Big South Conference

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The Big South Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. Originally a non-football conference, the Big South began sponsoring football in 2002 as part of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and began operating the OVC–Big South Football Association in partnership with the Ohio Valley Conference in 2023. The Big South, founded in 1983, is firmly rooted in the South Atlantic region of the United States, with full member institutions located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Associate members are located in Georgia and South Carolina.[1]

History

Template:OSM Location map

Charter members included Armstrong State (later Armstrong Atlantic State University and now merged into Georgia Southern University as its Armstrong Campus) (1983–1987), Augusta (later Augusta State University and now merged into Augusta University) (1983–1990), Campbell University (1983–1994; 2011–2023), Baptist College (now Charleston Southern University) (1983–present), Coastal Carolina University (1983–2016), Radford University (1983–present) and Winthrop University (1983–present).

The expansion of membership occurred during the 1980s and 1990s. Some of those members are the University of North Carolina at Asheville (1984–present), Davidson College (1990–1992), Liberty University (1991–2018), the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (1992–1998), the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1992–1997), Towson University (1992–1995), Elon University (1999–2003), High Point University (1999–present) and Birmingham–Southern College (2000–2006).

The Big South Conference began sponsoring football in 2002, with Charleston Southern, Elon (at the time) and Liberty (Gardner–Webb University also joined as a football-only member) fielding teams; Coastal Carolina and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) joined the conference as football-only members in 2003. In that same athletic year, VMI also joined the conference for all sports, but left to re-join the Southern Conference in 2014. Presbyterian College joined the conference in 2007, moving up from Division II, and became eligible for regular-season championships and conference honors during the 2008–09 athletic year.[2] Gardner–Webb, which had been a football-only member since 2002, joined the conference for all sports on July 1, 2008.[2] Campbell rejoined the Big South for all sports except football in the 2011–12 athletic year. Longwood University accepted an invitation to join the Big South on January 23, 2012, and membership formally began July 1 of that year; Longwood had been independent since 2004, during their transition to Division I.[3] In 2014, following the departure of VMI, the conference returned to a single-division structure.[4] On September 1, 2015, Coastal Carolina announced they would leave the conference following the 2015–16 school year to transition to FBS-level football and the Sun Belt Conference.[5] On June 30, 2016, the day before the school joined the Sun Belt, Coastal Carolina won the 2016 College World Series in baseball. This was the first time in conference history that a team won an NCAA championship in any sport.

In September 2016, the Big South and the ASUN Conference (ASUN) announced a football partnership that effectively combined the two conferences in that sport. Under its terms, any members of either conference that add or upgrade to scholarship football, provided they fall within the current geographic footprint of the two leagues, automatically join Big South football. At the time of announcement, the only ASUN member that played scholarship football, Kennesaw State, was already a Big South football member. The partnership also provides a guaranteed football home to the leagues' non-scholarship football programs (at that time, Campbell from the Big South, and Jacksonville and Stetson from the ASUN) should they upgrade to scholarship status.[6]

In November 2016, Campbell announced that it would begin offering scholarships and move its football program from the Pioneer Football League to the Big South in 2018.[7]

In December 2016, the University of North Alabama, ASUN, and the Big South Conference announced that, effective in 2018, the school will leave the Division II Gulf South Conference and will join ASUN in non-football sports and the Big South in football. UNA has won three Division II NCAA national championships in football and has won at least a share of the Gulf South Conference football championship for four consecutive seasons through 2016.

Three months later, Liberty announced that it would begin a transition to FBS football in July 2017 and leave the Big South football league in 2018.[8] Liberty and the Big South agreed later in 2017 that the school would continue to house all of its non-football sports (except for field hockey and women's swimming, neither of which is sponsored by the Big South) in that conference for the immediate future. Once Liberty became a full FBS member at the start of the 2019–20 school year, it would have technically become a Big South associate member (barring the school joining an FBS conference).[9] However, Liberty's plans would change several months later, as it instead announced in May 2018 that it would move its non-football sports to the ASUN effective that July (except for the aforementioned field hockey and women's swimming, also not sponsored by the ASUN).[10]

In November 2017, the University of South Carolina Upstate and Hampton University announced that they would be leaving the ASUN and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, respectively, to join the Big South, starting in the fall of 2018.[11][12]

On November 19, 2017, Presbyterian College announced it would be moving its football program to the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League.[13] Presbyterian's last Big South football season was in 2019; the Blue Hose planned to play the 2020 season as an independent before joining the Pioneer League for 2021 and beyond.[14] The Blue Hose remain a member of the Big South in all other sports.[15]

