Western Athletic Conference

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is an NCAA Division I conference founded in 1962 and is set to continue under the United Athletic Conference name beginning in 2026. A total of 43 institutions have been full members of the WAC, with membership spanning 15 states in the western United States. In the 2025–26 academic year, the final season using the Western Athletic Conference name, the conference includes three members in Texas, three in Utah, and one in California.

For the first 41 years of its existence, the WAC competed at the highest level of college athletics across all sports. The conference expanded from its original six members to a peak of 16 in 1996, before seven of its institutions (including the four remaining charter members) seceded in 1998 to form the Mountain West Conference. Thereafter the WAC struggled to maintain a top-level football conference and ultimately discontinued the sport after the 2012–13 season, leaving the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) to become a Division I non-football conference.[1] After a major expansion in 2021, the WAC reinstated football, competing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).[2][3] Further membership losses soon foiled plans to someday return to the FBS level, and in 2023 the WAC again became a non-football conference, with its football-playing members joining the football schools of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) to form the football-only United Athletic Conference (UAC).

The WAC will officially rebrand as the United Athletic Conference on July 1, 2026, and become an all-sports conference including the three remaining members of the WAC (Abilene Christian University, Tarleton State University, and non-football University of Texas at Arlington), the five members of the ASUN that play football in the UAC (Austin Peay State University, University of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky University, University of North Alabama, and University of West Georgia),[4] and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (athletically known as Little Rock) from the Ohio Valley Conference.[5]

Members

Full members

<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />  Members departing for the Big West Conference on July 1, 2026.
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />  Members departing for the Big Sky Conference on July 1, 2026.

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Endowment

(Millions)

Nickname Colors
Abilene Christian University Abilene, Texas 1906 2021 Private
(Churches of Christ) 		6,730[6] $824 Wildcats Template:College color boxes
California Baptist University Riverside, California 1950 2018 Private
(Baptist) 		Template:Nts[7] $119.1 Lancers Template:College color boxes
Southern Utah University Cedar City, Utah 1897 2022 Public 15,000[8] $29.9[9] Thunderbirds Template:College color boxes
Tarleton State University
(Tarleton) 		Stephenville, Texas 1899 2020 Public
(TAMUS) 		Template:Nts[10] $42 Texans Template:College color boxes
Script error: No such module "sort".
(UT Arlington) 		Arlington, Texas 1895 2022Template:Efn Public
(UTS) 		Template:Nts[11] $218[12] Mavericks Template:College color boxes
Utah Tech UniversityTemplate:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". 1911 2020 Public Template:Nts $16.3 Trailblazers Template:College color boxes
Utah Valley University Orem, Utah 1941 2013 Public Template:Nts $100[13] Wolverines Template:College color boxes
Notes

Template:Notelist

Future UAC members

Institution Location Founded Joining Type Enrollment Nickname Colors Current
conference
Austin Peay State University Clarksville, Tennessee 1927 2026 Public 9,609 Governors Template:College color boxes ASUN
University of Central Arkansas Conway, Arkansas 1907 10,123 Bears Template:College color boxes
Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, Kentucky 1874 13,984 Colonels Template:College color boxes
Script error: No such module "sort". Little Rock, Arkansas 1927 8,026 Trojans Template:College color boxes OVC
University of North Alabama Florence, Alabama 1830 11,056 Lions Template:College color boxes ASUN
University of West Georgia Carrollton, Georgia 1906 14,394 Wolves Template:College color boxes

Affiliate members

These schools field programs in the WAC for sports not sponsored by their primary conferences:

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Primary
conference 		WAC
sport(s) 		Joined Former
full
member
Script error: No such module "sort".
(Sacramento State)Template:Efn 		Sacramento, California 1947 Public 27,972 Hornets Big Sky
(Big West in 2026)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Baseball 2005–06 No
San Diego State University San Diego, California 1897 Public 28,789 Aztecs Mountain West
(Pac-12 in 2026)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Script error: No such module "Sort". 2024–25 Yes
Notes

Template:Notelist

Former full members

The WAC has 36 former full members:

