IRVING, Texas – American Athletic Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti has announced that Missouri State University will join the conference as an affiliate member in men’s soccer beginning July 1, 2025.
Missouri State has been among the top college soccer programs nationally in recent years. The Bears have played in each of the last five NCAA tournaments, one of only nine teams to do so. Missouri State has won nine Missouri Valley Conference regular-season titles since 2009, claimed three MVC tournament championships from 2020-22 and played in the NCAA round of 16 in 2020. The Bears are 81-13-10 (.827) since the start of the 2019 season.
“We are excited to add Missouri State to our league in men’s soccer,” said Pernetti. “Membership decisions for The American will always focus on creating incremental value and delivering top-tier competition. There is no question that Missouri State makes us stronger in men’s soccer. They share our philosophy of providing the highest level of competition and experience for our student-athletes and will help cement our foundation as a consistent multiple-bid conference.”
“We are grateful that our men’s soccer team has been invited to join the American Athletic Conference,” said Missouri State Director of Athletics Patrick Ransdell. “This move gives Missouri State a unique opportunity to compete in a proven soccer conference and continue its elevation at the national level. It will also provide us with some strong regional matchups against similar programs.”
The Bears registered a 16-0-0 regular-season record in 2019, becoming the first NCAA Division I men’s soccer program to run the table since 2009.
Missouri State is led by third-year head coach Michael Seabolt, who was elevated to that position after serving as an assistant with the Bears since 2007. He has Missouri State at 10-2-2 overall, 5-0-1 in MVC play and ranked No. 13 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll.
The addition of Missouri State gives the American Athletic Conference nine teams in men’s soccer beginning with the 2025 season. The Bears will compete against UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, FIU, Memphis, South Florida, Temple and Tulsa in a conference that has sent a combined nine teams to the NCAA Championship in the last two seasons.