A more recent change to its core membership was the July 2021 arrival of North Carolina A&T State University from the MEAC as a full member, including football.[16] At the same time, Robert Morris University was planned to join as a football-only member.[17] North Carolina A&T joined on the originally planned schedule, but Robert Morris became a Big South football member in November 2020. COVID-19 led the conference to move its 2020 football season to spring 2021. Since two of the eight Big South football members (apart from RMU) chose to play in the originally scheduled fall 2020 season and a third chose not to play football at all in 2020–21, the Big South chose to bring the Colonials into the football league for spring 2021.[18]

More recently, the Big South added three new single-sport members in women's lacrosse effective with the 2022 season (2021–22 school year): Furman University, Mercer University, and Wofford College. All three are full members of the Southern Conference (SoCon), which disbanded its women's lacrosse league after the 2021 season.[19]

On January 25, 2022, the Colonial Athletic Association (now the Coastal Athletic Association) announced that Hampton University would join that conference, as well as CAA Football, its technically separate football league, on July 1, 2022.[20] On February 22, that conference announced that North Carolina A&T State University would be leaving the Big South, joining the all-sports CAA on July 1. North Carolina A&T would play Big South football in 2022 and join CAA Football on July 1, 2023.[21]

Also on February 22, the conference announced its intent to combine its football membership with the Ohio Valley Conference beginning in 2023 and operate as the OVC–Big South Football Association.[22] The following month saw Bryant University announced as a new football-only member effective with the 2022 season.[23] Campbell announced on August 3 that it would join both sides of the CAA in 2023 as well.[24] This was followed by Bryant announcing that it would join CAA Football in 2024.[25] On November 28, it was announced that Robert Morris would also leave the association and return football to its previous home, the Northeast Conference effective after the 2023 football season.

On March 21, 2026, the conference announced it would start sponsoring women's flag football in the 2028 season (2027–28 school year), making it the first Division I conference to make such an announcement. At the time of announcement, five full members (Charleston Southern, Gardner–Webb, Radford, UNC Asheville, USC Upstate) had either already added the sport or committed to adding it in the near future.[26]

Member schools

Current full members

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Endowment
(millions)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Nickname JoinedTemplate:Efn Colors Football
Charleston Southern University North Charleston, South Carolina 1964 Southern
Baptist 		3,414 $24 Buccaneers 1983 Template:College color boxes Yes
Gardner–Webb University Boiling Springs, North Carolina 1905 Southern
Baptist 		3,594 $70.5 Runnin'
Bulldogs 		2008 Template:College color boxes Yes
High Point University High Point, North Carolina 1924 United
Methodist 		4,545 $138.5 Panthers 1999 Template:College color boxes No
Longwood University Farmville, Virginia 1839 Public 4,470 $100 Lancers 2012 Template:College color boxes No
Presbyterian College Clinton, South Carolina 1880 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		1,330 $88.1 Blue Hose 2007 Template:College color boxes NoTemplate:Efn
Radford University Radford, Virginia 1910 Public 10,700 $55.2 Highlanders 1983 Template:College color boxes No
Script error: No such module "sort".
(UNC Asheville)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Asheville, North Carolina 1927 PublicTemplate:Efn 3,762 $52.4 Bulldogs 1984 Template:College color boxes No
Script error: No such module "sort".
(USC Upstate)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Spartanburg, South Carolina 1967 PublicTemplate:Efn 6,000 $74 Spartans 2018 Template:College color boxes No
Winthrop University Rock Hill, South Carolina 1886 Public 6,073 $62.3 Eagles 1983 Template:College color boxes No
Notes

Template:Notelist

Current associate members

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname JoinedTemplate:Efn Colors Big South
sport(s) 		Primary
conference
Bryant University Smithfield, Rhode Island 1863 Nonsectarian 3,751 Bulldogs 2025 Template:College color boxes Script error: No such module "Sort". America East (AmEast)
Furman University Greenville, South Carolina 1826 Nonsectarian 2,629 Paladins 2021 Template:College color boxes Women's lacrosse Southern (SoCon)
Mercer University Macon, Georgia 1833 Nonsectarian 9,026 Bears 2021 Template:College color boxes Women's lacrosse Southern (SoCon)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
(NJIT)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Newark, New Jersey 1881 Public 12,332 Highlanders 2025 Template:College color boxes Script error: No such module "Sort". America East (AmEast)
Script error: No such module "Sort".
Wofford College Spartanburg, South Carolina 1854 United
Methodist 		1,773 Terriers 2021 Template:College color boxes Women's lacrosse Southern (SoCon)
Notes