Institution Nickname Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Left Current
primary
conference
Script error: No such module "sort".
(Air Force) 		Falcons USAF Academy, ColoradoTemplate:Efn 1954 Federal 4,413 1980 1999 Mountain West
Script error: No such module "sort". Wildcats Tucson, Arizona 1885 Public 39,236 1962 1978 Big 12
Arizona State University Sun Devils Tempe, Arizona 1885 Public 59,794 1962 1978 Big 12
Boise State University Broncos Boise, Idaho 1932 Public 22,678 2001 2011 Mountain West
(Pac-12 in 2026)
Brigham Young University
(BYU) 		Cougars Provo, Utah 1875 Private
(LDS) 		34,130 1962 1999 Big 12
California State University, Bakersfield Roadrunners Bakersfield, California 1965 Public 10,500 2013 2020 Big West
Script error: No such module "sort".
(Fresno State) 		Bulldogs Fresno, California 1911 Public 22,565 1992 2012 Mountain West
(Pac-12 in 2026)
Chicago State University Cougars Chicago, Illinois 1867 Public
(TMCF) 		Template:Nts[14] 2013 2022 NEC
Colorado State University Rams Fort Collins, Colorado 1870 Public 28,417 1968Template:Efn 1999 Mountain West
(Pac-12 in 2026)
Script error: No such module "sort". Pioneers Denver, Colorado 1864 Private 11,476 2012 2013 Summit
(WCC in 2026)
Grand Canyon University Antelopes Phoenix, Arizona 1949 Private For-ProfitTemplate:Efn
(Non-denominational) 		Template:Nts 2013 2025 Mountain West
Script error: No such module "sort". Rainbow Warriors &
Rainbow Wahine 		Honolulu, Hawaii 1907 Public 20,435 1979 2012 Big West
Mountain West
(football only;
full member in 2026)
Script error: No such module "sort". Vandals Moscow, Idaho 1889 Public 12,312 2005 2014 Big Sky
Script error: No such module "sort".
(Kansas City) 		Roos Kansas City, Missouri 1933 Public 16,944 2013 2020 Summit
Lamar University Cardinals/ Lady Cardinals Beaumont, Texas 1923 Public Template:Nts[15] 2021 2022 SLC
Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs (men's)
Lady Techsters (women's) 		Ruston, Louisiana 1894 Public 11,581 2001 2013 CUSA
(Sun Belt by 2027)
Script error: No such module "sort".
(UNLV) 		Rebels Las Vegas, NevadaTemplate:Efn 1957 Public 28,203 1996 1999 Mountain West
Script error: No such module "sort". Wolf Pack Reno, Nevada 1874 Public 18,227 2000 2012 Mountain West
Script error: No such module "sort". Lobos Albuquerque, New Mexico 1889 Public 35,211 1962 1999 Mountain West
New Mexico State University Aggies Las Cruces, New Mexico 1888 Public 21,694 2005 2023 CUSA
Rice University Owls Houston, Texas 1912 Private 6,082 1996 2005 American
San Diego State University Aztecs San Diego, California 1897 Public 28,789 1978 1999 Mountain West
(Pac-12 in 2026)
Sam Houston State University Bearkats Huntsville, Texas 1879 Public 21,679 2021 2023 CUSA
San Jose State University Spartans San Jose, California 1857 Public 30,448 1996 2013 Mountain West
Seattle University Redhawks Seattle, Washington 1891 Private
(Jesuit) 		7,755 2012 2025 WCC
Southern Methodist University
(SMU) 		Mustangs Dallas, TexasTemplate:Efn 1911 Private
(United Methodist Church) 		12,000 1996 2005 ACC
Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks & Ladyjacks Nacogdoches, Texas 1923 Public
(UTS) 		Template:Nts[16] 2021 2024 SLC
Texas Christian University
(TCU) 		Horned Frogs Fort Worth, Texas 1873 Private
(Disciples of Christ) 		9,725 1996 2001 Big 12
Script error: No such module "sort".
(UTEP) 		Miners El Paso, Texas 1914 Public 21,011 1968Template:Efn 2005 CUSA
(Mountain West in 2026)
Script error: No such module "sort".
(UTRGV) 		Vaqueros Edinburg, Texas 2013Template:Efn Public
(UTS) 		Template:Nts[17] 2013 2024 SLC
Script error: No such module "sort".
(UTSA) 		Roadrunners San Antonio, Texas 1969 Public 30,474 2012 2013 American
Texas State University Bobcats San Marcos, Texas 1899 Public 34,229 2012 2013 Sun Belt
(Pac-12 in 2026)
Script error: No such module "sort". Golden Hurricane Tulsa, Oklahoma 1894 Private 4,352 1996 2005 American
Script error: No such module "sort". Utes Salt Lake City, Utah 1850 Public 32,388 1962 1999 Big 12
Utah State University Aggies Logan, Utah 1888 Public 28,796 2005 2013 Mountain West
(Pac-12 in 2026)
Script error: No such module "sort". Cowboys & Cowgirls Laramie, Wyoming 1866 Public 12,496 1962 1999 Mountain West
Notes

Template:Notelist

Former affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Primary
conference 		WAC
sport(s) 		Joined Left
Script error: No such module "sort".
(Air Force)Template:EfnTemplate:Efn 		USAF Academy, ColoradoTemplate:Efn 1955 Federal 4,413 Falcons Mountain West Men's swimming 2013 2025
Men's soccer
Boise State University Boise, Idaho 1932 Public 22,678 Broncos Mountain West
(Pac-12 in 2026)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Script error: No such module "Sort". 1990 1993
2012 2013
California Polytechnic State University
(Cal Poly) 		San Luis Obispo, California 1901 Public 20,186 Mustangs Big West Baseball 1994 1996
California State University, Bakersfield
(Cal State Bakersfield) 		Bakersfield, California 1965 Public 8,720 Roadrunners Big WestTemplate:Efn Baseball 2012 2013
Script error: No such module "Sort".
California State University, Fullerton
(Cal State Fullerton) 		Fullerton, California 1959 Public 38,128 Titans Big WestTemplate:Efn Script error: No such module "Sort". 2005 2011
California State University, Northridge
(Cal State Northridge) 		Northridge, California 1958 Public 38,310 Matadors Big West Baseball 1992 1996
Script error: No such module "sort".
(Sacramento State) 		Sacramento, California 1947 Public 27,972 Hornets Big Sky
(Big West in 2026)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Efn 		Script error: No such module "Sort". 2005 2013
Script error: No such module "sort".
(San Jose State) 		San Jose, California 1857 Public 30,448 Spartans Mountain West Men's soccer 2013 2025
Dallas Baptist University Dallas, Texas 1898 Private 5,422 Patriots Lone StarTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn Baseball 2012 2013
Script error: No such module "sort". Denver, Colorado 1864 Private 11,476 Pioneers SummitTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn
(WCC in 2026)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Script error: No such module "Sort". 2011 2012
Drury University Springfield, Missouri 1873 Private 5,474 Panthers Great Lakes ValleyTemplate:Efn Script error: No such module "Sort". 1999 2000
Grand Canyon University Phoenix, Arizona 1949 Private,
For-profitTemplate:Efn 		17,650 Antelopes Mountain WestTemplate:Efn Baseball 1994 1998
Men's soccer 2025 2025
Script error: No such module "sort".
(Hawaii–Hilo) 		Hilo, Hawaii 1901 Public 20,186 Vulcans Pacific WestTemplate:Efn Baseball 1999 2001
Houston Christian UniversityTemplate:Efn Houston, Texas 1960 Private 2,567 Huskies SouthlandTemplate:Efn Script error: No such module "Sort". 2013 2024
Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Moscow, Idaho 1889 Public 12,312 Vandals Big Sky Script error: No such module "Sort". 2014 2025
Script error: No such module "sort". San Antonio, Texas 1881 Private 8,455 Cardinals SouthlandTemplate:Efn Script error: No such module "Sort". 2014 2023
Script error: No such module "sort".
(UNLV)Template:EfnTemplate:Efn 		Las Vegas, NevadaTemplate:Efn 1889 Public 29,069 Rebels Mountain West Men's swimming 2013 2025
Men's soccer
New Mexico State UniversityTemplate:Efn Las Cruces, New Mexico 1888 Public Template:Nts Aggies Conference USA Script error: No such module "Sort". 2023[18] 2025
Northern Arizona UniversityTemplate:Efn Flagstaff, Arizona 1899 Public 18,824 Lumberjacks Big Sky Script error: No such module "Sort". 2004 2025
Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Greeley, Colorado 1889 Public 10,097 Bears Big SkyTemplate:Efn Script error: No such module "Sort". 2012 2025
Baseball 2013 2021
Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Grand Forks, North Dakota 1883 Public 15,250 Fighting Hawks SummitTemplate:Efn Baseball 2013 2016
Script error: No such module "Sort". 2017
Script error: No such module "Sort". 2011
Script error: No such module "sort". San Diego, California 1949 Private 8,105 Toreros West CoastTemplate:Efn Script error: No such module "Sort". 2004 2010
Southern Utah University Cedar City, Utah 1897 Public 8,297 Thunderbirds WACTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn
(Big Sky in 2026)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Script error: No such module "Sort". 1990 1993
2005 2013
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
(UTRGV) 		Edinburg, Texas 2013Template:Efn Public
(UTS) 		32,419[17] Vaqueros Southland Script error: No such module "Sort".Template:Efn 2024 2025
Script error: No such module "Sort".
Script error: No such module "sort".Template:EfnTemplate:Efn Laramie, Wyoming 1886 Public 12,496 Cowboys Mountain West Script error: No such module "Sort". 2013 2025
Notes

