Conference USA#Men's basketball
{{short description|US college sports conference}}
{{Redirect|C-USA|the defunct American soccer club|Chivas USA}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox sports league
| name = Conference USA
| title =
| logo = CUSA logo.svg
| logo_size = 250
| association = NCAA
| division = Division I
| subdivision = FBS
| teams = 10 (12 in 2025, 11 in 2026)
| mens = 8
| womens = 11
| region = Southern United States and
| headquarters = Dallas, Texas
| commissioner = Judy MacLeod
| since = 2015
| website = {{URL|https://conferenceusa.com/}}
| color = #00263A; {{box-shadow border|a|#E40046|2px}}
| font_color = #FFFFFF
| map = 250px
| map_size = 250
}}
Conference USA (CUSA) is an intercollegiate athletic conference of member institutions in the Southern and Western United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports. CUSA's offices are located in Dallas, Texas.
Member schools
=Current full members=
{{color box|#ffa0a0}} Member departing for the Mountain West Conference in 2026.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width=80%" |
| Institution
!Location !Founded !Joined !Type !Enrollment !Endowment !Nickname !class="unsortable"|Colors |
|---|
| Florida International University
| Miami, Florida{{efn|group=full|The FIU main campus is in the suburban Miami-Dade County community of University Park.}} | 1965 | 2013{{efn|group=full|FIU was a men's soccer affiliate from the 2005 to 2012 fall seasons (2005–06 to 2012–13 school years).}} | rowspan=3 | Public | $276 | Panthers | {{college color boxes|FIU Panthers}} |
| Jacksonville State University
| 1883 | 2023{{efn|group=full|Jacksonville State was a beach volleyball affiliate during the 2023 spring season (2022–23 school year).}} | $57 | {{college color boxes|Jacksonville State Gamecocks}} |
| Kennesaw State University
| Kennesaw, Georgia{{efn|group=full|The KSU campus has a Kennesaw mailing address, but is located in unincorporated Cobb County.}} | 1963 | 2024 | Owls | {{college color boxes|Kennesaw State Owls}} |
| Liberty University
| 1971 | 2023 | Private | 95,148{{cite web |title=Liberty University Student Life |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/liberty-university-10392/student-life |publisher=U.S. News |access-date=September 27, 2021 |date=September 21, 2021}}{{efn|group=full|Includes online students. On-campus enrollment is approximately 16,000.}} | $1,714As of June 30, 2020. {{cite report |url=https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Documents/Research/2020-NTSE-Public-Tables--Endowment-Market-Values--FINAL-FEBRUARY-19-2021.ashx |title=U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA |date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=February 19, 2021}} | {{college color boxes|Liberty Flames}} |
| Louisiana Tech University
| 1894 | rowspan=2 | 2013 | rowspan=4 | Public | $117.9 | {{college color boxes|Louisiana Tech Bulldogs}} |
| Middle Tennessee State University
| 1911 | $108.9 | {{college color boxes|Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders}} |
| New Mexico State University
| 1888 | rowspan=2 | 2023 | $235.9 | Aggies | {{college color boxes|New Mexico State Aggies}} |
| Sam Houston State University
| 1879 | $152.3 | Bearkats | {{college color boxes|Sam Houston State Bearkats}} |
| bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| {{sort|Texas El Paso|University of Texas at El Paso}} | 1914 | 2005 | Public | $241.7 | Miners | {{college color boxes|UTEP Miners|order=134}} |
| Western Kentucky University
| 1906 | 2014{{efn|group=full|Western Kentucky was an affiliate in women's swimming & diving during the 2013–14 season.}} | Public | $209.5 | {{college color boxes|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers}} |
;Notes:
{{notelist|group=full}}
=Membership map=
{{Location map+
| USA
| width=700
| float=left
| caption=Conference USA Member locations
10px – Full member
10px – Departing full member
10px – Future members
10px – Affiliate member
10px – Future affiliate member
| places=
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Delaware | position=right | mark=Green pog.svg | link=University of Delaware | lat= 39.6780 | long=-75.7506 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=FIU | position=bottom | mark=Blue pog.svg | link=Florida International University | lat=25.7570 | long=-80.3740 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Jax
State | position=bottom | mark=Blue pog.svg | link=Jacksonville State University | lat=33.8231 | long=-85.7682 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Kennesaw State | position=right | mark=Blue pog.svg | link=Kennesaw State University | lat=34.0382 | long=-84.5827 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Liberty | position=bottom | mark=Blue pog.svg | link=Liberty University | lat=37.3530 | long=-79.1770 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Louisiana Tech | position=top | mark=Blue pog.svg | link=Louisiana Tech University | lat=32.5275 | long=-92.6475 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Middle Tennessee | position=right | mark=Blue pog.svg | link=Middle Tennessee State University | lat=35.8490 | long=-86.3650 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Missouri State | position=top | mark=Green pog.svg | link=Missouri State University | lat=37.1997 | long=-93.28079 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=New Mexico State | position=top | mark=Blue pog.svg | link=New Mexico State University | lat=32.2793 | long=-106.7491 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Sam Houston | position=bottom | mark=Blue pog.svg | link=Sam Houston State University | lat=30.7130 | long=-95.5473 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=UTEP | position=right | mark=Red pog.svg | link=University of Texas at El Paso | lat=31.7700 | long=-106.5050 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Western Kentucky | position=top | mark=Blue pog.svg | link=Western Kentucky University | lat=36.9861 | long=-86.4556 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=UAB | position=left | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=University of Alabama at Birmingham | lat=33.5000 | long=-86.8075 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Arkansas State | position=left | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Arkansas State University | lat=35.8411 | long=-90.6796 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Dallas Baptist | position=bottom | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Dallas Baptist University | lat=32.5 | long=-96.5 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Florida Atlantic | position=top | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Florida Atlantic University | lat=26.3710 | long=-80.1020 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Stephen
F. Austin | position=right | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Stephen F. Austin State University | lat=31.6192 | long=-94.6483 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Tarleton | position=left | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Tarleton State University | lat=32.22 | long=-98.22 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=TCU | position=top | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Texas Christian University | lat=32.71 | long=-97.363 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Tulane | position=bottom | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Tulane University | lat=29.9407 | long=-90.12 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Valparaiso | position=left | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Valparaiso University | lat=41.4636 | long=-87.0436 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Vanderbilt | position=left | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Vanderbilt University | lat=36.1486 | long=-86.8050 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Wichita State | position=bottom | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Wichita State University | lat=37.719167 | long=-97.293056 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=Youngstown State | position=right | mark=Yellow pog.svg | link=Youngstown State University | lat=41.1067 | long=-80.6503 }}
{{Location map~ | USA | label=South Florida | position=left | mark=White pog.svg | link=University of South Florida | lat=28.054561 | long=-82.413058 }}
}}
=Future members=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | | |||||||||
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joining | Type | Enrollment | Endowment (millions) | Nickname | class="unsortable"|Colors | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Delaware
| 1743 | July 1, 2025 | Public{{efn|group=future|Delaware is officially chartered as a "privately-governed, state-assisted" institution. This status is broadly similar to that of New York State's statutory colleges, most of which are housed at Cornell University, or institutions in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth System of Higher Education.}} | {{College color boxes|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens}} | CAA{{efn|group=future|Delaware football competes in CAA Football, which is administered by the all-sports Coastal Athletic Association but is technically a separate entity.}} | |||||||||
| Missouri State University
| 1905 | July 1, 2025{{efn|group=full|Missouri State has been a beach volleyball affiliate of CUSA since the 2024 spring season (2023–24 school year).}} | Public | $193 | Bears & Lady Bears{{efn|group=full|Missouri State uses Beach Bears instead of Lady Bears for its beach volleyball team, which is currently a CUSA affiliate.}} | {{college color boxes|Missouri State Bears}} | Missouri Valley{{efn|group=future|Missouri State football competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, an administratively separate entity from the MVC.}} |
;Notes:
{{notelist|group=future}}
= <!-- ===Future affiliate member=== Joining dates reflect the calendar year of entry into Conference USA, which for spring sports is the year before the start of competition. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | |- ! Institution !! Location !! Founded !! Joining !! Type !! Enrollment !! Endowment<br />(millions)!! Nickname !! class="unsortable"|Colors !! C-USA sport !! Primary<br />conference |} --> Affiliate members =
In this table, all dates reflect the calendar year of entry into Conference USA, which for spring sports is the year before the start of competition.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Institution
!Location !Founded !Joined !Type !Enrollment !Nickname !class="unsortable"|Colors !CUSA !Primary |
|---|
| Arkansas State University
| 1909 | 2023 | Public | 14,109 | {{college color boxes|Arkansas State Red Wolves}} | Bowling | Sun Belt |
| Dallas Baptist University
| 1898 | 2022 | Private | 4,487 | Patriots | {{college color boxes|Dallas Baptist Patriots}} | Baseball | Lone Star{{efn|group=former|name=D2|Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.}} |
| Florida Atlantic University
| 1961 | 2023{{efn|group=aff|name=BV2023|Measured from FAU's and UAB's departure from full CUSA membership.}} | Public | 30,808 | Owls | {{college color boxes|Florida Atlantic Owls}} | Beach volleyball |
| bgcolor=lightpink
| 1905 | 2023 | Public | 24,224 | {{college color boxes|Missouri State Bears}} | Beach volleyball | MVC |
| Stephen F. Austin State University (Stephen F. Austin)
| 1923 | 2023 | Public | 11,946 | {{college color boxes|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}} | Bowling |
| Tarleton State University (Tarleton)
| 1899 | 2023 | Public | 11,350 | Texans | {{college color boxes|Tarleton Texans}} | Beach volleyball | WAC |
| rowspan=2 | Tulane University
| rowspan=2 | New Orleans, Louisiana | rowspan=2 | 1834 | 2022 | rowspan=2 | Private | rowspan=2 | Green Wave | rowspan=2 | {{college color boxes|Tulane Green Wave}} | Beach volleyball | rowspan=2 | The American |
| 2023
| Bowling |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
| 1969 | 2023{{efn|group=aff|name=BV2023}} | Public | 22,563 | Blazers | {{college color boxes|UAB Blazers}} | Beach volleyball |
| Valparaiso University
| 1859 | 2023 | Private | 2,900 | Beacons | {{college color boxes|Valparaiso Beacons}} | Bowling | MVC |
