
Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana 1851 Catholic
(S.S.F.)
3,586 Knights 2018w.lax.
2019m.bw.
2019w.bw.
2022w.lax.
2021m.bw.
2021w.bw.
women's lacrosse
men's bowling
women's bowling
Crossroads
Martin Methodist College Pulaski, Tennessee 1870 Public 978 RedHawks 2015m.bw.
2015w.bw.
2020m.bw.
2020w.bw.
men's bowling
women's bowling
Mid-South (MSC)
Midland University Fremont, Nebraska 1883 Lutheran ELCA 1,557 Warriors 2017m.sw.
2017w.sw.
2019m.sw.
2019w.sw.
men's swimming
women's swimming
Great Plains (GPAC)
Midway University Midway, Kentucky 1847 Disciples of Christ 1,945 Eagles 2018 2024 men's volleyball River States (RSC)
Point University West Point, Georgia 1937 Christian 2,827 Skyhawks 2017 2022 football Appalachian (AAC)
Reinhardt University Waleska, Georgia 1883 United
Methodist
1,170 Eagles 2013fb.
2016m.wr.
2019m.vb.
2022fb.
2017m.wr.
2022m.vb.
football
men's wrestling
men's volleyball
Appalachian (AAC)
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876 Nonsectarian 2,168 RedStorm 2020m.sw.
2020w.sw.
2021m.vb.
2021m.sw.
2021w.sw.
2024m.vb.
men's swimming
women's swimming
men's volleyball
River States (RSC)
St. Andrews University Laurinburg, North Carolina 1896 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
N/A Knights 2015m.wr.
2017fb.
2018m.vb.
2020w.wr.
2017m.wr.
2022fb.
2022m.vb.
2024w.wr.
men's wrestling
football
men's volleyball
women's wrestling
Closed in 2025
St. Thomas University Miami Gardens, Florida 1961 Catholic
(Archdiocese of Miami)
6,455 Bobcats 2020 2022 men's wrestling The Sun
Shorter University Rome, Georgia 1873 Baptist 1,447 Hawks 2005fb.
2007t.f.
2010m.wr.
2012fb.
2012t.f.
2012m.wr.
football
track & field
men's wrestling
Carolinas
Southeastern University Lakeland, Florida 1935 Assemblies of God 10,400 Fire 2015 2022 men's wrestling The Sun
Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, Tennessee 1857 United
Methodist
1,074 Bulldogs 1989 1991 football Appalachian (AAC)
Truett McConnell University Cleveland, Georgia 1946 Baptist 2,714 Eagles 2015m.wr.
2019m.vb.
2017m.wr.
2022m.vb.
men's wrestling
men's volleyball
Appalachian (AAC)
Tusculum University Tusculum, Tennessee 1794 Presbyterian 1,200 Pioneers 1991 1996 football South Atlantic (SAC)
Union College Barbourville, Kentucky 1879 United
Methodist
1,129 Bulldogs 1987;
2002
1995;
2022
football Appalachian (AAC)
University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, Virginia 1954 Public 1,911 Highland
Cavaliers
2002 2010 football South Atlantic (SAC)
Warner University Lake Wales, Florida 1968 Church of God 891 Royals 2016fb.
2018m.vb.
2022fb.
2022m.vb.
football
men's volleyball
The Sun
Webber International University Babson Park, Florida 1927 Nonsectarian 930 Warriors 2018m.vb.
2020w.lax.
2022m.vb.
2022w.lax.
men's volleyball
women's lacrosse
The Sun
Notes

Membership timeline

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football only)   Associate member (sport) 

03Sports

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 and competitive dance. The MSC also stages invitational tournaments for junior varsity 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 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

Watch videos about Mid-South ConferenceExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article Mid-South Conference, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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