Template:Notelist

Membership timeline

<timeline>

DateFormat = yyyy

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20

Period = from:1962 till:2038

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(0.5,0.691,0.824) # 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

PlotData= 

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

  bar:1  color:Full from:1962 till:1978 text:Arizona (1962–1978)
  bar:1  color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2011 text:Pac-10
  bar:1  color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:2024 text:Pac-12
  bar:1  color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:Big 12

  bar:2 color:Full from:1962 till:1978 text:Arizona State (1962–1978)
  bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2011 text:Pac-10
  bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:2024 text:Pac-12
  bar:2 color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:Big 12

  bar:3 color:Full from:1962 till:1999 text:BYU (1962–1999)
  bar:3 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2011 text:Mountain West
  bar:3 color:OtherC2 from:2011 till:2023 text:WCC
  bar:3 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:Big 12

  bar:4 color:Full from:1962 till:1999 text:Utah  (1962–1999)
  bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2011 text:Mountain West
  bar:4 color:OtherC2 from:2011 till:2024 text:Pac-12
  bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:Big 12

  bar:5 color:Full from:1962 till:1999 text:Wyoming (1962–1999)
  bar:5 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:end text:Mountain West

  bar:6 color:Full from:1962 till:1999 text:New Mexico (1962–1999)
  bar:6 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:end text:Mountain West

  bar:7 color:Full from:1968 till:1999 text:Colorado State (1968–1999)
  bar:7 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2026 text:Mountain West
  bar:7 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:Pac-12

  bar:8 color:Full from:1968 till:2005 text:UTEP (1968–2005)
  bar:8 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2026 text:CUSA
  bar:8 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:Mountain West

  bar:9  color:Full    from:1978 till:1999 text:San Diego State (1978–1999)
  bar:9  color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2024  text:Mountain West
  bar:9 color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:(Assoc 2024–present)

  bar:10 color:Full    from:1979 till:2012 text:Hawaiʻi (1979–2012)
  bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2026  text:Big West
  bar:10 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end  text:Mountain West

  bar:11 color:Full    from:1980 till:1999 text:Air Force (1980–1999)
  bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2013 text:Mountain West
  bar:11 color:AssocOS from:2013 till:end text:(Assoc 2013–present)

  bar:12 shift:(-50) color:AssocOS from:1990 till:1993 text:(Assoc 1990–1993)
  bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:1993 till:2001 text:Big West
  bar:12 color:Full from:2001 till:2011 text:Boise State (2001–2011)
  bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:2026  text:Mountain West
  bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:Pac-12

  bar:13 shift:(-50) color:AssocOS from:1990 till:1993 text:(Assoc 1990–1993)
  bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:1993 till:2005 text:Ind (1996–2003) / Great West
  bar:13 color:AssocOS from:2005 till:2013 text:(Assoc 2005–2013)
  bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2022 text:Big Sky
  bar:13 shift:(-72) color:Full from:2022 till:2023 text:Southern Utah (2022–2026)
  bar:13 color:FullXF from:2023 till:2026
  bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:2026 till:end text:Big Sky

  bar:14 color:Full    from:1992 till:2012 text:Fresno State (1992–2012)
  bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2026  text:Mountain West
  bar:14 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:Pac-12

  bar:18 color:AssocOS from:1995 till:1998 text:(Assoc 1995–1998)
  bar:18 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2025 text:Grand Canyon (2013–2025)
  bar:18 color:AssocOS from:2025 till:end text:(Assoc 2025–present)

  bar:19 color:Full from:1996 till:1999 text:UNLV (1996–1999)
  bar:19 shift:(60) color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2013 text:Mountain West
  bar:19 color:AssocOS from:2013 till:end text:(Assoc 2013–present)

  bar:20 color:Full from:1996 till:2001 text:TCU (1996–2001)
  bar:20 shift:(20) color:OtherC1 from:2001 till:2005 text:CUSA
  bar:20 color:OtherC2 from:2005 till:2012 text:Mountain West
  bar:20 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:Big 12

  bar:21 color:Full from:1996 till:2005 text:Rice (1996–2005)
  bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2023 text:CUSA
  bar:21 color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:American

  bar:22 color:Full from:1996 till:2005 text:SMU (1996–2005)
  bar:22 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2013 text:CUSA
  bar:22 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2024 text:American
  bar:22 color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:ACC

  bar:23 color:Full from:1996 till:2005 text:Tulsa (1996–2005)
  bar:23 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2014 text:CUSA
  bar:23 color:OtherC2 from:2014 till:end text:American

  bar:24 color:Full from:1996 till:2013 text:San Jose State (1996–2013)
  bar:24 color:AssocOS from:2013 till:end text:(Assoc 2013–present)

  bar:27 color:Full from:2000 till:2012 text:Nevada (2000–2012)
  bar:27 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:Mountain West

  bar:28 color:Full from:2001 till:end text:Louisiana Tech (2001–2013)
  bar:28 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2027 text:CUSA
  bar:28 color:OtherC2 from:2027 till:end text:Sun Belt

  bar:31 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Utah State (2005–2013)
  bar:31 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2026 text:Mountain West
  bar:31 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:Pac-12

  bar:32 color:Full from:2005 till:2013 text:Idaho (2005–2014)
  bar:32 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2014 text: 
  bar:32 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:Big Sky

  bar:33 color:Full from:2005 till:2013 text:New Mexico State (2005–2023)
  bar:33 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2023
  bar:33 shift:(-60) color:AssocOS from:2023 till:2025 text:(Assoc 2023–2025)
  bar:33 color:OtherC1 from:2025 till:end text:CUSA