| Vanderbilt University
| 1873 | 2023 | Private | 13,798 | {{college color boxes|Vanderbilt Commodores}} | Bowling | SEC |
| Wichita State University
| 1895 | 2024 | Public | 17,548 | Shockers | {{college color boxes|Wichita State Shockers}} | Bowling |
| Youngstown State University
| 1908 | 2023 | Public | 15,058 | Penguins | {{college color boxes|Youngstown State Penguins}} | Bowling | Horizon |
;Notes:
{{notelist|group=aff}}
=Future affiliate members=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Institution
!Location !Founded !Joining !Type !Enrollment !Nickname ! class="unsortable" |Colors !CUSA !Primary |
|---|
| {{sort|South Florida|University of South Florida}}
|1956 |2025 |Public |{{college color boxes|South Florida Bulls}} |
=Former full members=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Institution
!Location !Founded !Joined !Left !Type !Nickname ! class="unsortable" |Colors !Current |
|---|
| {{sort|Alabama Birmingham|University of Alabama at Birmingham}}{{efn|group=former|name=BVB23|FAU and UAB remain CUSA affiliate members in beach volleyball.}}
| 1969 | 1995{{efn|group=former|UAB was a full but non-football member at two different times—1995–96 to 1998–99, when the school was independent in football, and 2015–16 to 2016–17, after UAB discontinued its football program. UAB football returned for the 2017 fall season (effective the 2017–18 school year).{{cite press release |url=http://www.uabsports.com/genrel/072115aaa.html |title=UAB To Resume Rifle This Year, Bowling Next And Football In 2017 |publisher=UAB Athletics |date=July 21, 2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910172950/http://www.uabsports.com/genrel/072115aaa.html |url-status=dead }}}} | 2023 | rowspan="3" | Public | Blazers | {{college color boxes|UAB Blazers}} |
| {{sort|Central Florida|University of Central Florida}}
| Orlando, Florida{{efn|group=former|The UCF campus has an Orlando mailing address but is entirely located in unincorporated Orange County.}} | 1963 | 2005 | 2013 | Knights | {{college color boxes|UCF Knights}} | rowspan="2" | Big 12 |
| {{sort|Cincinnati|University of Cincinnati}}
| 1819 | rowspan="2" | 1995 | rowspan="2" | 2005 | Bearcats | {{college color boxes|Cincinnati Bearcats}} |
| DePaul University
| 1898 | Private | {{college color boxes|DePaul Blue Demons}} | Big East |
| East Carolina University
| 1907 | 2001{{efn|group=former|East Carolina was an affiliate in football from the 1997 to 2000 fall seasons (1997–98 to 2000–01 school years).}} | 2014 | rowspan="4" | Public | Pirates | {{college color boxes|East Carolina Pirates}} | rowspan="2" | The American |
| Florida Atlantic University{{efn|group=former|name=BVB23}}
| 1961 | 2013 | 2023 | Owls | {{college color boxes|Florida Atlantic Owls}} |
| {{sort|Houston|University of Houston}}
| 1927 | 1996{{efn|group=former|Houston was a founding member of CUSA in 1995 but did not begin competition until the 1996–97 season because of its commitments to the final year of competition in the Southwest Conference.}} | 2013 | Cougars | {{college color boxes|Houston Cougars}} | Big 12 |
| {{sort|Louisville|University of Louisville}}
| 1798 | rowspan="2" | 1995 | rowspan="2" | 2005 | {{college color boxes|Louisville Cardinals}} | ACC |
| Marquette University
| 1881 | Private | {{college color boxes|Marquette Golden Eagles}} | Big East |
| Marshall University
| 1837 | 2005 | 2022 | rowspan="6" | Public | nowrap="" |Thundering Herd | {{college color boxes|Marshall Thundering Herd}} | Sun Belt |
| {{sort|Memphis|University of Memphis}}
| 1912 | 1995 | 2013 | Tigers | {{college color boxes|Memphis Tigers}} | rowspan="4" | The American |
| rowspan="2" | {{sort|North Carolina Charlotte|University of North Carolina at Charlotte}}
| rowspan="2" | Charlotte, North Carolina | rowspan="2" | 1946 | 1995 | 2005 | rowspan="2" | 49ers | rowspan="2" | {{college color boxes|Charlotte 49ers}} |
| 2013
| 2023 |
| {{sort|North Texas|University of North Texas}}
| 1890 | 2013 | 2023 | {{college color boxes|North Texas Mean Green}} |
| {{sort|Old Dominion University|Old Dominion University}}
| 1930 | 2013{{efn|group=a|Old Dominion was an affiliate in men's golf, women's golf, rowing, men's tennis, and women's tennis in 2012–13; full but non-football member in 2013–14.}} | 2022 | Monarchs | {{college color boxes|Old Dominion Monarchs}} | Sun Belt |
| Rice University
| 1912 | 2005 | 2023 | rowspan="2" | Private | Owls | {{college color boxes|Rice Owls}} |
| Saint Louis University
| {{sort|Saint Louis|St. Louis, Missouri}} | 1818 | rowspan="2" | 1995 | rowspan="2" | 2005 | {{college color boxes|Saint Louis Billikens}} |
| {{sort|South Florida|University of South Florida}}{{Efn|South Florida will become an affiliate member for beach volleyball in 2025|group=former}}
| 1956 | Public | Bulls | {{college color boxes|South Florida Bulls}} |
| Southern Methodist University
| Dallas, Texas{{efn|group=former|The SMU campus has a Dallas mailing address, but is located almost entirely in University Park, a separate city contained within the Dallas city limits.}} | 1911 | 2005 | 2013 | Private | Mustangs | {{college color boxes|SMU Mustangs}} | ACC |
| {{sort|Southern Mississippi|University of Southern Mississippi}}
| 1910 | 1995 | 2022 | Public | {{college color boxes|Southern Miss Golden Eagles}} | Sun Belt |
| Texas Christian University{{efn|group=a|TCU returned to CUSA as a beach volleyball affiliate in 2023, but left after the 2024 season when the Big 12 began sponsoring that sport.}}
| 1873 | 2001 | 2005 | Private | {{college color boxes|TCU Horned Frogs |
| Big 12
|-
| {{sort|Texas San Antonio|University of Texas at San Antonio}}
| 1969
| 2013
| 2023
| Public
| {{college color boxes|UTSA Roadrunners}}
| rowspan="3" | The American
|-
| Tulane University{{efn|group=a|Tulane returned to CUSA as a beach volleyball affiliate in 2022, and added bowling to its CUSA membership in 2023.}}
| 1834
| 1995
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| rowspan="2" | Private
| {{college color boxes|Tulane Green Wave}}
|-
| {{sort|Tulsa|University of Tulsa}}
| 1894
| 2005
| {{college color boxes|Tulsa Golden Hurricane}}
|}
;Notes:
{{notelist|group=former}}
=Former affiliate members=
In this table, all dates reflect each school's actual entry into and departure from Conference USA. For spring sports, the joining date is the calendar year before the start of competition. For fall sports, the departure date is the calendar year after the last season of competition.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Institution
!Location !Founded !Joined !Left !Type !Nickname !class="unsortable"|Colors !CUSA !Primary |
|---|
| {{sort|Alabama|University of Alabama}}
| 1831 | 2009 | 2014 | Public | {{college color boxes|Alabama Crimson Tide}} | Rowing (w) | SEC |
| {{sort|Army|United States Military Academy}} (Army)
| 1802 | 1998 | 2005 | Federal | {{college color boxes|Army Black Knights}} | Football | Patriot{{efn|group=faff|Football competed as an FBS independent through the 2023 season, and joined The American in 2024.}} |
| California State University, Bakersfield{{efn|group=faff|The university began rebranding its athletic program as the Bakersfield Roadrunners in 2023–24.}}
| 1965 | 2007 | 2010 | rowspan="3"|Public | {{college color boxes|Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners}} | Swimming & diving (w) | Big West |
| {{sort|Sacramento State|California State University, Sacramento}} (Sacramento State)
| 1947 | 2013 | 2014 | Hornets | {{college color boxes|Sacramento State Hornets}} | Rowing (w) | Big Sky{{efn|group=faff|name=American|Rowing affiliate of the WCC.}} |
| Coastal Carolina University
| 1954 | 2021 | 2022 | {{college color boxes|Coastal Carolina Chanticleers}} | Sun Belt |
| Colorado College
| 1874 | 2006 | 2014 | Private | Tigers | {{college color boxes|Colorado College Tigers}} | Soccer (w) | nowrap|Southern Collegiate{{efn|group=former|name=D3|Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.}}{{efn|group=faff|Women's soccer affiliate of the Mountain West.}} |
| Georgia State University
| 1913 | 2022 | rowspan=12 | Public | Panthers | {{college color boxes|Georgia State Panthers}} | Beach volleyball | Sun Belt |
| Jacksonville State University
| 1883 | 2022 | 2023 | {{college color boxes|Jacksonville State Gamecocks}} | Beach volleyball | CUSA{{efn|group=faff|Jacksonville State joined CUSA beach volleyball a year before becoming a full member.}} |
| {{sort|Kansas|University of Kansas}}
| 1865 | rowspan=2 | 2009 | rowspan=2 | 2014 | Jayhawks | {{college color boxes|Kansas Jayhawks}} | rowspan=2 | Rowing (w) | rowspan=2 | Big 12 |
| Kansas State University
| 1863 | Wildcats | {{college color boxes|Kansas State Wildcats}} |
| {{sort|Kentucky|University of Kentucky}}
| 1865 | 2005 | 2022 | Wildcats | {{college color boxes|Kentucky Wildcats}} | rowspan=2 | Soccer (m) | SEC{{efn|group=faff|name=SBC|Men's soccer affiliate of the Sun Belt.}} |
| {{sort|New Mexico|University of New Mexico}}
| 1889 | 2013 | 2019 | Lobos | {{college color boxes|New Mexico Lobos}} | Mountain West{{efn|group=faff|Dropped men's soccer after the 2018 season (2018–19 school year).}} |
| {{sort|North Dakota|University of North Dakota}}
| 1883 | 2008 | 2011 | {{college color boxes|North Dakota Fighting Hawks}} | rowspan="2" | Swimming & diving (w) | Summit |
| {{sort|Northern Colorado|University of Northern Colorado}}
| 1889 | 2007 | 2010 | Bears | {{college color boxes|Northern Colorado Bears}} | Big Sky{{efn|group=faff|name=WAC|Women's swimming & diving affiliate of the WAC.}} |
| {{sort|Oklahoma|University of Oklahoma}}
| 1890 | 2009 | rowspan=2 | 2014 | Sooners | {{college color boxes|Oklahoma Sooners}} | rowspan="2" | Rowing (w) | SEC |
| San Diego State University
| 1947 | 2013 | Aztecs | {{college color boxes|San Diego State Aztecs}} | Mountain West{{efn|group=faff|Dropped rowing after the 2020–21 season; had previously been an affiliate of the American Athletic Conference in that sport.}} |
| {{sort|South Carolina|University of South Carolina}}
| 1801 | 2005 | rowspan=2 | 2022 | {{college color boxes|South Carolina Gamecocks}} | Soccer (m) | SEC{{efn|group=faff|name=SBC}} |
| {{sort|Southern Miss|University of Southern Mississippi}} (Southern Miss)
| 1910 | 2021 | {{college color boxes|Southern Miss Golden Eagles}} | Beach volleyball | Sun Belt |
| Texas Christian University (TCU)
| 1873 | 2023 | 2024 | Private | {{college color boxes|TCU Horned Frogs}} | Beach volleyball | Big 12 |
| {{sort|Tennessee|University of Tennessee}}
| 1794 | rowspan=2 | 2009 | rowspan=2 | 2014 | rowspan=4 | Public | nowrap|Lady Volunteers | {{college color boxes|Tennessee Volunteers}} | rowspan=2 | Rowing (w) | SEC |
| {{sort|Texas|University of Texas at Austin}}
| 1883 | {{college color boxes|Texas Longhorns}} | SEC |
| {{sort|ULM|University of Louisiana at Monroe}} (ULM)
| 1865 | 2022 | Warhawks | {{college color boxes|ULM Warhawks}} | Beach volleyball | Sun Belt |
| West Virginia University
| 1867 | 2012 | 2014 | {{college color boxes|West Virginia Mountaineers}} | Rowing (w) | Big 12 |
;Notes:
{{notelist|group=faff}}
= Membership timeline =
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1995 till:2032
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#
Colors = id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7)
id:line value:black
id:bg value:white
id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports
id:FullxF value:rgb(0.551,0.824,0.777) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football
id:AssocF value:rgb(0.98,0.5,0.445) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only
id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.5,0.6,0.824) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in some sports, but not all (consider identifying in legend or a footnote)
id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference
id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference where OtherC1 has already been used, to distinguish the two
id:OtherC3 value:rgb(0.999,0.859,0.984) # Use this color to denote a team that has move to another conference, when OtherC1 and OtherC2 have already been used
PlotData=
width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s
bar:1 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1996 text:Cincinnati (1995–2005)
