Southern States Athletic Conference

The Southern States Athletic Conference was established as the Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) on March 16, 1999. On June 27, 2004, the conference changed its name to the Southern States Athletic Conference.{{cite web | url=http://www.ssacsports.com/f/The_Governance_Structure_of_the_SSAC.php | title=The Governance Structure of the SSAC | publisher=Southern States Athletic Conference | access-date=November 4, 2009}}

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• 1999 – On March 16, 1999, the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) was founded as the Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC). Charter members included Auburn University at Montgomery, Brenau University, Brewton–Parker College, Emmanuel College (now Emmanuel University), Faulkner University, Georgia Southwestern State University, North Georgia College & State University (now the University of North Georgia), Shorter College (now Shorter University), Southern Polytechnic State University and Southern Wesleyan University, beginning the 1999–2000 academic year.
• 2000 – Reinhardt College (now Reinhardt University) joined the GACC in the 2000–01 academic year.
• 2004 – On June 27, 2004, the GACC was rebranded as the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) in the 2004–05 academic year.
• 2004 – Berry College and Lee University joined the SSAC in the 2004–05 academic year.
• 2005 – North Georgia left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) after the 2004–05 academic year.
• 2005 – Columbia College of South Carolina joined the SSAC in the 2005–06 academic year.
• 2006 – Georgia Southwestern State left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Peach Belt (PBC) after the 2005–06 academic year.
• 2009 – Reinhardt left the SSAC to join the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) after the 2008–09 academic year.
• 2010 – Berry left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division III ranks as an NCAA D-III Independent (which would later join the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) beginning the 2012–13 academic year) after the 2009–10 academic year.
• 2010 – Belhaven University, Loyola University New Orleans, the University of Mobile, Spring Hill College, Truett–McConnell College (now Truett–McConnell University), and William Carey University joined the SSAC in the 2010–11 academic year.
• 2011 – Columbia (S.C.) left the SSAC to join the Appalachian (AAC) after the 2010–11 academic year.
• 2012 – Shorter left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South Conference (GSC) after the 2011–12 academic year.
• 2012 – The College of Coastal Georgia joined the SSAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
• 2013 – Lee left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South (GSC) after the 2012–13 academic year.
• 2013 – Bethel University of Tennessee, Blue Mountain College (now Blue Mountain Christian University), and Martin Methodist College (now the University of Tennessee Southern) joined the SSAC in the 2013–14 academic year.
• 2014 – Three institutions left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and their respective new home primary conferences, all effective after the 2013–14 academic year:
• Emmanuel (Ga.) and Southern Wesleyan to the Conference Carolinas (CC)
• and Spring Hill to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)
• 2014 – Southern Poly announced that it would drop its athletic program and close once it is consolidated by Kennesaw State University at the end of the 2013–14 academic year.
• 2014 – Dalton State College and Middle Georgia State University joined the SSAC in the 2014–15 academic year.
• 2015 – Belhaven left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the American Southwest Conference after the 2014–15 academic year.
• 2016 – Auburn–Montgomery left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent (which would later join the Gulf South (GSC), beginning the 2017–18 school year) after the 2015–16 academic year.
• 2017 – Two institutions left the SSAC to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2016–17 academic year:
• Brenau to join the Appalachian (AAC)
• and Coastal Georgia to join the Sun Conference
• 2017 – Point University joined the SSAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer in the 2017–18 academic year.
• 2018 – Florida College and Stillman College joined the SSAC in the 2018–19 academic year.
• 2020 – Bethel (Tenn.) and Martin Methodist left the SSAC to join the Mid-South Conference (MSC) after the 2019–20 academic year.
• 2020 – Two institutions joined the SSAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
• Warner University for competitive cheer
• and Xavier University of Louisiana for competitive cheer and men's and women's tennis
• 2021 – Florida College left the SSAC to become an NAIA Independent within the Continental Athletic Conference after the 2020–21 academic year.
• 2021 – Two institutions left the SSAC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), both effective after the 2020–21 academic year:
• Warner University for competitive cheer
• and Xavier University of Louisiana for competitive cheer and men's and women's tennis
• 2021 – Talladega College joined the SSAC in the 2021–22 academic year.
• 2021 – Five institutions joined SSAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2021–22 academic year:
• Dillard University, Florida National University, Rust College and Tougaloo College for men's and women's tennis
• and Fisk University for women's tennis
• 2022 – Three institutions left the SSAC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2021–22 academic year:
• Fisk for women's tennis
• and Rust and Tougaloo for men's and women's tennis
• 2022 – Life University joined the SSAC in the 2022–23 academic year.
• 2022 – Florida Memorial University joined the SSAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer in the 2022–23 academic year.
• 2023 – Talladega left the SSAC to join the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC, now the HBCU Athletic Conference) after the 2022–23 academic year.
• 2023 – Florida National left the SSAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's tennis after the 2023 spring season (2022–23 academic year).
• 2023 – Thomas University joined the SSAC (with the University of Tennessee Southern, formerly Martin Methodist, rejoining; plus Point upgrading for all sports) in the 2023–24 academic year.
• 2023 – Keiser University joined the SSAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer in the 2023–24 academic year.
• 2024 – Stillman left the SSAC to join the HBCUAC after the 2023–24 academic year.
• 2024 – Two institutions left the SSAC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), both effective after the 2023–24 academic year:
• Dillard for men's and women's tennis
• and Keiser for competitive cheer
• 2024 – Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College joined the SSAC in the 2024–25 academic year.
• 2025 – Middle Georgia State will leave the SSAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) after the 2024–25 academic year.