  bar:34 color:AssocOS from:2011 till:2012
  bar:34 shift:(-80) color:FullxF from:2012 till:2013 text:Denver (2012–2013)
  bar:34 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:Summit

  bar:35 shift:(-120) color:Full from:2012 till:end text:UTSA (2012–2013)
  bar:35 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2023 text:CUSA
  bar:35 color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:American

  bar:36 shift:(-120) color:Full from:2012 till:end text:Texas State (2012–2013)
  bar:36 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2026 text:Sun Belt
  bar:36 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:Pac-12

  bar:37 shift:(-120) color:FullxF from:2012 till:2013 text:UT Arlington (2012–2013)
  bar:37 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2022 text:Sun Belt
  bar:37 color:FullXF from:2022 till:end text:(2022–present)

  bar:38 color:FullxF from:2012 till:2025 text:Seattle (2012–2025)
  bar:38 color:OtherC1 from:2025 till:end text:WCC

  bar:39 color:AssocOS from:2012 till:2013
  bar:39 shift:(-60) color:FullxF from:2013 till:2020 text:Cal State Bakersfield (2013–2020)
  bar:39 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end  text:Big West

  bar:40 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2022 text:Chicago State (2013–2022)
  bar:40 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:2024 text:Ind.
  bar:40 color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:NEC

  bar:41 shift:(-115) color:FullxF from:2013 till:2015 text:UT–Pan American (2013–2015)
  bar:41 color:FullxF from:2015 till:2024 text:UTRGV (2015–2024)
  bar:41 color:AssocOS from:2024 till:2025 text:(Assoc 2024–2025)
  bar:41 color:OtherC1 from:2025 till:end text:SLC

  bar:42 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2020 text:UMKC (2013–2020)
  bar:42 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end  text:Summit

  bar:43 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2026 text:Utah Valley (2013–2026)
  bar:43 color:OtherC1 from:2026 till:end  text:Big West

  bar:44 shift:) color:FullxF from:2018 till:2026 text:Cal Baptist (2018–2026)
  bar:44 color:OtherC1 from:2026 till:end  text:Big West

  bar:45 shift:(-100,-5) color:FullXF from:2020 till:2021 text:Dixie State (2020–present)
  bar:45 color:Full from:2021 till:2022
  bar:45 color:Full from:2022 till:2023 text:Utah Tech
  bar:45 color:FullXF from:2023 till:2026
  bar:45 color:OtherC1 from:2026 till:end text:Big Sky

  bar:46 shift:(-100,-5) color:FullXF from:2020 till:2021 text:Tarleton (2020–present)
  bar:46 color:Full from:2021 till:2023
  bar:46 color:FullXF from:2023 till:2026
  bar:46 color:Full from:2026 till:end 

  bar:47 shift:(-80) color:Full from:2021 till:2023 text:Abilene Christian (2021–present)
  bar:47 color:FullXF from:2023 till:2026
  bar:47 color:Full from:2026 till:end

  bar:48 shift:(-80) color:Full from:2021 till:2022 text:Lamar (2021–2022)
  bar:48 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:Southland

  bar:49 shift:(-120) color:Full from:2021 till:2023 text:Sam Houston (2021–2023)
  bar:49 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:CUSA

  bar:50 shift:(-120) color:Full from:2021 till:2023 text:Stephen F. Austin (2021–2024)
  bar:50 color:FullXF from:2023 till:2024
  bar:50 color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:Southland

  bar:51 color:Full from:2026 till:end text:Central Arkansas (2026-future)

  bar:52 color:Full from:2026 till:end text:Eastern Kentucky (2026-future)

  bar:53 color:Full from:2026 till:end text:Austin Peay (2026-future)

  bar:54 color:Full from:2026 till:end text:West Georgia (2026-future)

  bar:55 color:Full from:2026 till:end text:North Alabama (2026-future)

  bar:56 color:FullXF from:2026 till:end text:Little Rock (2026-future)

  bar:N color:red from:1962 till:2026 text:Western Athletic Conference
  bar:N color:blue from:2026 till:end text:United Athletic Conference

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1962

TextData = 

   fontsize:L
   textcolor:black
   pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center)
   text:^"WAC/UAC Membership History"
  1. > 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. Full members Full members (non-football) Assoc. members (football only) Assoc. members (Other sports)  Other Conference Other Conference <# </timeline>

Full members Full members (non-football) Other conference Other conference Associate members (non-football)

  • Prior to the 1996–97 season, both Air Force and Hawaii had most to all of their women's sports competing in other conferences before joining the WAC full-time with their men's sports counterparts. At that time, Air Force was in the Colorado Athletic Conference, and Hawaii was in the Big West Conference.
  • Since the 2021–22 season, the WAC has played football at the FCS level.

Map of the members

Script error: No such module "Location map/multi".

History

1960s: Formation

Script error: No such module "Location map/multi". The WAC formed out of a series of talks between Brigham Young University athletic director Eddie Kimball and other university administrators from 1958 to 1961 to form a new athletic conference that would better fit the needs and situations of certain universities which were at the time members of the Border, Skyline, and Pacific Coast Conferences. Potential member universities who were represented at the meetings included BYU, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Arizona State, and Wyoming. While the three Washington and Oregon schools elected to stay in a revamped Pac-8 Conference that replaced the scandal-plagued PCC, the remaining six schools formed the WAC. The Border and Skyline conferences, having each lost three of their stronger members, dissolved at the end of the 1961–62 season. The charter members of the WAC were Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. New Mexico State and Utah State applied for charter membership and were turned down; they would eventually become WAC members 43 years later.

The conference proved to be an almost perfect fit for the six schools from both a competitive and financial standpoint. Arizona and Arizona State, in particular, experienced success in baseball with Arizona garnering the 1963 College World Series (CWS) runner-up trophy and ASU winning the CWS in 1965, 1967, and 1969. Colorado State and Texas–El Paso (UTEP), at that time just renamed from Texas Western College, were accepted in September 1967 (joined in July 1968) to bring membership up to eight.[19][20]

1970s and 1980s: Success and first expansion

With massive growth in the state of Arizona, the balance of WAC play in the 1970s became increasingly skewed in favor of the Arizona schools, who won or tied for all but two WAC football titles from 1969 onward. In the summer of 1978, the two schools left the WAC for the Pac-8, which became the Pac-10, and were replaced in the WAC by San Diego State and, one year later, Hawaii. The WAC further expanded by adding Air Force in the summer of 1980. A college football national championship won by Brigham Young in 1984 added to the WAC's reputation. This nine-team line-up of the WAC defined the conference for nearly 15 years.