bar:1 color:Full from:1996 till:2005
bar:1 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2013 text:Big East
bar:1 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2023 text:American
bar:1 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:Big 12
bar:2 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2005 text:DePaul (1995–2005)
bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2013 text:Big East
bar:2 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:end text:Big East
bar:3 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1996 text:Louisville (1995–2005)
bar:3 color:Full from:1996 till:2005
bar:3 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2013 text:Big East
bar:3 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2014 text:American
bar:3 shift:(15) color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text: ACC
bar:4 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2005 text:Marquette (1995–2005)
bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2013 text:Big East
bar:4 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:end text:Big East
bar:5 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2005 text:Saint Louis (1995–2005)
bar:5 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:end text:Atlantic 10
bar:6 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2003 text:South Florida (1995–2003)
bar:6 color:Full from:2003 till:2005 text:(2003–2005)
bar:6 shift:(20) color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2013 text:Big East
bar:6 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:end text:American
bar:6 color:AssocOS from:2025 till:end text: (Beach volleyball, 2025–present)
bar:7 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2005 text:Charlotte (1995–2005)
bar:7 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:end text:Atlantic 10
bar:7 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2015 text:(2013–2015)
bar:7 shift:(20) color:Full from:2015 till:2023 text:(2015–2023)
bar:7 color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:American
bar:8 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1996 text:Southern Miss (1995–2022)
bar:8 color:Full from:1996 till:2022
bar:8 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:Sun Belt
bar:9 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1999 text:UAB (1995–1999)
bar:9 color:Full from:1999 till:2015 text:(1999–2015)
bar:9 color:FullxF from:2015 till:2017 text:(2015–2017)
bar:9 shift:(20) color:Full from:2017 till:2023 text:(2017–2023)
bar:9 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text: (Beach volleyball, 2023–present)
bar:10 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1996 text:Memphis (1995–2013)
bar:10 color:Full from:1996 till:2013
bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:American
bar:11 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1996 text:Tulane (1995–2014)
bar:11 color:Full from:1996 till:2014
bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:2022 text:American
bar:11 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:(Beach volleyball, 2022–present; bowling, 2023–present)
bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:1996 text:SWC
bar:12 color:Full from:1996 till:2013 text:Houston (1996–2013)
bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2023 text:American
bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:Big 12
bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:1997 text:CAA
bar:13 color:AssocF from:1997 till:2001 text:East Carolina (1997–2001)
bar:13 shift:(30) color:Full from:2001 till:2014 text:(2001–2014)
bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text: American
bar:14 color:AssocF from:1998 till:2005 text:Army (1998–2005)
bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:1996 text:SWC
bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:1996 till:2001 text:WAC
bar:15 color:Full from:2001 till:2005 text:TCU (2001–2005)
bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2012 text:Mountain West
bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:2023 text:Big 12
bar:15 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:2024 text: (Beach volleyball, 2023–2024)
bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:
bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2001 text:TAAC
bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:2001 till:2005 text:ASUN
bar:16 color:Full from:2005 till:2013 text:Central Florida (2005–2013)
bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2023 text:American
bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:Big 12
bar:17 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:1996 text:SWC
bar:17 color:OtherC2 from:1996 till:2005 text:WAC
bar:17 color:Full from:2005 till:2013 text:SMU (2005–2013)
bar:17 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2024 text:American
bar:17 color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text: ACC
bar:18 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:1996 text:MVC
bar:18 color:OtherC2 from:1996 till:2005 text:WAC
bar:18 color:Full from:2005 till:2014 text:Tulsa (2005–2014)
bar:18 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text: American
bar:19 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:1997 text:SoCon
bar:19 color:OtherC2 from:1997 till:2005 text:MAC
bar:19 color:Full from:2005 till:2022 text:Marshall (2005–2022)
bar:19 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:Sun Belt
bar:20 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:1996 text:MVC
bar:20 color:OtherC2 from:1996 till:2005 text:WAC
bar:20 color:Full from:2005 till:2023 text:Rice (2005–2023)
bar:20 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:American
bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2005 text:WAC
bar:21 color:Full from:2005 till:2026 text:UTEP (2005–2026)
bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:2026 till:end text:Mountain West
bar:22 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:1998 text:TAAC
bar:22 color:OtherC2 from:1998 till:2005 text:Sun Belt
bar:22 color:AssocOS from:2005 till:end text:FIU (Men's soccer, 2005–2013)
bar:22 color:Full from:2013 till:end text:(2013–present)
bar:25 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2001 text:TAAC
bar:25 color:OtherC1 from:2001 till:2006 text:ASUN
bar:25 color:OtherC2 from:2006 till:2013 text:Sun Belt
bar:25 color:Full from:2013 till:2023 text:Florida Atlantic (2013–2023)
bar:25 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text: (Beach volleyball, 2023–present)
bar:26 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2001 text:Sun Belt
bar:26 color:OtherC2 from:2001 till:2013 text:WAC
bar:26 color:Full from:2013 till:end text:Louisiana Tech (2013–present)
bar:27 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2000 text:OVC
bar:27 color:OtherC2 from:2000 till:2013 text:Sun Belt
bar:27 color:Full from:2013 till:end text:Middle Tennessee (2013–present)
bar:28 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:1996 text:Southland
bar:28 shift:(30) color:OtherC2 from:1996 till:2000 text:Big West
bar:28 color:OtherC1 from:2000 till:2013 text:Sun Belt
bar:28 color:Full from:2013 till:2023 text:North Texas (2013–2023)
bar:28 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:American
bar:29 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2013 text:CAA
bar:29 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2014 text:Old Dominion (2013–2022)
bar:29 color:Full from:2014 till:2022
bar:29 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:Sun Belt
bar:30 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2012 text:Southland
bar:30 color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:2013 text:WAC
bar:30 color:Full from:2013 till:2023 text:UTSA (2013–2023)
bar:30 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:American
bar:31 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2014 text:Sun Belt
bar:31 color:Full from:2014 till:end text:Western Kentucky (2014–present)
bar:32 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2001 text:TAAC
bar:32 color:OtherC1 from:2001 till:2003 text:ASUN
bar:32 color:OtherC2 from:2003 till:2022 text:OVC
bar:32 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:2023 text:Jacksonville State (Beach volleyball, 2022–2023; full, 2023–present)
bar:32 color:Full from:2023 till:end
bar:33 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2018 text:Big South
bar:33 color:OtherC2 from:2018 till:2023 text:ASUN
bar:33 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Liberty (2023–present)
bar:34 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2000 text:Big West
bar:34 color:OtherC2 from:2000 till:2005 text:Sun Belt
bar:34 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2023 text:WAC
bar:34 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:New Mexico State (2023–present)
bar:35 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2021 text:Southland
bar:35 color:OtherC2 from:2021 till:2023 text:WAC
bar:35 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Sam Houston (2023–present)
bar:43 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2005 text:Peach Belt
bar:43 color:OtherC2 from:2005 till:2024 text:ASUN
bar:43 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:Kennesaw State (2024–present)
bar:44 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2001 text:America East
bar:44 color:OtherC2 from:2001 till:2025 text:CAA
bar:44 color:Full from:2025 till:end text:Delaware (2025–future)
bar:45 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2023 text:Missouri Valley
bar:45 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:2025 text:Missouri State (Beach volleyball, 2023–2025; full, 2025–future)
bar:45 color:Full from:2025 till:end
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:1995
TextData =
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text:^"Conference USA Membership History"
- > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following six 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. {{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|Full members}} {{Font color||{{RGB|141|211|199}}|Full members (non-football)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|251|128|114}}|Assoc. members (football only)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|128|177|211}}|Assoc. member (list sports)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Other Conference}} {{Font color||{{RGB|253|180|98}}|Other Conference}} <#
{{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|Full members (all-sports)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|141|211|199}}|Full members (non-football)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|251|128|114}}|Affiliate members (football-only)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|127|153|210}}|Affiliate member (other sport)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Other Conference}} {{Font color||{{RGB|253|180|98}}|Other Conference}}
History
{{Chronological|sect=yes|date=January 2024|reason=The 2014–15 realignment sections starts with Tulane's announcement in 2012. The prior section, the 2013–14 realignment, says that the conference entered "its next phase with the departure of four schools" but does not give a clear understanding about why this section is ordered before 2014–15 section.}}
CUSA (abbreviated "C-USA" before 2023) was founded in 1995 by the merger of the Metro Conference and Great Midwest Conference, two Division I conferences that did not sponsor football. However, the merger did not include either Great Midwest member Dayton or Metro members VCU and Virginia Tech.{{cite web|url=http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp950210/02100647.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716204344/http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp950210/02100647.htm|url-status=dead|title=Digital Library and Archives, University, Virginia Tech|date=July 16, 2012|archive-date=July 16, 2012}} Since this left an uneven number of schools in the conference, Houston of the dissolving Southwest Conference was extended an invitation and agreed to join following the SWC's disbanding at the end of the 1995–96 academic year. The conference immediately started competition in all sports, except football which started in 1996.
