DALLAS – Conference USA welcomes Jacksonville State University, Liberty University, New Mexico State University and Sam Houston State University as July 1st marks their official start in the league.
“We are excited to officially welcome our new members today, as we embark on the next chapter for our league,” Conference USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod said. “These four quality universities combined with our current members create a compelling group focused on the opportunities that lie ahead.”
In conjunction with the four new additions, Conference USA is also introducing its brand refresh, complete with an updated logo set, including the primary mark and an alternate use logo with the full name. Conference USA has updated its abbreviated name to CUSA instead of the previously used C-USA, eliminating the hyphen for consistent use across all content and social platforms.
“Our brand refresh is an exciting opportunity to elevate Conference USA in the collegiate athletics landscape,” MacLeod added. “It represents who we are as a league; a transformed group of committed institutions focused on prominence and competition at the national level.”
Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State is a public university located in Jacksonville, Alabama. The campus is home to nearly 10,000 students and offers 101 academic programs and concentrations, including bachelor’s, master’s, post-baccalaureate, doctoral and advanced certificate programs. Athletically, the Gamecocks compete in 18 sports and have won a total of 146 conference championships in their proud athletic history, including 82 as members of the Ohio Valley Conference that resulted in over 50 trips to NCAA postseason play. Football has won 25 conference titles in program history, while softball has claimed 18, baseball has won 23 and men’s basketball has captured 20.
Men’s sports at Jax State that will compete in CUSA include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, and tennis. Gamecocks’ CUSA women’s sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball and beach volleyball.
Founded in 1971, Liberty University is located in Central Virginia. Liberty is a private, liberal arts institution with 15 colleges and schools. Total enrollment is over 130,000, including 30,000 military students. There are over 700 unique programs of study (over 350 of which are offered residentially). Athletically, the Flames compete in 20 sports. They have won six Division I individual national championships have claimed over 180 conference championships at the Division I level and have been home to 200 All-Americans. The football program, which rose to the FBS level in 2018, has been to bowl games in four consecutive seasons, while men’s basketball has earned two NCAA Championship appearances since the 2018-19 season.
Men’s sports at Liberty that will compete in CUSA include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, and tennis. Lady Flames’ CUSA women’s sports include basketball, cross country, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.
Founded in 1888, New Mexico State University is a comprehensive research land-grant university located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The 900-acre campus enrolls more than 14,000 students from 49 states and 89 countries and offers 190 academic programs and concentrations on its campus including bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and advanced certificate programs. Athletically, the Aggies compete in 16 Division I sports and since 2017, have claimed 34 conference championships, produced 13 All-Americans and have had six student-athletes drafted (four to Major League Baseball and two to the NFL).
Men’s sports at NM State that will compete in CUSA include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf and tennis. Aggies’ CUSA women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.
Founded in 1879, Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, Texas, and has an enrollment of over 21,000 students. The University offers graduate, professional, and baccalaureate degrees, as well as professional and graduate certificates, in more than 170 fields of study through seven schools and colleges. Athletically, the Bearkats compete in 17 Division I sports. The football program won the 2021 spring national championship at the FCS level has made 13 playoff appearances, including nine since 2011. Track & Field has seen a great deal of recent success as well, on both the men’s and women’s sides, as the Bearkats have won a combined 11 conference championships during the outdoor season since 2005 (six women’s and five men’s).
Men’s sports at Sam Houston that will compete in CUSA include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. Bearkats’ CUSA women’s sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.
Conference USA is an NCAA Division I conference championing success in college athletics through dedicated leadership, dynamic partnership, and diverse membership. Founded in 1995 and based in Dallas, CUSA is home to nine schools: FIU, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP, and WKU. Kennesaw State joins the league in 2024.