1990s: Second wave of expansion

Fresno State expanded its athletic program in the early 1990s and was granted membership in 1992 as the nationwide trend against major college programs independent of conferences accelerated. The WAC merged with the High Country Athletic Conference, a parallel organization to the WAC for women's athletics, in 1990 to unify both men's and women's athletics under one administrative structure.

Script error: No such module "Location map/multi". In 1996, the WAC expanded again, adding six schools to its ranks for a total of sixteen. Rice, TCU, and SMU joined the league from the Southwest Conference, which had disbanded. Big West Conference members San Jose State and UNLV were also admitted, as well as Tulsa from the Missouri Valley Conference.[21] Also, two WAC members for men's sports at the time, Air Force and Hawaiʻi, brought their women's sports into the WAC. With the expansion, the WAC was divided into two divisions, the Mountain and the Pacific.

To help in organizing schedules and travel for the far-flung league, the members were divided into four quadrants of four teams each, as follows:[21]

Quadrant 1 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4
Hawaiʻi UNLV BYU Tulsa
Fresno State Air Force Utah TCU
San Diego State Colorado State New Mexico SMU
San Jose State Wyoming UTEP Rice

Quadrant one was always part of the Pacific Division, and quadrant four was always part of the Mountain Division. Quadrant two was part of the Pacific Division for 1996 and 1997 before switching to the Mountain Division in 1998, while the reverse was true for quadrant three. The scheduled fourth year of the alignment was abandoned after eight schools left to form the Mountain West Conference.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The division champions in football met from 1996 to 1998 in the WAC Championship Game, held at Sam Boyd Stadium (also known as the Silver Bowl) in the Las Vegas Valley.

2000s: Turbulence

Increasingly, most of the older, pre-1996 members—particularly Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Utah, and Wyoming—felt chagrin at this new arrangement. Additional concerns centered around finances, as the expanded league stretched approximately Script error: No such module "convert". from Hawaii to Oklahoma and covered nine states and four time zones. With such a far-flung league, travel costs became a concern. The presidents of Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Utah, and Wyoming met in 1998 at Denver International Airport and agreed to split off to form a new league. The breakaway group invited old-line WAC schools New Mexico and San Diego State, and newcomer UNLV to join them in the new Mountain West Conference, which began competition in 1999.[21]

A USA Today article summed up the reasons behind the split. "With Hawaii and the Texas schools separated by about 3,900 miles and four time zones, travel costs were a tremendous burden for WAC teams. The costs, coupled with lagging revenue and a proposed realignment that would have separated rivals such as Colorado State and Air Force, created unrest among the eight defecting schools."[22][23]

BYU and Utah would later leave the MWC for the West Coast Conference and Pac-12 Conference, respectively; BYU joined the Big 12 Conference in 2023 while Utah followed in 2024.

Script error: No such module "Location map/multi". In 2000, the University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada) of the Big West joined as part of its plan to upgrade its athletic program.

TCU left for Conference USA in 2001 (it would later leave CUSA to become the ninth member of the Mountain West in 2005, and joined the Big 12 in 2012).

The Big West announced that it would drop football after the 2000 season, but four of its football-playing members (Boise State, Idaho, New Mexico State, and Utah State) were unwilling to drop football. Boise State was invited to join the WAC and promptly departed the Big West, while New Mexico State and Idaho joined the Sun Belt Conference (NMSU as a full member, Idaho as a "football only" member) and Utah State operated as an independent D-IA program. At the same time, Louisiana Tech (LA Tech) ended its independent Div. I-A status and also accepted an invitation to join the WAC with Boise State.

In 2005, Conference USA sought new members to replenish its ranks after losing members to the Big East, which had lost members to the ACC. Four WAC schools, former SWC schools Rice and SMU, as well as Tulsa and UTEP, joined Conference USA. In response, the WAC added Idaho, New Mexico State, and Utah State—all former Big West schools which left the conference in 2000 along with Boise State when that conference dropped football. The three new schools were all land grant universities, bringing the conference total to five (Nevada and Hawaii).

2010s: Membership changes and the elimination of football

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The decade of the 2010s began with a series of conference realignment moves that would have trickle-down effects throughout Division I football, and profoundly change the membership of the WAC. Boise State decided to move to the Mountain West Conference (MWC) for the 2011–12 season,[24] and to replace departing BYU, the MWC also recruited WAC members Fresno State and Nevada for 2012–13.[25][26] WAC commissioner Karl Benson courted several schools to replace those leaving, including the University of Montana, which declined,[27][28] as well as the University of Denver, University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and Texas State University-San Marcos, which all accepted effective 2012–13.[29]

But the resulting eastward shift of the conference's geographic center led Hawaii to reduce travel expenses by becoming a football-only member of the MWC and joining the California-based Big West Conference for all other sports.[30][31] Further invitations were then issued by the WAC to Seattle University[32] and the University of Texas at Arlington.[33] These changes meant that the conference would have 10 members for 2012–13,[34] seven of which sponsored football, and Benson announced that the WAC planned to add two additional football-playing members to begin competition in 2013.[35] A further boost came when Boise State decided to join the Big East in football, and return to the WAC in most other sports, as of the 2013–14 academic year.[36] So by the end of 2011, the WAC seemed to have weathered the latest round of conference changes, and once again reinvented itself for the future.

But from this seemingly strong position, early 2012 brought forth a series of moves that shook the conference to its very core, beginning with Utah State and San Jose State accepting offers to join the MWC.[37] Four similar announcements followed with UTSA and Louisiana Tech jumping to Conference USA, plus Texas State and UT Arlington heading to the Sun Belt Conference, all as of 2013–14.[38][39][40][41][42][43] Boise State also canceled plans to rejoin the WAC, instead opting to place its non-football sports in the Big West Conference, before eventually deciding to simply remain in the MWC.[44][45] These changes left the WAC's viability as a Division I football conference in grave doubt. The two remaining football-playing members, New Mexico State and Idaho, began making plans to compete in future seasons as FBS Independents;[46][47] they ultimately spent only the 2013 season as independents, rejoining their one-time football home of the Sun Belt as football-only members in 2014.[48]

In order to rebuild, as well as forestall further defections, the conference was forced to add two schools—Utah Valley University and CSU Bakersfield—which were invited in October 2012 to join the WAC in 2013–14,[49] but this did not prevent two more members from leaving. Denver decided to take most of its athletic teams to The Summit League as of the 2013–14 season,[50] shortly after Idaho opted to return all of its non-football sports to the Big Sky Conference in 2014–15.[51] The conference responded over the next two months by adding Grand Canyon University,[52] Chicago State University,[53] and the University of Texas-Pan American.[54][55] Then, in February 2013, the WAC announced the University of Missouri–Kansas City would join in the summer of 2013 as well.[56] These changes would put the conference's membership at eight members by 2014 with only one, New Mexico State, having been in the WAC just three years earlier. Due to losing the majority of its football-playing members, the WAC would stop sponsoring the sport after the 2012–13 season, thereby becoming a non-football conference.[1]

In 2013, the University of Texas System announced that Texas–Pan American would merge with the University of Texas at Brownsville; the new institution, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), began operation for the 2015–16 school year. UTRGV inherited UTPA's athletic program and WAC membership.