Being the result of a merger, CUSA was originally a sprawling, large league that stretched from Florida to Missouri, Wisconsin to Texas. Many of its original schools were located in major urban centers and had strong basketball traditions, which helped establish the league on a national basis.
=2005–06 realignment=
The conference saw radical changes for the 2005–06 academic year. The Big East Conference had lost several members, and looked to Conference USA to attract replacements. Five CUSA members departed for the Big East, including three football-playing schools (Cincinnati, Louisville, and South Florida) and two non-football schools (DePaul and Marquette; both joined the New Big East in 2013). Another two schools (Charlotte and Saint Louis) left for the Atlantic 10; TCU joined the Mountain West (and is now in the Big 12 with several other former Southwest Conference members); and a ninth member, Army, which was C-USA football-only, opted to become an independent in that sport again.
With the loss of these members, CUSA lured six schools from other conferences: UCF and Marshall from the MAC, as well as Rice, SMU, Tulsa, and later UTEP from the WAC. UCF played in the MAC for football only; for all other sports, it was a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN).
With CUSA's membership now consisting of 12 schools, all of which sponsor football, the conference adopted a two-division alignment.
=2013–14 realignment=
In 2013, CUSA entered its next phase with the departure of four schools (Houston, Memphis, SMU, and UCF) for the American Athletic Conference, the football-sponsoring portion of the former Big East Conference. This was again the result of Big East schools leaving for the ACC, this time being Syracuse and Pittsburgh, as well as Notre Dame for non-football sports. It was announced in early 2012 that Conference USA was in talks with the Mountain West Conference about forming either a football alliance or conference merger in the future.
However, when the conferences discussed their plans with the NCAA, they were told that if they merged, the new league would receive only one automatic bid to NCAA championships; at least one of the former conferences would lose expected future revenues from the NCAA men's basketball tournament; and at least one former conference would lose exit fees from any schools that departed for the new league. As a result, both CUSA and the MW backed away from a full merger. {{as of|2012|April}}, the likeliest scenario was an all-sports alliance in which both conferences retained separate identities.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/18623903 |title=Conference Mountain West merger "unlikely" |first=Brett |last=McMurphy |work=College Football Insider |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=April 17, 2012 |access-date=April 21, 2012}} However, after the MW added more members, the alliance was apparently abandoned.
For men's soccer, there was a chance that the MW, SEC, and CUSA along with the one Sun Belt member (FIU), that sponsor the sport, would play under the CUSA's men's soccer program. The MW, which does not sponsor men's soccer, would take three of the four members that offer the sport (UNLV, Air Force, New Mexico—San Diego State is a Pac-12 associate member in that sport), join CUSA's three full members that offer the sport (UAB, Marshall, Tulsa), the two SEC members already in CUSA for the sport (Kentucky, South Carolina), and the Sun Belt's FIU. However, the only MW member school that ultimately moved to CUSA men's soccer was New Mexico.
For the 2013–14 season CUSA invited five new members to join their conference, with all accepting. UTSA and Louisiana Tech joined from the WAC and North Texas and FIU, (an affiliate member of CUSA joining for men's soccer in 2005), from the Sun Belt Conference. Old Dominion, which already housed five of its sports in CUSA, moved the rest of its athletic program from the CAA (except for field hockey, women's lacrosse and wrestling, with the three sports joining the new Big East, the Atlantic Sun, and the MAC respectively because CUSA does not sponsor those sports) and upgraded its football program from the Football Championship Subdivision. Charter member Charlotte returned from the A-10 and accelerated its recently established football program, which was set to begin play in 2013 as an FCS school, to FBS in 2015 with full conference rights in 2016.
=2014–15 realignment=
File:Conference USA Locations 3.png
On November 27, 2012, it was announced that Tulane would leave the conference to join the Big East in all sports, and East Carolina would join the Big East for football only (ECU's membership was upgraded to all-sports in March 2013 after the Big East's non-football members, except ACC-bound Notre Dame, announced they were leaving to form a new conference which took the Big East name, leaving the football-playing members to become the American Athletic Conference). Conference USA responded by adding Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic, both from the Sun Belt.
On April 1, 2013, Conference USA announced it was adding Western Kentucky, also from the Sun Belt, to offset Tulsa's departure to The American in all sports which was confirmed the next day.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9122292/western-kentucky-announces-move-c-usa|title=Western Kentucky announces move to C-USA|date=April 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/id/43297/tulsa-set-to-join-league-for-2014-15-season|title=Tulsa set to join league for 2014–15 season|date=April 2, 2013}}
=2014–2021=
The board of trustees in the University of Alabama system (of which UAB is a member) voted to shut down that football program on December 2, 2014, in a highly controversial move that many have attributed to a pro-Tuscaloosa bias (including trustees such as Paul Bryant Jr., son and namesake of Alabama football coaching legend Bear Bryant). According to Conference USA bylaws, member schools must sponsor football. In January 2015, UAB announced an independent re-evaluation of the program and the finances involved, leaving open a possible resumption of the program as early as the 2016 season. On January 29, 2015, the conference announced that there was no time pressure in making a decision regarding UAB's future membership. The conference also stated that it would wait for the new study results before any further discussions on the subject.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11967626/uab-blazers-shut-football-program|title=UAB eliminating football for 'greater good'|date=December 2, 2014}} On June 1, UAB announced that it would reinstate football effective with the 2016 season, presumably keeping the school in CUSA for the immediate future.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/12991674/uab-blazers-football-return |title=UAB reinstates football for 2016 |first=Alex |last=Scarborough |work=ESPN.com |date=June 1, 2015 |access-date=June 1, 2015}} The return of football was later pushed back to 2017 with their first game in September.[https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/400938597 UAB rolls FCS Alabama A&M in first game since 2014 season] ESPN (Associated Press) The Blazers won the 2018 conference championship their second year back and won the CUSA title again in 2020.