Template:Notelist

Former full members

Institution Location Founded Type Nickname JoinedTemplate:Efn LeftTemplate:Efn Colors Current
conference
Armstrong State CollegeTemplate:Efn Savannah, Georgia 1935 Public Pirates 1983 1987 Template:College color boxes N/ATemplate:Efn
Augusta UniversityTemplate:Efn Augusta, Georgia 1785 Public Jaguars 1983 1990 Template:College color boxes Peach Belt (PBC)Template:Efn
Birmingham–Southern College Birmingham, Alabama 1856 United
Methodist 		Panthers 2000 2007 Template:College color boxes Closed in 2024
Campbell University Buies Creek, North Carolina 1887 Southern
Baptist 		Fighting
Camels 		1983Template:Efn 1994 Template:College color boxes Coastal (CAA)
2011Template:Efn 2023
Coastal Carolina University Conway, South Carolina 1954 Public Chanticleers 1983 2016 Template:College color boxes Sun Belt (SBC)
Davidson CollegeTemplate:Efn Davidson, North Carolina 1837 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Wildcats 1990 1992 Template:College color boxes Atlantic 10 (A10)
Elon University Elon, North Carolina 1889 NonsectarianTemplate:Efn Phoenix 1999 2003 Template:College color boxes Coastal (CAA)
Hampton University Hampton, Virginia 1868 NonsectarianTemplate:Efn Pirates 2018 2022 Template:College color boxes Coastal (CAA)
Liberty University Lynchburg, Virginia 1971 Nondenominational Flames &
Lady Flames 		1991Template:Efn 2018 Template:College color boxes Conf. USA (CUSA)
Script error: No such module "sort".
(UMBC)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Catonsville, Maryland 1966 Public Retrievers 1992 1998 Template:College color boxes America East (AmEast)
North Carolina A&T State University
(North Carolina A&T)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Greensboro, North Carolina 1891 PublicTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn Aggies 2021 2022 Template:College color boxes Coastal (CAA)
Script error: No such module "sort".
(UNC Greensboro)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Greensboro, North Carolina 1891 PublicTemplate:Efn Spartans 1992Template:Efn 1997 Template:College color boxes Southern (SoCon)
Towson University Towson, Maryland 1866 Public Tigers 1992 1995 Template:College color boxes Coastal (CAA)
Virginia Military Institute
(VMI)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Lexington, Virginia 1839 S.M.C. Keydets 2003 2014 Template:College color boxes Southern (SoCon)
Notes

Template:Notelist

Former associate members

Institution Location Founded Type Nickname JoinedTemplate:Efn LeftTemplate:Efn Colors Big South
sport(s) 		Primary
conference 		Conference
in former
Big South
sport(s)
Bryant University Smithfield,
Rhode Island 		1863 Nonsectarian Bulldogs 2022[27] 2024 Template:College color boxes Football America East (AmEast) CAA FootballTemplate:Efn
Bucknell University Lewisburg,
Pennsylvania 		1846 Nonsectarian Bison 2002 2012 Template:College color boxes Women's
golf 		Patriot
Davidson CollegeTemplate:Efn Davidson,
North Carolina 		1837 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Wildcats 2012 2014 Template:College color boxes Women's
lacrosse 		Atlantic 10 (A10)
Script error: No such module "sort". Worcester,
Massachusetts 		1843 Catholic
(Jesuit)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Crusaders 2002 2012 Template:College color boxes Women's
golf 		Patriot
Kennesaw State University Kennesaw,
Georgia 		1963 Public Owls 2015 2022 Template:College color boxes Football Conf. USA (CUSA)
Monmouth University West Long Branch,
New Jersey 		1933 Private Hawks 2014 2022 Template:College color boxes Football Coastal (CAA) CAA FootballTemplate:Efn
Script error: No such module "sort". Florence,
Alabama 		1830 Public Lions 2019 2022 Template:College color boxes Football Atlantic Sun (ASUN) United (UAC)
North Carolina A&T State University
(North Carolina A&T)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Greensboro,
North Carolina 		1891 PublicTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn Aggies 2022Template:Efn 2023 Template:College color boxes Football Coastal (CAA) CAA FootballTemplate:Efn
Script error: No such module "sort".
(UNC Wilmington)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Wilmington,
North Carolina 		1947 PublicTemplate:Efn Seahawks 2000 2004 Template:College color boxes Women's
golf 		Coastal (CAA)
Robert Morris University Moon Township,
Pennsylvania 		1921 Nonsectarian Colonials 2020Template:Efn 2024 Template:College color boxes Football Horizon Northeast (NEC)
Stony Brook UniversityTemplate:Efn Stony Brook,
New York 		1957 PublicTemplate:Efn Seawolves 2008 2013 Template:College color boxes Football Coastal (CAA) CAA FootballTemplate:Efn
Notes