In January 2017, California Baptist University announced it would transition from NCAA Division II and join the WAC in 2018.[57]

In November 2017, Cal State Bakersfield announced it would accept an invitation to the Big West and join its new conference in 2020.

In January 2019, Dixie State University, now known as Utah Tech University, announced it would move its athletics to Division I and join the WAC in 2020.

In June 2019, the University of Missouri–Kansas City announced it would leave the WAC to join the Summit League in 2020;[58] this announcement came shortly before the rebranding of its athletic program as the Kansas City Roos.[59]

In September 2019, Tarleton State University of Division II announced that it would move to Division I and join the WAC in 2020.[60]

2020s: More membership changes, reinstatement of football

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On January 14, 2021, the Western Athletic Conference announced its intention to reinstate football as a conference-sponsored sport at the FCS level, as well as the addition of five new members to the conference in all sports, including football, at a press conference held at the NRG Center in Houston, Texas.[2] The new members announced included four Southland Conference members from Texas in Abilene Christian University, Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, and Stephen F. Austin State University, which would soon be dubbed the "Texas Four", plus Southern Utah University from the Big Sky Conference. The conference also announced that it would most likely add another member that fielded a football team at a later date. While the WAC originally announced that all new members would join on July 1, 2022, commissioner Jeff Hurd later said that the arrival of the Texas Four "was expedited" to July 1, 2021.[3] The conference officially confirmed this on January 21, 2021, adding that the relaunch of football was moved forward to fall 2021. The conference also confirmed media reports that the Southland had expelled the Texas Four after they announced their departure.[61][62] Southern Utah entered as scheduled in 2022.[3] During the aforementioned press conference, Hurd also announced that the WAC would split into two divisions for all sports except football and men's and women's basketball. One division will consist of the six Texas schools (the Texas Four plus existing members Tarleton and UTRGV).[2] Also on January 14, 2021, news broke that UTRGV, a non-football playing member of the conference, had committed to create an FCS football program by 2024,[63][64] plans that ultimately were postponed to 2025.

The WAC's planned reestablishment of a football conference at the FCS level was accompanied by speculation that the conference intended to eventually move its football league back up to the FBS level in the future, possibly by 2030.[65] Later in January 2021, the WAC moved the start of its sponsorship of FCS football to Fall 2021, with media reports indicating that the University of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky University, and Jacksonville State University would be added as football affiliates for 2021. The three schools were set to join the ASUN Conference in July 2021; that league planned to add FCS football, but not until at least 2022.[66][67] The entry of the three incoming ASUN members into the new football league was officially confirmed at a February 23, 2021, ASUN press conference. These schools joined the Texas Four in a round-robin schedule officially branded interchangeably as the "ASUN–WAC Challenge" and "WAC–ASUN Challenge"; the two conferences proposed an amendment to NCAA bylaws that would allow their partnership (and presumably any others of its kind) to receive an immediate FCS playoff berth. Utah Tech (formerly Dixie State) and Tarleton State were included in alliance members' schedules, but were not eligible for the FCS playoffs until completing their Division I transitions in 2024; at least for 2021, games involving those two schools did not count in alliance standings, although both were included in the separate WAC league table.[68][69]

On the same day as the WAC's initial FCS football announcement, Chicago State University announced it would leave the WAC in June 2022.[70] Chicago State was originally added in 2013 along with the University of Missouri–Kansas City, originally with an intention for both institutions to serve as anchors for a midwestern-centered division for the conference.[71] No other universities in the region were added to the WAC, and UMKC (now known for athletic purposes as Kansas City) departed the conference in 2020 for its former home of the Summit League. This left Chicago State, which did not sponsor football until 2026, as the only WAC member east of Texas. Chicago State's departure rendered Seattle University as the only WAC member institution not geographically located in the southwestern United States.

On November 5, 2021, it was reported that New Mexico State and Sam Houston would be leaving the WAC for Conference USA in 2023.[72] The WAC responded by adding Incarnate Word from the Southland Conference and UT Arlington from the Sun Belt Conference; however, UIW later reversed course and decided to stay with the SLC only days before the 2022-23 athletic season officially began.[73][74] Lamar also announced that it too would return to its former home of the Southland Conference in 2023 roughly three months prior to UIW's announcement, on April 8, 2022; however, three months later, it was announced that the SLC and Lamar would be accelerating the rejoining process so that Lamar could return for the 2022 athletic season instead.[75][76]

Jacksonville State and Sam Houston both started FBS transitions in the 2022 season, rendering both ineligible for the FCS playoffs and also dropping both the ASUN and WAC to 5 playoff-eligible football members, one short of the six required for an automatic playoff berth. This led the WAC and ASUN to renew their football partnership for the 2022 season.[77] Both conferences would keep their own 2022 football standings, including the ineligible teams, while the eligible teams also competed as an alliance to determine their joint AQ.[78]

ESPN reported on December 9, 2022 that the WAC and ASUN had agreed to form a new football-only conference to start play in 2024. The initial membership would consist of Abilene Christian, Southern Utah, Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton, and Utah Tech from the WAC, plus Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and North Alabama from the ASUN. UTRGV would become the 10th member upon its planned addition of football in 2025. The new football conference also reportedly planned to move "from what is currently known as FCS football to what is currently known as FBS football at the earliest practicable date."[79] On December 20, the two conferences announced that their joint football league would start a year earlier, in 2023, under the tentative name of "ASUN–WAC Football Conference,” playing a six-game schedule in 2023 before starting full round-robin conference play in 2024. Neither conference's official announcement mentioned any plans to move to FBS.[80][81] On April 17, 2023, the football league announced its permanent name of United Athletic Conference.[82]

Near-dissolution and rebranding

In the mid-2020s, the Western Athletic Conference experienced significant membership turnover. In 2024, UTRGV and Stephen F. Austin announced that they would depart for the Southland Conference,[83][84] and later that year Grand Canyon and Seattle accepted invitations to join the West Coast Conference, [85] with Grand Canyon subsequently redirecting to the Mountain West Conference. After the change in destinations, GCU planned to transition from the WAC to the Mountain West on July 1, 2026, but ultimately made the move a year earlier,[86] leaving the WAC with seven members for 2025–26.