Commissioner Britton Banowsky stepped down on September 15, 2015, to become the head of the College Football Playoff Foundation. Executive associate commissioner and chief operating officer Judy MacLeod was subsequently named interim commissioner. On October 26 MacLeod was named the conference's third official commissioner, also becoming the first woman to head an FBS conference.{{cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/c-usas-macleod-1st-female-commissioner-fbs-league-174520340--ncaaf.html;_ylt=A0LEViq3izZWvMAATQQnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--|title=C-USA's MacLeod is 1st female commissioner of FBS league|publisher=AP-sports|date=October 26, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015}}
Marshall University's men's soccer program captured the league's first team national championship with its 1–0 overtime win over Indiana in the 2020 College Cup, held in May 2021 due to COVID-19 issues, in Cary, North Carolina.{{cite press release|url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2021/5/17/mens-soccer-msoc-national-champions-marshall-beats-indiana-1-0-in-ot-for-college-cup-title.aspx |title=National Champions! Marshall Beats Indiana 1–0 In OT For College Cup Title |publisher=Conference USA |date=May 17, 2021 |accessdate=May 29, 2021}}
= 2020s realignment =
{{see also|2021–2026 NCAA conference realignment}}
On October 18, 2021, Yahoo Sports reported that the American Athletic Conference, which had been rocked by the impending departure of three of its most prominent schools (Cincinnati, Houston, UCF) for the Big 12 Conference, was preparing to receive applications from six CUSA members: Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA.{{cite news|url=https://www.yahoo.com/sports/sources-the-aac-close-to-massive-6-school-expansion-to-reshape-conference-014015069.html |title=Sources: The AAC is close to massive 6-school expansion to reshape conference |first=Pete |last=Thamel |author-link=Pete Thamel |website=Yahoo Sports |date=October 18, 2021 |access-date=October 19, 2021}} ESPN reported the next day that The American had received all six schools' applications,{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32432496/six-schools-officially-apply-join-american-athletic-conference |title=Source: Six schools officially apply to join American Athletic Conference |first=Heather |last=Dinich |website=ESPN.com |date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=October 19, 2021}} and The American announced all six as future members on October 21, though it did not announce the effective date.{{cite press release|url=https://theamerican.org/news/2021/10/21/general-american-athletic-conference-announces-the-addition-of-six-universities.aspx |title=American Athletic Conference Announces the Addition of Six Universities |publisher=American Athletic Conference |date=October 21, 2021 |access-date=October 21, 2021}} The entry date would eventually be confirmed as July 1, 2023.{{cite press release|url=https://theamerican.org/news/2022/6/15/general-american-announces-entrance-agreements-with-incoming-members-for-2023-24-season.aspx |title=American Announces Entrance Agreements With Incoming Members for 2023–24 Season |publisher=American Athletic Conference |date=June 16, 2022 |access-date=June 16, 2022}}
The day after The American announced its expansion, The Action Network reported that Southern Miss had accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference in 2023, a move which was formally announced by the university on October 26.{{Cite web|title=Southern Miss Accepts Invitation to the Sun Belt Conference|url=https://southernmiss.com/news/2021/10/26/baseball-southern-miss-accepts-invitation-to-the-sun-belt-conference.aspx|access-date=October 26, 2021|website=Southern Miss|language=en}} The report added that the Sun Belt was preparing to add two other CUSA members in Marshall and Old Dominion, as well as FCS program James Madison. Old Dominion officially announced its move to the Sun Belt Conference on October 27,{{Cite web|title=Old Dominion Joins Sun Belt Conference|url=https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2021/10/27/general-old-dominion-joins-sun-belt-conference.aspx|access-date=October 30, 2021|website=sunbeltsports.org|date=October 27, 2021 |language=en}} followed later in the week by Marshall.{{Cite web|date=October 29, 2021|title=Marshall now third from C-USA to join Sun Belt|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32503651/marshall-set-join-sun-belt-conference-usa-exodus-continues-sources-confirm|access-date=October 30, 2021|website=ESPN.com|language=en}} On March 29, 2022, CUSA agreed to allow Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss to move to the Sun Belt beginning July 1, 2022, a year earlier than initially announced.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/33626016/move-marshall-old-dominion-southern-miss-conference-usa-sun-belt-now-complete |title=Move of Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern Miss from Conference USA to Sun Belt now complete |first=Pete |last=Thamel |author-link=Pete Thamel |website=ESPN.com |date=March 29, 2022 |accessdate=March 29, 2022}}
In response to these losses, on November 5, Conference USA announced the addition of four new members to start the 2023 athletic season. These included two ASUN schools, Liberty and Jacksonville State, along with two from the WAC, New Mexico State and Sam Houston. Liberty and New Mexico State previously played football as FBS independents, while Jacksonville State and Sam Houston played at the FCS level in their respective conferences.{{Cite web|date=November 5, 2021|title=Conference USA to add Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State beginning in 2023|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32560304/conference-usa-add-liberty-jacksonville-state-new-mexico-state-sam-houston-state-beginning-2023|access-date=November 7, 2021|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}{{cite press release |url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2021/11/4/general-conference-usa-adds-four-members.aspx |title=Conference USA Adds Four Members |publisher=Conference USA |date=November 5, 2021 |access-date=November 5, 2021}}
On October 7, 2022, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that current football-sponsoring ASUN member Kennesaw State was in talks to become the tenth member of Conference USA for the 2024 season.{{Cite web|date=October 7, 2022|title=College football realignment: Kennesaw State a 'favorite' to join C-USA by 2024, per report|url=https://247sports.com/Article/College-football-realignment-Kennesaw-State-a-favorite-to-join-C-USA-by-2024-per-report-194910857/|access-date=October 9, 2022|website=247sports.com|language=en}} One week later, CUSA officially announced Kennesaw State's 2024 entry.{{cite press release|url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2022/10/14/general-c-usa-adds-kennesaw-state-owls-to-join-in-2024.aspx |title=C-USA Adds Kennesaw State, Owls to Join in 2024 |publisher=Conference USA |date=October 14, 2022 |access-date=October 14, 2022}}
This was followed by the Sun Belt Conference adding beach volleyball for the 2023 season (2022–23 school year), taking with it the three full SBC members that had previously housed that sport in CUSA: Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, and Louisiana–Monroe. Southern Miss also left CUSA beach volleyball as part of its full-time move to the SBC.{{cite press release|url=https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2023/1/17/general-sun-belt-conference-adds-beach-volleyball-for-2023.aspx|title=Sun Belt Conference Adds Beach Volleyball For 2023 |publisher=Sun Belt Conference |date=January 18, 2023 |accessdate=January 19, 2023}} CUSA would add three new beach volleyball members for that season; Jacksonville State joined CUSA for beach volleyball in advance of full membership that July,{{cite press release|url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2023/2/22/womens-beach-volleyball-bvb-2023-preseason-awards-announced.aspx |title=2023 Preseason Awards Announced |publisher=Conference USA |date=February 23, 2023 |access-date=March 12, 2023 |quote= The league serves up its second season with opening matches this weekend featuring (16) FIU, (12) Florida Atlantic and UAB, along with new members Jacksonville State and (ARV) Tulane.}} Tulane became an associate member, and full member UTEP added a new beach volleyball program. Tarleton announced on April 24, 2023, that it would join CUSA as an associate member for the school's first season of varsity beach volleyball in 2024;{{cite press release|url=https://tarletonsports.com/news/2023/4/24/womens-volleyball-tarleton-adds-beach-volleyball-as-17th-intercollegiate-sport-will-compete-in-conference-usa.aspx |title=Tarleton adds Beach Volleyball as 17th intercollegiate sport, will compete in Conference USA |publisher=Tarleton Texans |date=April 24, 2023 |access-date=April 27, 2023}} CUSA confirmed this on May 11, adding that Missouri State and TCU would also join in beach volleyball for the 2024 season, and that Florida Atlantic and UAB would remain in CUSA beach volleyball after otherwise departing for The American.{{cite press release|url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2023/5/11/womens-beach-volleyball-bvb-c-usa-adds-tcu-tarleton-state-and-missouri-state-as-affiliate-members-for-beach-volleyball.aspx |title=BVB: C-USA Adds TCU, Tarleton State and Missouri State as Affiliate Members for Beach Volleyball |publisher=Conference USA |date=May 11, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}
On May 10, 2023, CUSA announced that it would add bowling, a women-only sport in the NCAA, effective in 2023–24. The Southland Bowling League, a single-sport conference established by the Southland Conference, was merged into CUSA.{{cite press release|url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2023/5/10/general-conference-usa-to-add-bowling-for-2023-24-season.aspx |title=Conference USA to Add Bowling for 2023–24 Season |publisher=Conference USA |date=May 10, 2023 |access-date=May 15, 2023}} The bowling league added Wichita State when it elevated its club team to varsity status in 2024–25.{{cite press release |url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2023/11/13/bowl-wichita-state-joins-cusa-as-an-affiliate-member-for-bowling.aspx |title=BOWL: Wichita State Joins CUSA as an Affiliate Member for Bowling |publisher=Conference USA |date=November 13, 2023 |access-date=November 15, 2023}}
The conference unveiled a "brand refresh" on July 1, 2023, the same day that Jacksonville State, Liberty, New Mexico State, and Sam Houston joined. The former abbreviation of "C-USA" was retired in favor of "CUSA", and the logo was slightly updated.{{cite press release |url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2023/6/30/general-conference-usa-officially-welcomes-four-new-members.aspx |title=Conference USA Officially Welcomes Four New Members |publisher=Conference USA |date=July 1, 2023 |access-date=January 9, 2024}}
On November 27, 2023, Pete Thamel reported on X that Conference USA was expected to add Delaware as a new member for the 2025–26 season.{{Cite web |first=Pete |last=Thamel
|title=Sources: Conference USA is expected to add Delaware as a new member for the 2025-26 season. The sides have been in talks and a decision is expected to be formalized in the upcoming days. |url=https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1729163578639622538 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}} On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, both CUSA and Delaware announced on their websites and social the official move to make Delaware the eleventh all-sports member of the conference.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title=CUSA Adds Delaware, Blue Hens to Join in 2025 |url=http://conferenceusa.com/news/2023/11/28/general-cusa-adds-delaware-blue-hens-to-join-in-2025.aspx |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=conferenceusa.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Delaware Accepts Invitation to Join Conference USA as Full Member |url=https://bluehens.com/news/2023/11/28/delaware-athletics-delaware-accepts-invitation-to-join-conference-usa-as-full-member |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=University of Delaware Athletics |language=en}} Six months later, on May 10, 2024, both CUSA and Missouri State University jointly announced on their respective websites that Missouri State would also join the league for the 2025–26 season, bringing league membership up to 12.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-10 |title=CUSA Adds Missouri State, Bears to Join in 2025 |url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2024/5/9/general-cusa-adds-missouri-state.aspx |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=conferenceusa.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-10 |title=Missouri State Accepts Invitation to Join Conference USA |url=https://missouristatebears.com/news/2024/5/10/general-missouri-state-accepts-invitation-to-join-conference-usa.aspx |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Missouri State University Athletics |language=en}} The 12-member lineup will last only one year, as UTEP, the longest-tenured current member, will leave for the Mountain West Conference in 2026.{{cite press release |url=https://themw.com/news/2024/10/01/mountain-west-officially-welcomes-utep-into-the-conference/ |title=Mountain West Officially Welcomes UTEP Into The Conference |publisher=Mountain West Conference |date=October 1, 2024 |access-date=October 1, 2024 }}
On November 5, 2024, the conference announced that former full member South Florida would join as an affiliate member in beach volleyball in 2025.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-05 |title=BVB: CUSA Adds South Florida as Affiliate Member for Beach Volleyball |url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2024/11/5/womens-beach-volleyball-bvb-cusa-adds-south-florida-as-affiliate-member-for-beach-volleyball.aspx |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=conferenceusa.com |language=en}}
Hall of Fame
In 2019, Conference USA inducted its first Hall of Fame class, comprising 20 student-athletes, three coaches, and two administrators.{{Cite web|url=https://local12.com/sports/uc-bearcats/huggins-martin-youkilis-named-to-first-conference-usa-hall-of-fame-class-cincinnati-bearcats-bob-kenyon-kevin-college-basketball-baseball-boston-red-sox-new-jersey-nets-nba|title=Huggins, Martin, Youkilis named to first Conference-USA Hall of Fame class|date=July 8, 2019}} The inductees included former University of Cincinnati basketball player Kenyon Martin, baseball player Kevin Youkilis, and men's basketball head coach Bob Huggins.