The SSAC currently has 13 full members, all but four being private schools.

| 5,047

| Roadrunners

| 2014

| men's

|-

| Faulkner University

| Montgomery, Alabama

| 1942

| Churches of Christ

| 3,703

| Eagles

| 1999

| both

|-

| Life University{{cite news |title=Life U Athletics Headed to Southern States Athletic Conference in 2022-23 |url=https://liferunningeagles.com/news/2020/12/16/lifeu-life-u-athletics-headed-to-southern-states-athletic-conference-in-2022-23.aspx |access-date= |publisher=Life Running Eagles |date=December 16, 2020}}

| Marietta, Georgia

| 1974

| Nonsectarian

| 2,692

| Running Eagles

| 2022

| both

|-

| Loyola University New Orleans

| New Orleans, Louisiana

| 1904

| Catholic {{small|(Jesuit)}}

| 4,858

| Wolf Pack

| 2010

| both

|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0

| Middle Georgia State University{{cite press release|url=https://www.41nbc.com/middle-georgia-state-universitys-athletics-program-to-shift-from-naia-to-ncaa-division-ii/|title=Middle Georgia State University’s athletics program to shift from NAIA to NCAA Division II|publisher=41 WMGT |date=February 21, 2023 |accessdate=February 22, 2023}}

| Cochran, Georgia{{efn|group=full|Middle Georgia State's main campus is in Macon, where the women's cross-country and volleyball teams and men's and women's tennis teams are housed; the other intercollegiate athletics teams compete on the Cochran campus.}}{{efn|group=full|Middle Georgia State, pending approval from the NCAA, will leave the SSAC for Division II's Peach Belt Conference, projected to be in 2025.}}

| 2013

| Public{{efn|group=full|name=USG}}

| 8,404

| Knights

| 2014

| both

|-

| {{sort|Mobile|University of Mobile}}

| Mobile, Alabama

| 1961

| Southern Baptist

| 1,577

| Rams

| 2010

| both

|-

| Point University{{cite news |title=Point University Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24 |url=https://ssacsports.com/news/2022/8/9/point-university-approved-for-ssac-membership-in-2023-24.aspx |access-date= |publisher=SSAC |date=August 9, 2022}}{{cite news |title=Point to join Southern States Athletic Conference in 2023-24 |url=https://pointskyhawks.com/general/2022-23/releases/20220809luci38 |access-date= |publisher=Point University |date=August 9, 2022}}

| West Point, Georgia

| 1937

| Christian

| 1,718

| Skyhawks

| 2023

| both

|-

| Thomas University{{cite news |title=Thomas University Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24 |url=https://ssacsports.com/news/2022/6/29/thomas-university-approved-for-ssac-membership-in-2023-24.aspx |access-date= |publisher=SSAC |date=July 1, 2022}}

| Thomasville, Georgia

| 1950

| Nonsectarian

| 1,138

| Night Hawks

| 2023

| both

|-

| University of Tennessee Southern{{cite news |title=Tennessee Southern Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24 |url=https://ssacsports.com/news/2022/6/29/tennessee-southern-approved-for-ssac-membership-in-2023-24.aspx |access-date= |publisher=SSAC |date=July 1, 2022}}

| Pulaski, Tennessee

| 1870

| Public{{efn|group=full|name=UTenn|Part of the University of Tennessee System.}}

| 757

| FireHawks

| 2013;
2023{{efn|group=full|UT Southern initially joined the SSAC in the 2013–14 school year under its old name Martin Methodist College, before leaving after the 2019–20 school year, and then rejoining under its current name before the 2023–24 school year.}}

| both

|-

| William Carey University

| Hattiesburg, Mississippi

| 1892

| Southern Baptist

| 3,250

| Crusaders

| 2010

| both

|}

;Notes:

{{notelist|group=full}}

;Notes:

{{notelist|group=aff}}

The SSAC had 20 former full members, all but five were private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year of SSAC membership:

;Notes:

{{notelist|group=former}}

The SSAC had 20 former full members, all but five were private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year of SSAC membership:

;Notes:

{{notelist|group=faff}}

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id:Full value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports

id:FullxF value:rgb(0.9,0.8,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football

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id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.8,0.9,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only

id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference

id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference when the other color has already been used

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bar:1 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2016 text:Auburn–Montgomery (1999–2016)

bar:1 shift:(-10) color:OtherC1 from:2016 till:2017 text:D-II Ind.