In February 2025, rumors began circulating about California Baptist and Utah Valley departing the WAC for the Big West Conference.[87] California Baptist made the move official on March 5, followed by Utah Valley on June 4, in both cases to take effect July 1, 2026.[88] Three weeks later, on June 25, Southern Utah and Utah Tech accepted offers to join the Big Sky Conference,[89] with the same effective date, leaving the WAC with just three members to continue beyond 2025–26.

On June 26, 2025, the WAC and the ASUN Conference issued a joint announcement of a strategic realignment to take effect on July 1, 2026. As part of the agreement, the WAC will adopt the name United Athletic Conference and serve as the multi-sport home for the institutions of both conferences that play scholarship football in FCS,Template:Efn plus UT Arlington.[90] The ASUN will continue to operate as a non-football conference under its existing identity, while the renamed WAC will maintain its NCAA Division I status, automatic qualification rights, and historical continuity. This rebranding is separate from the football-only United Athletic Conference that operated from 2021 to 2025.

On October 10, 2025, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (branded as Little Rock for athletics) announced it would leave the Ohio Valley Conference and join the UAC effective July 1, 2026,[91] giving the league nine members (seven football-playing schools) for its first year under its new identity.

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Commissioners

Years Commissioners
1962–1968 Paul Brechler
1968–1971 Wiles Hallock
1971–1980 Stan Bates
1980–1994 Joseph Kearney
1994–2012 Karl Benson
2012–2021 Jeff Hurd
2021–2024 Brian Thornton
2025–Present Rebekah Ray

Sports

The Western Athletic Conference currently sponsors championship competition in 7 men's and 9 women's NCAA-sanctioned sports. Nine other schools are currently associate members in four sports.

Teams in Western Athletic Conference competition
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball
7
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–
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Basketball
7
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7
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Cross country
7
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7
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Golf
9
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7
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Soccer
8
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6
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Softball
–
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7
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Tennis
–
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4
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Track and field (indoor)
5
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6
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Track and field (outdoor)
6
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7
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Volleyball
–
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7
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Template:Notelist

Men's sponsored sports by school

School Baseball Basketball Cross
Country		 Football Golf Soccer Track & Field
(Indoor)		 Track & Field
(Outdoor)		 Total
WAC Sports
Abilene Christian Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 8
California Baptist Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes 6
Southern Utah No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 5
Tarleton Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 5
UT Arlington Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes 7
Utah Tech Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 5
Utah Valley Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 7
Associate Members
Air Force Yes 1
Grand Canyon Yes 1
Sacramento State Yes 1
San Diego State Yes 1
San Jose State Yes 1
UNLV Yes 1
Totals 6+1 7 7 4 7 3+5 5 6 37+6
Future members
Austin Peay Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No 5
Central Arkansas Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 8
Eastern Kentucky Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 7
Little Rock Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes 6
North Alabama Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 7
West Georgia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 7
2026–27 Totals 9 9 9 7 9 1+1 7 7 57+1

Template:Notelist

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Western Athletic Conference which are played by WAC schools
School Swimming and
Diving		 Tennis Water Polo Wrestling
Abilene Christian No ASUN No No
California Baptist MPSFTemplate:Efn No WCCTemplate:Efn Big 12
UT Arlington No ASUN No No
Utah Valley No No No Big 12
Future members
Austin Peay No ASUN No No
Little Rock No No No Pac-12
North Alabama No ASUN No No

Template:Notelist

Women's sponsored sports by school

School Basketball Cross
Country		 Golf Soccer Softball Tennis Track & Field
(Indoor)		 Track & Field
(Outdoor)		 Volleyball Total
WAC Sports
Abilene Christian Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
California Baptist Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes 7
Southern Utah Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 8
Tarleton Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
UT Arlington Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 8
Utah Tech Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
Utah Valley Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 8
Totals 7 7 7 6 7 4 6 7 7 58
Future members
Austin Peay Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
Central Arkansas Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes

8

Eastern Kentucky Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes

8

Little Rock Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes 7
North Alabama Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
West Georgia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes

8

2026–27 Totals 9 9 9 8 8 5 9 9 9 47

Template:Notelist

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Western Athletic Conference which are played by WAC schools
School Beach Volleyball Flag FootballTemplate:Efn Lacrosse Gymnastics StuntTemplate:Efn Swimming and
Diving		 Water Polo
California Baptist No No No No Independent[92] MPSFTemplate:Efn GCCTemplate:Efn
Southern Utah No No No MPSF No No No
Tarleton CUSA No No No No No No
Utah Tech No No No No No MPSF No
UT Arlington No Independent [93] No No No No No
Future members
Austin Peay ASUN No ASUN No No No No
Central Arkansas ASUN No No No Independent[94] No No
Eastern Kentucky ASUN No No No No No No
Little Rock No No No No No MVC No
North Alabama ASUN Independent[95] No No No No No
West Georgia ASUN No No No No No

Template:Notelist

Football

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The WAC sponsored football from its founding in 1962 through the 2012 season. However, the defection of all but two football-playing schools to other conferences caused the conference to drop sponsorship after fifty-one years.[96]

Reinstatement

On January 14, 2021, the WAC announced its intention to reinstate football as a conference-sponsored sport at the FCS level, as well as the addition of five new members to the conference in all sports, including football.[97] The new members announced include the "Texas Four" of Abilene Christian University, Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, and Stephen F. Austin State University, then members of the Southland Conference, along with Southern Utah University, currently of the Big Sky Conference. Originally, all schools were planned to join in July 2022, but the entry of the Texas Four was moved to July 2021 after the Southland expelled its departing members.[61] The WAC also announced that it would most likely add another football-playing institution at a later date.

On the same day, news broke that the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, a non-football playing WAC member, had committed to create an FCS football program by 2024.[98] The program will most likely compete as part of the newly-reinstated WAC football conference.