Template:Notelist

Membership timeline

<timeline> DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:1983 till:2028 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5

Colors = 

         id:line value:black
         id:bg value:white
         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
         id:AssocF value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only
         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

PlotData= 

  width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

  bar:1  color:FullxF from:1983 till:1987 text:Armstrong Atlantic State (1983–1987)
  bar:1  color:OtherC1 from:1987 till:1990 
  bar:1  shift:(35) color:OtherC2 from:1990 till:2000 text:PBAC
  bar:1  color:OtherC2 from:2000 till:2017 text:PBC, then dropped athletics

  bar:2  color:FullxF from:1983 till:1990 text:Augusta State (1983–1990)
  bar:2  color:OtherC2 from:1990 till:2000 text:PBAC
  bar:2  color:OtherC2 from:2000 till:end text:PBC

  bar:3  color:FullxF from:1983 till:1990 text:Baptist (1983–present)
  bar:3  color:FullxF from:1990 till:2002 text:Charleston Southern
  bar:3  color:Full from:2002 till:end

  bar:4  color:FullxF from:1983 till:1994 text:Campbell (1983–1994)
  bar:4  color:OtherC1 from:1994 till:2011 text:TAAC/ASUN
  bar:4  color:FullxF from:2011 till:2018 text:(full but non-football, 2011–2018; full, 2018–2023)
  bar:4  color:Full from:2018 till:2023 text:
  bar:4  color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:CAA

  bar:5  color:FullxF from:1983 till:2003 text:Coastal Carolina (1983–2016)
  bar:5  color:Full from:2003 till:2016
  bar:5  color:OtherC1 from:2016 till:end text:Sun Belt

  bar:6  color:FullxF from:1983 till:end text:Radford (1983–present)

  bar:7  color:FullxF from:1983 till:end text:Winthrop (1983–present)

  bar:8  color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1984 text:Ind.
  bar:8  color:FullxF from:1984 till:end text:UNC Asheville (1984–present)

  bar:9  color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1988 text:SoCon
  bar:9  color:OtherC2 from:1988 till:1990 text:DI Ind.
  bar:9  color:FullxF from:1990 till:1992 text:Davidson (1990–1992)
  bar:9  shift:(70) color:OtherC1 from:1992 till:2014 text:SoCon
  bar:9  shift:(-55) color:AssocOS from:2012 till:2014 text: (w.lax, 2012–14)
  bar:9  color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:A-10

  bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1991 text:Ind.
  bar:10 color:FullxF from:1991 till:2002 text:Liberty (1991–2018)
  bar:10 color:Full from:2002 till:2018
  bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:2018 till:2023 text:ASUN
  bar:10 color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:C-USA

  bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1992 text:ECC
  bar:11 color:FullxF from:1992 till:1995 text:Towson (1992–1995)
  bar:11 shift:(45) color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:2001 text:NAC/AEC
  bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:2001 till:end text:CAA

  bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1988 text:DIAC
  bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:1988 till:1992 text:Ind.
  bar:12 color:FullxF from:1992 till:1997 text:UNC Greensboro (1992–1997)
  bar:12 shift:(45) color:OtherC1 from:1997 till:end text:SoCon

  bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1990 text:Ind.
  bar:13 color:OtherC2 from:1990 till:1992 text:ECC
  bar:13 color:FullxF from:1992 till:1998 text:UMBC (1992–1998)
  bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:1998 till:2003 text:NEC
  bar:13 color:OtherC2 from:2003 till:end text:America East

  bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1989 text:CIAC
  bar:14 color:OtherC2 from:1989 till:1997 text:SAC
  bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:1997 till:1999 text:DI Ind.
  bar:14 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2002 text:Elon (1999–2003)
  bar:14 color:Full from:2002 till:2003 
  bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:2003 till:2014 text:SoCon
  bar:14 color:OtherC2 from:2014 till:end text:CAA

  bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1995 text:CIAC
  bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:1995 till:1997 text:CVAC
  bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:1997 till:1999 text:DII Ind.
  bar:15 color:FullxF from:1999 till:end text:High Point (1999–present)

  bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1996 text:SSC (NAIA)
  bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:1996 till:2001 text:TSAC (NAIA)
  bar:16 color:FullxF from:2001 till:2006 text:Birmingham–Southern (2001–2006)
  bar:16 shift:(70) color:OtherC1 from:2006 till:2012 text:SCAC
  bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:2024 text:SAA, then closed

  bar:17 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1989 text:NAIA Ind.
  bar:17 color:OtherC2 from:1989 till:2000 text:SAC
  bar:17 color:OtherC1 from:2000 till:2002 text:DI Ind.
  bar:17 color:AssocF from:2002 till:2008 text:Gardner–Webb (football, 2002–2008; all sports, 2008–present)
  bar:17 color:Full from:2008 till:end

  bar:18 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:2003 text:SoCon
  bar:18 color:Full from:2003 till:2014 text:VMI (2003–2014)
  bar:18 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:SoCon

  bar:19 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1989 text:NAIA Ind.
  bar:19 color:OtherC2 from:1989 till:2007 text:SAC
  bar:19 color:FullxF from:2007 till:2009 text:Presbyterian (2007–present)
  bar:19 color:Full from:2009 till:2020
  bar:19 color:FullxF from:2020 till:end

  bar:20 color:AssocF from:2008 till:2013 text:Stony Brook (football, 2008–2013)

  bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1995 text:NAIA Ind.
  bar:21 color:OtherC2 from:1995 till:2003 text:CVAC
  bar:21 shift:(-15) color:OtherC1 from:2003 till:2004 text:DII Ind.
  bar:21 color:OtherC2 from:2004 till:2012 text:DI Ind.
  bar:21 color:FullxF from:2012 till:end text:Longwood (2012–present)

  bar:23 color:AssocF from:2014 till:2022 text:Monmouth (football, 2014–2022)

  bar:24 color:AssocF from:2015 till:2022 text:Kennesaw State (football, 2015–2022)

  bar:25 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1990 text:NAIA Ind.
  bar:25 color:OtherC2 from:1990 till:2000 text:PBAC
  bar:25 color:OtherC2 from:2000 till:2007 text:PBC
  bar:25 color:OtherC1 from:2007 till:2018 text:ASUN
  bar:25 color:FullxF from:2018 till:end text:USC Upstate (2018–present)
  
  bar:26 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1995 text:CIAA
  bar:26 color:OtherC2 from:1995 till:2018 text:MEAC
  bar:26 color:FullxF from:2018 till:2019 text:Hampton (2018–2022)
  bar:26 color:Full from:2019 till:2022
  bar:26 shift:(30) color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:CAA

  bar:27 color:AssocF from:2019 till:2022 text:North Alabama (football, 2019–2022)

  bar:28 color:AssocF from:2020 till:2024 text:Robert Morris (football, 2020–2024)

  bar:29 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:2021 text:MEAC
  bar:29 shift:(-110) color:Full from:2021 till:2022 text:North Carolina A&T (2021–2022)
  bar:29 color:AssocF from:2022 till:2023 :text:
  bar:29 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end :text:CAA

  bar:30 color:AssocF from:2022 till:2024 :text:Bryant (football, 2022–2024)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:1983

TextData = 

  fontsize:M
  textcolor:black
  pos:(0,20) tabs:(400-center)
  text:^"Big South 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.

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football)   Associate member (sport)  Other Conference  Other Conference  <# </timeline>

  • Augusta State was merged into Georgia Regents University in January 2013; the merged school renamed itself Augusta University in 2015.