Commissioners
- Michael Slive 1995–2002
- Britton Banowsky 2002–2015
- Judy MacLeod 2015–present
Sports
=Sports sponsored=
Conference USA sponsors championship competition in eight men's and 11 women's NCAA sanctioned sports.{{cite web|url=http://www.conferenceusa.com/|title=Conference USA|website=www.conferenceusa.com}} Twelve schools are affiliate members—one in baseball, four in beach volleyball, six in bowling, and one in both beach volleyball and bowling. The most recent changes in sports sponsorship were the dropping of men's soccer and women's swimming and diving after the 2021–22 season, plus the addition of bowling in 2023–24.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Teams in CUSA competition{{efn|group=t|Numbers of teams are as of the 2023–24 school year.}} !Sport | Men's | Women's |
| align=left|Baseball | 10 | – |
| align=left|Basketball | 10 | 10 |
| align=left | Beach volleyball | – | 9 |
| align=left | Bowling | – | 10 |
| align=left|Cross Country | 9 | 10 |
| align=left|Football | 10 | – |
| align=left|Golf | 9 | 8 |
| align=left|Soccer | – | 10 |
| align=left|Softball | – | 10 |
| align=left|Tennis | 5 | 10 |
| align=left|Track and Field (Indoor) | 8 | 10 |
| align=left|Track and Field (Outdoor) | 9 | 10 |
| align=left|Volleyball | – | 10 |
{{notelist|group=t}}
=Men's sponsored sports by school=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | |||||||||
| Member
! Baseball ! Basketball ! XCountry ! Football ! Golf ! Tennis ! Indoor ! Outdoor ! Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left| FIU | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | 5 |
| {{left}}Jacksonville State | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | 6 |
| {{left}}Kennesaw State | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 8 |
| {{left}}Liberty | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 8 |
| align=left| Louisiana Tech | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 7 |
| align=left| Middle Tennessee | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 8 |
| {{left}}New Mexico State | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 8 |
| {{left}}Sam Houston | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 7 |
| bgcolor=pink
| align=left | UTEP | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 6 |
| align=left| Western Kentucky | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 7 |
| colspan=11| Affiliate members | |||||||||
| {{left}}Dallas Baptist | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | 1 |
| Total || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 9 || 5 || 8 || 9 || 71 | |||||||||
| colspan=11| Future members | |||||||||
| {{left}}Delaware | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | 5 |
| {{left}}Missouri State | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | 4 |
| Total in 2025 || 12 || 12 || 10 || 12 || 11 || 6 || 8 || 9 || 80 | |||||||||
| Total in 2026 || 12 || 11 || 9 || 11 || 10 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 74 |
{{notelist|group=m}}
==Men's varsity sports not sponsored by Conference USA==
Incoming members are highlighted in gray.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! School !! Lacrosse !! Rifle{{efn|group=mn|NCAA rifle is a coeducational team sport, with men and women competing with and against one another as equals. Jacksonville State fields a single coed team.}} !! Soccer !! Swimming & diving | ||||
| bgcolor=lightgray
|{{left}}Delaware | A-10 | No | Summit | ASUN |
| {{left}}FIU | No | No | American | No |
| {{left}}Jacksonville State | No | IND | No | No |
| {{left}}Liberty | No | No | OVC | No |
| bgcolor=lightgray
|{{left}}Missouri State | No | No | American | MVC{{efn|group=mn|Missouri State has not announced conference affiliations for men's swimming & diving.}} |
{{notelist|group=mn}}
=Women's sponsored sports by school=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | ||||||||||||
| Member
! Basketball ! Beach ! Bowling ! XCountry ! Golf ! Soccer ! Softball ! Tennis ! Indoor ! Outdoor ! Volleyball ! Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left| FIU | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 10 |
| {{left}}Jacksonville State | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 11 |
| {{left}}Kennesaw State | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 9 |
| {{left}}Liberty | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 8 |
| align=left| Louisiana Tech | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 9 |
| align=left| Middle Tennessee | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 9 |
| {{left}}New Mexico State | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 9 |
| {{left}}Sam Houston | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 11 |
| bgcolor=pink
|align=left| UTEP | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 10 |
| align=left| Western Kentucky | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 9 |
| colspan=13 | Affiliate members | ||||||||||||
| align=left | Arkansas State | {{yes}} | 1 | ||||||||||
| align=left | Florida Atlantic | {{yes}} | 1 | ||||||||||
| align=left | Missouri State | {{yes}} | 1 | ||||||||||
| align=left | Stephen F. Austin | {{yes}} | 1 | ||||||||||
| align=left | Tarleton | {{yes}} | 1 | ||||||||||
| align=left| Tulane | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 2 | |||||||||
| align=left | UAB | {{yes}} | 1 | ||||||||||
| align=left | Valparaiso | {{yes}} | 1 | ||||||||||
| align=left | Vanderbilt | {{yes}} | 1 | ||||||||||
| align=left | Wichita State | {{yes}} | 1 | ||||||||||
| align=left | Youngstown State | {{yes}} | 1 | ||||||||||
| Total || 10 || 9 || 10 || 10 || 8 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 107 | ||||||||||||
| colspan=13 | Future members | ||||||||||||
| {{left}}Delaware | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 9 |
| {{left}}Missouri State | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | 10 |
| colspan="13" |Future affiliate members | ||||||||||||
| South Florida | {{yes}} | |
| | | | | | |1 | ||||||||||
| Total in 2025 || 12 || 9 || 10 || 12 || 10 || 12 || 12 || 12 || 12 || 12 || 12 || 126 | ||||||||||||
| Total in 2026 || 11 || 9 || 10 || 11 || 9 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 117 |
{{notelist|group=w}}
==Women's varsity sports not sponsored by Conference USA==
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! School !! Acrobatics | |||||||||
| bgcolor=lightgray
|{{left}}Delaware | No | No | CAA{{efn|group=wns|name=Del|Delaware has not announced a conference affiliation for field hockey.}} | AHA{{efn|group=wns|Delaware will add women's ice hockey in the 2025–26 season, coinciding with its arrival in CUSA.}} | ASUN | No | MAC | No | ASUN |
| {{left}}FIU | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | American |
| {{left}}Jacksonville State | No | No | No | No | No | IND | No | No | No |
| {{left}}Kennesaw State | No | No | No | No | ASUN | No | No | No | No |
| {{left}}Liberty | No | No | Big East | No | ASUN | No | No | No | ASUN{{efn|group=wns|Joining the American Athletic Conference in 2025.}} |
| bgcolor=lightgray
|{{left}}Missouri State | IND{{efn|group=wns|name=most|Missouri State added acrobatics & tumbling and stunt in the 2024–25 season.}} | No | No | No | No | No | No | IND{{efn|group=wns|name=most}} | MVC{{efn|group=wns|name=Most|Missouri State has not announced conference affiliations for women's swimming & diving.}} |
| {{left}}New Mexico State | No | IND | No | No | No | No | No | No | WAC{{efn|group=wns|Joining the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in 2025.}} |
| bgcolor=pink
|align=left| UTEP | No | No | No | No | No | PRC | No | No | No |
{{notelist|group=wns}}
=Football=
Conference USA used a divisional format for football from 2005 to 2021.