The WAC ultimately partnered with the ASUN Conference to reestablish its football league, with the Texas Four being joined by three incoming ASUN members for at least the fall 2021 season in what it calls the ASUN–WAC (or WAC–ASUN) Challenge.[68][69] The Challenge was abbreviated as "AQ7", as the top finisher of the seven teams would be an automatic qualifier for the FCS postseason.[99] The two conferences renewed their alliance for the 2022 season, although both leagues will conduct separate conference seasons and then choose the alliance's automatic qualifier by an as-yet-undetermined process. Both the WAC and ASUN initially planned to have 6 playoff-eligible teams in 2022, but each lost such a member with the start of FBS transitions by Jacksonville State and Sam Houston. Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

The WAC had been speculated to move back up to FBS following the reestablishment of the football conference at the FCS level.[100]

As noted previously, further conference realignment led to a full merger of the ASUN and WAC football leagues, with the new United Athletic Conference (football) having started play in 2023.

Men's basketball

Team First
season 		All-Time
record 		All-Time
win % 		NCAA DI Tournament
appearances 		NCAA DI Tournament
record 		Arena Head coach
Abilene Christian 1919 1245-1169 .516 2 1–2 Moody Coliseum Brette Tanner
California Baptist 2018 50-35 .588 0 0–0 CBU Events Center Rick Croy
Tarleton State 2020 10-10 .500 0 0–0 Wisdom Gymnasium Billy Gillispie
UT Arlington 1959 809–1,013 .444 1 0–1 College Park Center K. T. Turner
Utah Tech 2020 8-13 .381 0 0–0 Burns Arena Jon Judkins
Utah Valley 2004[101] 234–194 .547 0 0–0 UCCU Center Todd Phillips[102]

WAC tournament

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Rivalries

Men's basketball rivalries involving WAC teams include:

Teams Meetings Record Series Leader Current Streak
Utah Tech Utah Valley[103] 2 3-5 Utah Valley Utah Valley won 1
UT Arlington Texas State 80 41-39 UT Arlington Texas State won 3
UT Arlington Stephen F. Austin 65 34-31 UT Arlington UT Arlington won 2
UT Arlington North Texas 59 (since 1959) 33-26 North Texas North Texas won 5

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Women's basketball

Team First
season 		All-Time
record 		All-Time
win % 		NCAA DI Tournament
appearances 		NCAA DI Tournament
record 		Arena Head coach
Abilene Christian 1971 891–531 .627 1 0–1 Moody Coliseum Julie Goodenough
California Baptist 2018 60-28 .681 0 0–0 CBU Events Center Jarrod Olson
Tarleton State 2020 25-29 .463 0 0–0 Wisdom Gymnasium Misty Wilson
UT Arlington 1972 754–736 .506 3 0–3 College Park Center Shereka Wright
Utah Tech 2020 10-19 .345 0 0–0 Burns Arena J.D. Gustin
Utah Valley 2004 184–230 .444 1 0–1 UCCU Center Daniel Nielsen

WAC tournament

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Rivalries

Women's basketball rivalries involving WAC teams include:

Teams Meetings Record Series Leader Current Streak
Utah Tech Utah Valley[103] 10 4-6 Utah Valley Utah Valley won 1
UT Arlington Texas State 79 37-42 Texas State UT Arlington won 3
UT Arlington Stephen F. Austin 70 21-49 Stephen F. Austin UT Arlington won 2
UT Arlington North Texas 61 31-30 UT Arlington UT Arlington won 2

Baseball

The WAC has claimed seven NCAA baseball national championships. The most recent WAC national champion is the 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team.

WAC tournament

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Championships

Current champions

Source:[104]

  • For the sports in which the WAC recognizes both regular-season and tournament champions:
    • (RS) indicates regular-season champion.
    • (T) indicates tournament champion.
  • For other sports, only a tournament champion is recognized.
  • Champions from a previous school year are indicated with the calendar year of their title.
Season Sport Men's champion Women's champion
Fall 2025 Cross country California Baptist California Baptist
Soccer California Baptist (RS)
Grand Canyon (T)		 Utah Valley (RS)
California Baptist (T)
Volleyball — Utah Tech (RS)
Utah Valley (RS & T)
Winter 2024–25 Indoor Track & Field Grand Canyon Utah Valley
Basketball Utah Valley (RS)
Grand Canyon (T)		 Grand Canyon (RS & T)
Spring 2025 Golf Seattle Tarleton State
Tennis Grand Canyon (RS)
Abilene Christian (T)		 Tarleton State (RS)
Grand Canyon (T)
Softball — Grand Canyon (RS & T)
Outdoor Track & Field Utah Valley Utah Valley
Baseball Sacramento State/Abilene Christian (RS)
Utah Valley (T)		 —

Template:Notelist

National championships

The following teams have won NCAA national championships while being a member of the WAC:

The WAC has also produced one AP national champion in football:

The following teams won AIAW (and forerunner DGWS) women's national championships while their universities were members of the WAC:

  • Arizona State (15) – swimming (8), badminton (4), softball (2), golf (1)
  • Utah (3) – cross country (Div. II), gymnastics, skiing
  • UTEP (1) – indoor track and field

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Spending and revenue

Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights/licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, food and novelties. Total expenses includes coaching/staff, scholarships, buildings/ground, maintenance, utilities and rental fees and all other costs including recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues and insurance costs.

Conference Rank (2023) Institution 2023 Total Revenue from Athletics[105] 2023 Total Expenses on Athletics[105]
1 Script error: No such module "sort". $36,994,975 $34,879,391
2 Script error: No such module "sort". $27,686,274 $27,686,274
3 Script error: No such module "sort". $25,509,417 $25,509,417
4 Script error: No such module "sort". $18,654,551 $18,654,551
5 Script error: No such module "sort". $18,137,527 $18,137,527
6 Script error: No such module "sort". $18,133,901 $18,133,901
7 Script error: No such module "sort". $17,929,384 $17,929,384
Notes
Note 1 - Data from U.S. Department of Education Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool Database. OPE Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool used in order to provide ranking for private institutions in the conference.
Note 2 - Non football programs

Facilities

Departing members in pink. Future members in green.

Template:CollegePrimaryHeader
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Template:CollegeSecondaryColorLink Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium Template:Nts Moody Coliseum Template:Nts Elmer Gray Stadium Template:Nts Poly Wells Field Template:Nts Crutcher Scott Field Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Austin Peay Fortera Stadium Template:Nts F&M Bank Arena Template:