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football)   Associate member (sport)  Other Conference  Other Conference 

Sports

Teams in Big South competition
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball 9 –
Basketball 9 9
Cross country 9 9
Flag football (2027–28) – 5+
Football 2 –
Golf 8 9
Lacrosse – 9
Soccer 8 9
Softball – 7
Tennis 6 6
Track and field (indoor) 6 7
Track and field (outdoor) 7 8
Volleyball – 8

Men's sponsored sports by school

School Baseball Basketball Cross country Football Golf Soccer Tennis Track and field
(indoor)		 Track and field
(outdoor)		 Total Big South sports
Charleston Southern Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes 7
Gardner–Webb Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
High Point Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes 7
Longwood Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes 7
Presbyterian Yes Yes Yes NoTemplate:Efn Yes Yes Yes No No 6
Radford Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes 7
UNC Asheville Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes 7
USC Upstate Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes 7
Winthrop Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes 7
Totals 9 9 9 2 8 8 4+2 7 8 64+2
Affiliate members
Bryant Yes 1
NJIT Yes 1
Notes

Template:Notelist

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Big South Conference which are played by Big South schools:

School Lacrosse Swimming Wrestling
Gardner–Webb No ASUN SoCon
High Point A-10 No No
Presbyterian No No SoCon
Notes

Template:Notelist

In addition to the above, Campbell and USC Upstate count both their male and female cheerleaders as varsity athletes.

Women's sponsored sports by school

School Basketball Cross country Golf Lacrosse Soccer Softball Tennis Track and field
(indoor)		 Track and field
(outdoor)		 Volleyball Total Big South sports
Charleston Southern Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
Gardner–Webb Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 10
High Point Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes 8
Longwood Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No 8
Presbyterian Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes 8
Radford Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 9
UNC Asheville Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 8
USC Upstate Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 8
Winthrop Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 9
Totals 9 9 9 6+3 9 7 5+1 7 8 8 78+4
Affiliate members
Furman Yes 1
Mercer Yes 1
NJIT Yes 1
Wofford Yes 1
Notes

Template:Notelist

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Big South Conference which are played by Big South schools:

School Acrobatics &
tumblingTemplate:Efn		 Field hockey Flag footballTemplate:Efn Rowing Swimming &
diving		 Wrestling
Charleston Southern No No NoTemplate:Efn No No No
Gardner–Webb NoTemplate:Efn No NoTemplate:Efn No ASUN No
High Point No No No MAC No No
Longwood No MAC No No No No
Presbyterian Independent No No No No Independent
Radford No No NoTemplate:Efn No No No
UNC Asheville No No NoTemplate:Efn No ASUN No
USC Upstate No No NoTemplate:Efn No No No
Notes

Template:Notelist

In addition to the above, Campbell, Gardner–Webb, Presbyterian, and USC Upstate consider their female cheerleaders to be varsity athletes, with Campbell and Upstate also considering their male cheerleaders as such. Upstate also counts its all-female dance team as a varsity team.

Football – players drafted by the NFL

Football players from the Big South have been drafted to play professionally in the National Football League.

Name Position School Draft year Draft pick NFL team
Tyler Thigpen QB Coastal Carolina 2007 Round 7, Pick 217 Vikings
Jerome Simpson WR Coastal Carolina 2008 Round 2, Pick 46 Bengals
Brian Johnston DE Gardner–Webb 2008 Round 7, Pick 210 Chiefs
Rashad Jennings RB Liberty 2009 Round 7, Pick 250 Jaguars
Josh Norman CB Coastal Carolina 2012 Round 5, Pick 143 Panthers
Justin Bethel S Presbyterian 2012 Round 6, Pick 177 Cardinals
Walt Aikens CB Liberty 2014 Round 4, Pick 125 Dolphins
NFL Draftees from the Big South Conference