:File:AmericanFootball current event.svg For the most recent season, see 2024 Conference USA football season.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Team
! First ! All-time ! All-time ! Bowl ! Bowl ! Conference ! Head coach |
|---|
| FIU
| 2002 | 72–156 | {{winpct|72|156}} | 5 | 2–3 | 1 | {{sortname|Mike|MacIntyre}} |
| Jacksonville State
| 1904 | 534–392–40 | {{winpct|534|392|40}} | 1 | 1–0 | 25 | {{sortname|Rich|Rodriguez}} |
| Liberty
| 1973 | 280–248–4 | {{winpct|280|248|4}} | 4 | 3–1 | 8 | {{sortname|Jamey|Chadwell}} |
| Louisiana Tech
| 1901 | 641–487–38 |{{winpct|641|487|38}} | 13 | 8–4–1 | 25 | {{sortname|Sonny|Cumbie}} |
| Middle Tennessee
| 1911 | 562–426–28 |{{winpct|562|426|28}} | 14 | 6–8 | 13 | {{sortname|Derek|Mason}} |
| New Mexico State
| 1893 | 440–664–30 | {{winpct|440|664|30}} | 5 | 4–0–1 | 4 | {{sortname|Tony|Sanchez|Tony Sanchez (American football)}} |
| Sam Houston
| 1912 | 573–489–36 | {{winpct|573|489|36}} | 5 | 3–1–1 | 15 | {{sortname|K. C.|Keeler}} |
| UTEP
| 1914 | 408–623–28 | {{winpct|408|623|28}} | 15 | 5–10 | 2 | {{sortname|Scotty|Walden}} |
| Western Kentucky
| 1908 | 589–409–31 | {{winpct|589|409|31}} | 15 | 10–5 | 13 | {{sortname|Tyson|Helton}} |
CUSA champions
{{main|Conference USA Football Championship Game }}
Bowl games
Through the 2023 season, the highest-ranked champion from the so-called "Group of Five" conferences (The American, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) was guaranteed a berth in one of the non-semifinal bowls of the College Football Playoff if the group's top team was not in the playoff.{{cite web|title=Six bowls in playoff format|last=McMurphy|first=Brett|work=ESPN.com|date=November 13, 2013|access-date=July 24, 2013|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8624387/six-bowls-pool-college-football-semifinal-games}} Starting in 2024, at least one Group of Five conference champion will receive a berth in the expanded 12-team CFP.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| width=190| Name
!width=190| Location !width=190| Stadium !width=190| Opposing Conference |
|---|
| Cotton Bowl Classic
| at-large |
| Fiesta Bowl
| at-large |
| Peach Bowl
| at-large |
For the 2014–19 seasons, Conference USA was guaranteed at least five of the following bowl games. Stadiums and names reflect those in use during that period.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| width=200| Name
!width=200| Location !width=200| Stadium !width=200| Opposing Conference |
|---|
| Arizona Bowl |
| Armed Forces Bowl |
| Bahamas Bowl |
| Boca Raton Bowl |
| First Responder Bowl |
| Frisco Bowl |
| Hawaii Bowl |
| Independence Bowl |
| Miami Beach Bowl |
| New Mexico Bowl |
| New Orleans Bowl
| Sun Belt |
| Gasparilla Bowl |
Rivalries
Current or former CUSA in-conference rivalries:
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
!colspan=2|Teams !! Rivalry Name !! Trophy !! Meetings !!width=55| Record !! Series Leader !! Current Streak | |||||
| Florida Atlantic | FIU
| Don Shula Award | 19 | 14–5 | Florida Atlantic | Florida Atlantic won 4 |
| Louisiana Tech | Southern Miss
| — | 52 | 17–35 | Southern Miss | Louisiana Tech won 2 |
| Middle Tennessee | Western Kentucky
| — | 70 | 35–34–1 | Middle Tennessee | WKU won 2 |
| Middle Tennessee | Troy
| The Palladium | 22 | 13–9 | Middle Tennessee | Middle Tennessee won 1 |
| Western Kentucky | Marshall
| Moonshine Throwdown | — | 13 | 8–5 | Marshall | Western Kentucky won 1 |
| North Texas | SMU
| — | 41 | 34–6–1 | SMU | SMU won 3 |
| Rice | Houston
| Bayou Bucket | 43 | 11–32 | Houston | Houston won 6 |
| Rice | SMU
| Mayor's Cup | 90 | 41–48–1 | SMU | Rice won 1 |
= Men's basketball =
File:Basketball current event.svg For the current season, see 2024–25 Conference USA men's basketball season.
{{see also|Conference USA men's basketball tournament|Conference USA Men's Basketball Player of the Year}}
This list goes through the 2022–23 season.{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org.s3.amazonaws.com/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/D1.pdf |title=2023–24 Division I Men's Basketball Records |publisher=NCAA |access-date=September 27, 2023}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" |
| Team
! First ! All-time ! All-time ! NCAA Tournament ! NCAA Tournament ! Arena ! Head coach |
|---|
| FIU
| 1982 | 486–714 | {{Winning percentage|486|714}} | 1 | 0–1 |
| Jacksonville State
| 1926 | 1238–884 | {{Winning percentage|1238|884}} | 2 | 0–2 |
| Liberty
| 1973 | 793–753 | {{Winning percentage|793|753}} | 5 | 1–5 | Liberty Arena{{efn|group=mbb|Liberty also schedules occasional games at the Vines Center.}} |
| Louisiana Tech
| 1910 | 1452–1074 | {{Winning percentage|1452|1074}} | 5 | 4–5 |
| Middle Tennessee
| 1914 | 1302–1133 | {{Winning percentage|1302|1133}} | 9 | 4–9 |
| New Mexico State
| 1905 | 1302–1133 | {{Winning percentage|1302|1133}} | 26 | 11–27 |
| Sam Houston
| 1918 | 1401–1174 | {{Winning percentage|1401|1174}} | 2 | 0–2 |
| UTEP
| 1915 | 1448–1126 | {{Winning percentage|1448|1126}} | 17 | 14–16 |
| Western Kentucky
| 1915 | 1872–973 | {{Winning percentage|1872|973}} | 23 | 19–24 |
{{notelist|group=mbb}}
= Women's basketball =
{{see also|Conference USA women's basketball tournament}}
This list goes through the 2022–23 season.{{cite web |title=2023-24 Division I Women's Basketball Records |url=http://fs.ncaa.org.s3.amazonaws.com/Docs/stats/w_basketball_RB/D1.pdf |publisher=NCAA |access-date=September 27, 2023}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" |
| Team
! First ! All-time ! All-time ! NCAA Tournament ! NCAA Tournament ! Arena ! Head coach |
|---|
| FIU
| 1976 | 758–606 | {{Winning percentage|758|606}} | 0 | 0–0 | Ocean Bank Convocation Center | Jesyka Burks-Wiley |
| Jacksonville State
| 1984 | 519–600 | {{Winning percentage|519|600}} | 0 | 0–0 |
| Liberty
| 1976 | 824–547 | {{Winning percentage|824|547}} | 16 | 2–16 | Liberty Arena{{efn|group=wbb|Liberty also schedules occasional games at the Vines Center,}} |
| Louisiana Tech
| 1975 | 1193–387 | {{Winning percentage|1193|387}} | 30 | 65–28 |
| Middle Tennessee
| 1976 | 998–450 | {{Winning percentage|998|450}} | 20 | 5–20 |
| New Mexico State
| 1983 | 634–572 | {{Winning percentage|634|572}} | 6 | 0–6 |
| Sam Houston
| 1970 | 659–834 | {{Winning percentage|659|834}} | 0 | 0–0 | Ravon Justice |
| UTEP
| 1975 | 632–716 | {{Winning percentage|632|716}} | 2 | 1–2 |
| Western Kentucky
| 1915 | 1070–541 | {{Winning percentage|1070|541}} | 20 | 17–20 | Greg Collins |
{{notelist|group=wbb}}
=Baseball=
{{see also|Conference USA Baseball Tournament}}
Championships
=Current CUSA champions=
Champions from the previous school year are indicated with the calendar year of their title. "RS" is regular season, "T" is tournament. Women's swimming & diving was dropped after the 2021–22 season.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
Fall 2024
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! width="125" | Sport ! width="175" | School |
| Football
| Jacksonville State (RS & Championship Game) |
| Soccer (W)
| FIU (RS & T) |
| Volleyball (W)
| Western Kentucky (RS & T) |
| Cross Country (M)
| Liberty |
| Cross Country (W)
| Liberty |
{{col-break}}
Winter 2024–25
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! width="150" | Sport ! width="150" | School |
| Basketball (M)
| Liberty (RS & T) |
| Basketball (W)
| Liberty (RS & T) |
| Bowling (W)
| Wichita State |
| Indoor Track & Field (M)
| Kennesaw State |
| Indoor Track & Field (W)
| Liberty |
{{col-break}}
Spring 2025
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! width="150" | Sport ! width="150" | School |
| Baseball
| Louisiana Tech (RS, 2024) |
| Softball
| Liberty (RS & T, 2024) |
| Beach Volleyball (W)
| TCU (2024){{efn|group=cchamp|No regular-season championship is awarded because teams do not play the same number of conference matches. TCU was the top seed in the CUSA tournament.}} |
| Outdoor Track & Field (M)
| Liberty (2024) |
| Outdoor Track & Field (W)
| Liberty (2024) |
| Golf (M)
| Liberty (2024) |
| Golf (W)
| Western Kentucky |
| Tennis (M)
| Middle Tennessee |
| Tennis (W)
| FIU |
{{col-end}}
{{notelist|group=cchamp}}
=National champions=
Only two current CUSA members, one full member and one associate, have won national team championships while representing the conference, both in bowling. Full member Jacksonville State won the 2024 NCAA championship in its first season of both varsity bowling and CUSA membership, and associate member Youngstown State won the 2025 NCAA title. The only other school to have won such a championship while a CUSA member at any level is Marshall, which moved to the Sun Belt Conference in 2022. Marshall won the 2020–21 men's soccer championship in May 2021 (with the tournament having moved from its normal schedule in fall 2020 to spring 2021 due to COVID-19).
The following current and future CUSA teams have won national championships when they were not affiliated with CUSA. Current associate members, indicated in italics, are listed with championships they won in their CUSA sports.
| class="wikitable" |
| School
|National titles |Sport |Years |
| rowspan=8 | Delaware
| rowspan=8 | 17 | Equestrian | 1997 |
| Figure Skating
| 2002, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Field Hockey
| 2016 |
| Football (Division I FCS)
| 2003 |
| Football (Division II)
| 1979 |
| Football (College Division)
| 1946, 1963, 1971, 1972 |
| Women's Lacrosse
| 1983 |
| Women's Lacrosse (AIAW Division II)
| 1981, 1982 |
| FIU
|2 |Men's Soccer (Division II) |1982, 1984 |
| rowspan=4 | Jacksonville State
| rowspan=4 | 6 | Baseball (Division II) | 1990, 1991 |
| Men's basketball (Division II)
| 1985 |
| Football (Division II)
| 1992 |
| Women's gymnastics (Division II)
| 1984, 1985 |
| rowspan=4 | Kennesaw State
| rowspan=4 | 5 | Baseball (Division II) | 1996 |
| Men's basketball (Division II)
| 2004 |
| Women's soccer (Division II)
| 2003 |
| Softball (Division II)
| 1995, 1996 |
| rowspan=2 | Louisiana Tech
|rowspan=2 | 5 |Football (Division II) |1972, 1973 |
| Women's basketball
|1981 (AIAW), 1982, 1988 |
| rowspan=3 | Missouri State
| rowspan=3 | 3 | Field hockey (AIAW Division II) | 1979 |
| Men's golf (Division II)
| 1983 |
| Softball (AIAW)
| 1974 |
| rowspan=2 | Sam Houston
| rowspan=2 | 2 | Bowling | 2014 |
| Football (Division I FCS)
| 2020 |
| Stephen F. Austin
| 2 | Bowling | 2016, 2019 |
| rowspan=4 |UTEP
|rowspan=4 |21 |Men's basketball |1966 |
| Men's outdoor track and field
|1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 |
| Men's indoor track and field
|1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982 |
| Men's cross country
|1969, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 |
| Vanderbilt
| 3 | Bowling | 2007, 2018, 2023 |
| Western Kentucky
|1 |Football (Division I FCS) |2002 |
| Youngstown State
|1 |Bowling |2025 |
| Total
! 85 ! ! |
|---|
{{See also|List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships|List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships}}
Facilities
Future members are denoted in blue. Departing members are denoted in red.