bar:1 color:OtherC2 from:2017 till:end text:Gulf South

bar:2 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2017 text:Brenau (1999–2017)

bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:2017 till:end text:Appalachian

bar:3 color:FullxF from:1999 till:end text:Brewton–Parker (1999–present)

bar:4 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2014 text:Emmanuel (Ga.) (1999–2014)

bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:Carolinas

bar:5 color:FullxF from:1999 till:end text:Faulkner (1999–present)

bar:6 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2006 text:Georgia Southwestern State (1999–2006)

bar:6 color:OtherC1 from:2006 till:end text:Peach Belt

bar:7 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2005 text:North Georgia College & State (1999–2005)

bar:7 shift:(40) color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:end text:Peach Belt

bar:8 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2012 text:Shorter (1999–2012)

bar:8 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2024 text:Gulf South

bar:8 color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:Carolinas

bar:9 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2014 text:Southern Polytechnic State (1999–2014)

bar:10 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2014 text:Southern Wesleyan (1999–2014)

bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:Carolinas

bar:11 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2009 text:Reinhardt (2000–2009)

bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:2009 till:end text:Appalachian

bar:12 color:FullxF from:2004 till:2010 text:Berry (2004–2010)

bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:2010 till:2012 text:D-III Ind.

bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:end text:SAA

bar:13 color:FullxF from:2004 till:2013 text:Lee (2004–2013)

bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:Gulf South

bar:14 color:FullxF from:2005 till:2011 text:Columbia (S.C.) (2005–2011)

bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:end text:Appalachian

bar:15 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2015 text:Belhaven (2010–2015)

bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:2015 till:2022 text:AmSW

bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:2022 till:end text:CCS

bar:16 color:FullxF from:2010 till:end text:Loyola (La.) (2010–present)

bar:17 color:FullxF from:2010 till:end text:Mobile (2010–present)

bar:18 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2014 text:Spring Hill (2010–2014)

bar:18 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:SIAC

bar:19 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2013 text:Truett–McConnell (2010–2013)

bar:19 shift:(70) color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:Appalachian

bar:20 color:FullxF from:2010 till:end text:William Carey (2010–present)

bar:21 color:FullxF from:2012 till:2017 text:Coastal Georgia (2012–2017)

bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:2017 till:end text:The Sun

bar:22 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2020 text:Bethel (Tenn.) (2013–2020)

bar:22 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end text:Mid-South

bar:23 color:FullxF from:2013 till:end text:Blue Mountain (2013–present)

bar:23 color:FullxF from:2022 till:end text:Blue Mountain Christian

bar:24 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2020 text:Martin Methodist (2013–2020)

bar:24 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:2023 text:Mid-South

bar:24 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:UT Southern (2023–present)

bar:25 color:FullxF from:2014 till:end text:Dalton State (2014–present)

bar:26 color:FullxF from:2014 till:2025 text:Middle Georgia State (2014–2025)

bar:26 color:OtherC1 from:2025 till:end text:Peach Belt

bar:27 color:AssocOS from:2017 till:2023 text:Point (2017–2023)

bar:27 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:(2023–present)

bar:28 color:FullxF from:2018 till:2021 text:Florida College (2018–2021)

bar:28 shift:(60) color:OtherC1 from:2021 till:end text:NAIA Ind.

bar:29 color:FullxF from:2018 till:2024 text:Stillman (2018–2024)

bar:29 color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:HBCUAC

bar:30 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:2021 text:Warner (2020–2021)

bar:31 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:2021 text:Xavier (La.) (2020–2021)

bar:32 color:FullxF from:2021 till:2023 text:Talladega (2021–2023)

bar:32 shift:(60) color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:HBCUAC

bar:33 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2024 text:Dillard (2021–2024)

bar:34 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2022 text:Fisk (2021–2022)

bar:35 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2023 text:Florida National (2021–2023)

bar:36 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2022 text:Rust (2021–2022)

bar:37 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2022 text:Tougaloo (2021–2022)

bar:38 color:FullxF from:2022 till:end text:Life (2022–present)

bar:39 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:Florida Memorial (2022–present)

bar:40 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:Thomas (2023–present)

bar:41 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:2024 text:Keiser (2023–2024)

bar:42 color:FullxF from:2024 till:end text:Abraham Baldwin (2024–present)

bar:N color:powderblue from:1999 till:2004 text:Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC)

bar:N shift:(100) color:blue from:2004 till:end text:Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC)

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text:^"Southern States Athletic Conference Membership History"

1. > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three 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|178|229|204}}| Full member (all sports) }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|229|204|178}}| Full member (non-football) }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|229|178|204}}| Associate member (football-only) }}

<#

{{Font color||{{RGB|229|204|178}}| Full member (non-football)}}

The SSAC holds championships in the following 19 sports:

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.ssacsports.com}}

{{Southern States Athletic Conference navbox}}

{{NAIA conference navbox}}

Category:College sports in Alabama

Category:College sports in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:College sports in Louisiana

Category:College sports in Mississippi

Category:College sports in Tennessee