Conference champions

Men's basketball

Season Regular season champion Tournament champion Tournament final location
1986 Charleston Southern (5–1) Charleston Southern Savannah Civic Center, Savannah, GA
1987 Charleston Southern (12–2) Charleston Southern Savannah Civic Center
1988 Coastal Carolina (9–3) Winthrop Winthrop Coliseum, Rock Hill, SC
1989 Coastal Carolina (9–3) UNC Asheville Winthrop Coliseum
1990 Coastal Carolina (11–1) Coastal Carolina Winthrop Coliseum
1991 Coastal Carolina (13–1) Coastal Carolina Civic Center of Anderson, Anderson, SC
1992 Radford (12–2) Campbell Civic Center of Anderson
1993 Towson State (14–2) Coastal Carolina North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, SC
1994 Towson State (15–3) Liberty North Charleston Coliseum
1995 UNC Greensboro (14–2) Charleston Southern Vines Center, Lynchburg, VA
1996 UNC Greensboro (11–3) UNC Greensboro Vines Center
1997 UNC Asheville (11–3) Charleston Southern Vines Center
1998 UNC Asheville (11–1) Radford Vines Center
1999 Winthrop (9–1) Winthrop Asheville Civic Center, Asheville, NC
2000 Radford (12–2) Winthrop Asheville Civic Center
2001 Radford (12–2) Winthrop Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, VA
2002 Winthrop, UNC Asheville (10–4) Winthrop Roanoke Civic Center
2003 Winthrop (11–3) UNC Asheville Vines Center (semis & finals only)
2004 Liberty (12–4) Liberty Vines Center (finals only)
2005 Winthrop (15–1) Winthrop Winthrop Coliseum (finals only)
2006 Winthrop (13–3) Winthrop Winthrop Coliseum (semis & finals only)
2007 Winthrop (14–0) Winthrop Winthrop Coliseum (semis & finals only)
2008 UNC Asheville, Winthrop (10–4) Winthrop Justice Center, Asheville, NC (semis & finals only)
2009 Radford (15–3) Radford Dedmon Center, Radford, VA (finals only)
2010 Coastal Carolina (15–3) Winthrop Kimbel Arena, Conway, SC (semis & finals only)
2011 Coastal Carolina (16–2) UNC Asheville Kimbel Arena (semis & finals only)
2012 UNC Asheville (16–2) UNC Asheville Kimmel Arena, Asheville, NC (quarters, semis & final)
2013 Charleston Southern, High Point (12–4) Liberty HTC Center, Conway, SC
2014 High Point (12–4) Coastal Carolina HTC Center, Conway, SC
2015 Charleston Southern, High Point (13–5) Coastal Carolina HTC Center, Conway, SC
2016 High Point, Winthrop (13–5) UNC Asheville Gore Arena, Buies Creek, NC
2017 Winthrop, UNC Asheville (15–3) Winthrop Winthrop Coliseum, Rock Hill, SC (quarters, semis, & finals)
2018 UNC Asheville (13–5) Radford Dedmon Center, Radford, VA
2019 Campbell, Radford (12–4) Gardner–Webb Dedmon Center, Radford, VA
2020 Radford, Winthrop (15–3) Winthrop Winthrop Coliseum, Rock Hill, SC
2021 Winthrop (17–1) Winthrop Winthrop Coliseum, Rock Hill, SC
2022 Longwood (15–1) Longwood Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
2023 UNC Asheville (16–2) UNC Asheville Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
2024 High Point (13–3) Longwood Qubein Center, High Point, NC
2025 High Point (14–2) High Point Freedom Hall Civic Center, Johnson City, TN

Basketball tournament championships by school

School # of tournament championships Last tournament championship
Winthrop 13 2021
UNC Asheville 6 2023
Coastal Carolina† 5 2015
Charleston Southern 4 1997
Liberty† 3 2013
Radford 3 2018
Longwood 2 2024
Campbell† 1 1992
Gardner–Webb 1 2019
High Point 1 2025
UNC Greensboro† 1 1996

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Football

Season Champion Record
2002 Gardner–Webb 3–0
2003 Gardner–Webb 4–0
2004 Coastal Carolina 4–0 (10–1)
2005 Charleston Southern 3–1 (7–4)
Coastal Carolina 3–1 (9–2)
2006 Coastal Carolina 4–0 (9–3)
2007 Liberty 4–0 (8–3)
2008 Liberty 5–0 (10–2)
2009 Stony Brook 5–1 (6–5)
Liberty 5–1 (8–3)
2010 Coastal CarolinaTemplate:Efn 5–1 (6–5)
Stony Brook 5–1 (6–5)
Liberty 5–1 (8–3)
2011 Stony Brook 6–0 (8–3)
2012 Coastal CarolinaTemplate:Efn 5–1 (7–4)
Stony Brook 5–1 (9–2)
Liberty 5–1 (6–5)
2013 Coastal Carolina 4–1 (10–2)
Liberty 4–1 (8–4)
2014 LibertyTemplate:Efn 4–1 (8–4)
Coastal Carolina 4–1 (11–1)
2015 Charleston Southern 6–0 (9–2)
2016 Charleston SouthernTemplate:Efn 4–1 (7–4)
Liberty 4–1 (6–5)
2017 Kennesaw State 5–0 (12–2)
2018 Kennesaw State 5–0 (11–2)
2019 Monmouth 6–0 (11–3)
2020 Monmouth 3–0 (3–1)
2021 Kennesaw State 7–0 (11–2)
2022 Gardner–Webb 5–0 (7–6)
2023 Gardner–Webb 5–1 (7–4)