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| {{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Conference USA | School | Football stadium | Capacity | Basketball arena | Capacity | Baseball park | Capacity }} |
| style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Dallas Baptist Patriots}}"| Dallas Baptist Patriots baseball
| colspan=4 align=center | Baseball-only member | 3,492 |
| bgcolor=lightblue
| style={{NCAA color cell|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens}}"| Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens |18,500 |5,000 |1,300 |
| style="{{NCAA color cell|FIU Panthers}}"| FIU Panthers
|20,000 |Ocean Bank Convocation Center |5,000 |2,000 |
| style="{{NCAA color cell|Jacksonville State Gamecocks}}"| Jacksonville State Gamecocks
| 22,500 | 3,500 | 1,000 |
| style="{{NCAA color cell|Kennesaw State Owls}}"| Kennesaw State Owls
| 10,200 | 4,600 | 900 |
| style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Liberty Flames}}"| Liberty Flames and Lady Flames
| 25,000 | Liberty Arena{{efn|group=f|Liberty also schedules basketball games at the Vines Center (capacity 9,547).}} | 4,000 | 2,500 |
| style="{{NCAA color cell|Louisiana Tech Bulldogs}}"| Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters
|28,562 |8,098 |J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park |2,000 |
| style="{{NCAA color cell|Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders}}"| Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
|27,303 |11,802 |2,600 |
| bgcolor=lightblue
| style="{{NCAA color cell|Missouri State Bears}}"| Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears |17,500 |11,000 |7,986 |
| style="{{NCAA color cell|New Mexico State Aggies}}"| New Mexico State Aggies
| 28,853 | 12,482 | 1,000 |
| style="{{NCAA color cell|Sam Houston Bearkats}}"| Sam Houston Bearkats
| Bowers Stadium{{efn|group=f|Sam Houston schedules one nominal home game each season at NRG Stadium (capacity 72,220) in Houston.}} | 12,593 | 6,110 | 1,163 |
| bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| style="{{NCAA color cell|UTEP Miners}}"| UTEP Miners |51,500 |12,222 |colspan=2 align=center| Non-baseball school |
| style="{{NCAA color cell|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers}}"| Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers
|Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium |23,776 |7,326 |1,500 |
;Notes
{{notelist|group=f}}
Athletic department revenue by school
Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights and licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, concessions, and novelties.
Total expenses includes coach and staff salaries, scholarships, buildings and grounds, maintenance, utilities and rental fees, recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues, and insurance.
The following table shows institutional reporting to the United States Department of Education as shown on the DOE Equity in Athletics website for the 2021–22 academic year.{{cite news |title=Equity in Athletics Data Analysis |work=U.S. Department of Education |url=https://ope.ed.gov/athletics/#/institution/search }}
Incoming school in light gray.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |
| style="width:220px;"| Institution
! style="width:150px;"| 2021–22 Total Revenue from Athletics ! style="width:150px;"| 2021–22 Total Expenses on Athletics |
|---|
| Liberty University
| $57,423,638 | $57,423,638 |
| bgcolor="lightgray"
| $41,625,478 | $41,625,478 |
| Florida International University
| $39,299,776 | $35,610,534 |
| Middle Tennessee State University
| $35,614,512 | $35,614,512 |
| New Mexico State University
| $31,168,241 | $31,168,241 |
| Western Kentucky University
| $28,545,295 | $28,545,295 |
| University of Texas at El Paso
| $26,215,359 | $25,236,319 |
| Louisiana Tech University
| $25,976,375 | $25,579,294 |
| bgcolor="lightgray"
| $25,178,544 | $20,022,946 |
| Sam Houston State University
| $20,600,321 | $19,861,089 |
| Jacksonville State University
| $18,344,447 | $18,344,447 |
Media
In 2016, CUSA began a long-term television contract with lead partners ESPN and CBS Sports Network, with ESPN carrying 5 football games and the football championship game; and CBSSN carrying 6 football games, 5 basketball games, and both the men's and women's basketball championship games.{{cite web|title=What Conference USA's new TV deal may tell us about conference expansion|url=http://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/5/29/11807796/byu-football-big-12-expansion-tv-deal-conference-usa-2016|website=Vanquish the Foe (SBNation)|date=May 29, 2016|access-date=June 5, 2016}} CUSA also renewed and expanded its partnership with American Sports Network; owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, ASN will carry between 15 and 30 football games; between 13 and 55 men's basketball games; and between 2 and 5 women's basketball games. ASN will also carry 10 events in other C-USA sports.{{cite web|title=Comprehensive Television Packages Announced For Conference USA|url=http://www.conferenceusa.com/genrel/052516aad.html|publisher=Conference USA|access-date=June 5, 2016}}
The conference also entered into a contract with beIN Sports for 10 football games (marking the first domestic American football rights the network has ever acquired, and the first broadcast rights deal it had ever entered into with a college conference), 10 men's and 10 women's basketball games, 12 baseball and 12 softball games, 10 men's and 10 women's soccer games (excluding conference men's soccer games at Kentucky and South Carolina, covered by their primary conference's contract), and 10 women's volleyball games.{{cite web|title=Getting to know new C-USA TV partner beIN Sports|url=http://www.dnj.com/story/sports/college/mtsu/2016/05/23/getting-know-new-c-usa-tv-partner-bein-sports/84800568/|website=The Daily News Journal|access-date=May 24, 2016}}
The total values of the 2016 contracts are notably lower than those of the previous contracts (which included Fox Sports).
Former men's soccer associate members Kentucky and South Carolina have an agreement with their primary conference for other sports to carry all home matches online through the SEC Network service. This included all of those teams' matches against CUSA opponents before the two schools moved men's soccer to the Sun Belt Conference in 2022. ESPN and the SEC Network had first rights to all CUSA home men's soccer matches featuring both schools.
In 2017 American Sports Network and Campus Insiders merged creating Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/sports/stadium-streams-web-twitter-and-pluto-tv/414813|title=Stadium Streams to the Web, Twitter and Pluto TV – Multichannel|website=www.multichannel.com|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-date=August 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825060938/http://www.multichannel.com/news/sports/stadium-streams-web-twitter-and-pluto-tv/414813|url-status=dead}} Stadium's C-USA content will be available to stream on Twitter and Pluto TV.{{cite web|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/streaming/least-15-conference-usa-football-games-will-broadcast-twitter-stadium.html|title=At least 15 Conference USA football games will be broadcast on Twitter through Stadium|date=May 25, 2017}} In 2017 Stadium completed a deal with Facebook to exclusively stream some C-USA football games.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/23/facebook-will-live-stream-over-a-dozen-college-football-games-this-year/|title=Facebook will live stream over a dozen college football games this year – TechCrunch|website=techcrunch.com|date=August 23, 2017 }} In 2017 CUSA entered an agreement with the streaming subscription service FloSports to stream three football games.{{cite web|url=http://www.flosports.tv/flosports-expands-division-i-football-coverage-with-conference-usa-games-on-flofootball-com/|title=FloSports Expands Division I Football Coverage With Conference USA Games on FloFootball.com – FloSports|date=August 31, 2017}}
=CUSA.tv=
In 2016 CUSA partnered with SIDEARM Sports to create a subscription based streaming service named CUSA.tv. In a statement CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod said, "Thanks to our partnership with SIDEARM Sports, this new site showcases a clean modern look with easy access to information and we are proud to offer live content and original feature stories through our CUSA.tv."{{cite web|url=http://conferenceusa.com/news/2016/7/22/cusa_sidearm_partnership.aspx|title=Conference USA – Conference USA Announces Partnership With SIDEARM Sports|website=conferenceusa.com|date=July 22, 2016 }} Various sports including football, basketball, and baseball will exclusively air on CUSA.tv when they are not picked up by other networks.
=Return to ESPN and CBS Sports Network=
In 2022, CUSA signed a new media rights agreement establishing CBS Sports Network and ESPN as primary rights holders beginning in 2023. As part of this agreement, CUSA agrees to schedule eight midweek football games per season during the month of October, to be aired on ESPN platforms including both linear ESPN channels and the ESPN+ streaming outlet. CBS Sports Network continues with tier 1 selection status for CUSA football and men's basketball {{cite web|url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2022/11/10/general-conference-usa-announces-multimedia-rights-deal.aspx|title=Conference USA announces Multimedia Rights Deal}}
Academics
A majority of the Conference's members are ranked as Tier One National Universities in U.S. News & World Report{{'}}s 2025 Best Colleges rankings.
Of the incoming members:
- Delaware is in the Carnegie Foundation's "very high research activity" classification, and tied for #76 in US News' "National Universities" classification.
- Jacksonville State is in the Carnegie Foundation's "Master's Colleges and Universities (Larger Programs)" classification, and is not ranked by US News as a national university, instead being classified as a Southern "Regional University".
- Kennesaw State is in the Carnegie Foundation's "high research activity" classification, and ranked between 331 and 440 in US News' "National Universities" classification.
- Liberty is in the Carnegie Foundation's "Doctoral/Professional" classification, and also ranked between 331 and 440 in US News' "National Universities" classification.
- New Mexico State is in the Carnegie Foundation's "high research activity" classification, and tied for #263 in US News' "National Universities" classification.
- Sam Houston is in the Carnegie Foundation's "high research activity" classification, and also in a tie for #263 in US News' "National Universities" classification.
;Notes
{{reflist|group=d}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website}}
{{Conference USA navbox}}
{{NCAA Division I all-sports conferences}}
{{NCAA Division I FBS conference navbox}}
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