Template:Notelist

Women's basketball

Season Regular-season champion Tournament champion Tournament runner-up
1986–87 Radford Radford Campbell
1987–88 Radford & Campbell Radford Campbell
1988–89 Radford Campbell Radford
1989–90 Radford Radford Campbell
1990–91 Campbell Radford Campbell
1991–92 Radford Radford Campbell
1992–93 UNC Greensboro Radford UNC Greensboro
1993–94 UNC Greensboro Radford UNC Greensboro
1994–95 UNC Greensboro Radford UNC Greensboro
1995–96 UNC Greensboro Radford Winthrop
1996–97 UNC Greensboro Liberty UNC Greensboro
1997–98 Liberty Liberty UNC Asheville
1998–99 Liberty Liberty Coastal Carolina
1999–2000 Liberty Liberty Coastal Carolina
2000–01 Liberty Liberty Elon
2001–02 Liberty Liberty Coastal Carolina
2002–03 Liberty Liberty High Point
2003–04 Liberty Liberty Birmingham–Southern
2004–05 Liberty Liberty UNC Asheville
2005–06 Liberty Liberty High Point
2006–07 High Point UNC Asheville Radford
2007–08 Liberty Liberty Radford
2008–09 Liberty Liberty Gardner–Webb
2009–10 Gardner–Webb Liberty Gardner–Webb
2010–11 Liberty Gardner–Webb Liberty
2011–12 Liberty Liberty High Point
2012–13 Liberty Liberty Longwood
2013–14 High Point Winthrop High Point
2014–15 Liberty Liberty High Point
2015–16 UNC Asheville UNC Asheville Liberty
2016–17 Radford UNC Asheville Radford
2017–18 Liberty Liberty UNC Asheville
2018–19 Radford Radford Campbell
2020–21 High Point High Point Campbell
2021–22 Campbell Longwood Campbell
2022–23 Gardner–Webb Gardner–Webb High Point
2023–24 High Point Presbyterian Radford
2024–25 High Point High Point Longwood

Men's soccer

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Broadcasters (Big South Network / ESPN+)

In addition to basketball games being broadcast on regional and national television, member schools of the Big South Conference are required to provide a live stream of all home games in some sports (football, M/W basketball) and a selection of games in others (M/W soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, W lacrosse). These streams are produced by the university hosting the event, and this collective production effort has operated under the name of "Big South Network" since 2009. Many of the league's championships are also streamed by the membership if hosted on campus, or by a production team provided by the conference if played at a neutral site. Since the 2018-19 season, all of the Big South's livestreamed events have been featured exclusively on the ESPN+ streaming service as part of a long-term partnership between the conference and network.

National champions

School Sport Coach Year Opponent Opponent's conference
Coastal Carolina Baseball Script error: No such module "Sort". 2016 Arizona Pac-12

Facilities

Template:CollegePrimaryHeader
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Template:CollegeSecondaryColorLink Buccaneer Field 4,000 CSU Field HouseTemplate:Efn
North Charleston Coliseum 		790
11,475 		Buccaneer Ballpark 1,500 Buccaneer Field 4,000
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Gardner–Webb Ernest W. Spangler Stadium 7,800 Paul Porter Arena 3,500 John Henry Moss Stadium 700 Greene–Harbison Stadium Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| High Point Non-football school Qubein Center 4,200 George S. Erath Field at Coy O. Williard Baseball Stadium 700 Vert Track and Soccer Stadium 1,100
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Template:CollegeSecondaryColorLink Joan Perry Brock Center 3,000 Bolding Stadium 500 Longwood University Athletics Complex Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Presbyterian Plays in the Pioneer Football League Templeton Physical Education Center 2,300 Presbyterian College Baseball Complex Template:Nts Martin Stadium at Edens Field 400
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Radford Non-football school Dedmon Center 3,205 Carter Memorial Stadium 700 Patrick D. Cupp Stadium 5,000
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| UNC Asheville Kimmel Arena 3,200 Greenwood Baseball Field,
McCormick Field 		300,
4,000 		Greenwood Field 1,000
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| USC Upstate G. B. Hodge Center 878 Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park 500 County University Soccer Stadium 3,000
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Template:CollegeSecondaryColorLink Winthrop Coliseum 6,100 Winthrop Ballpark 1,989 Eagle Field 1,500
Notes

Template:Notelist

References

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  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ "Big South Conference and OVC Announce Football Agreement" OVCSports.com. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links

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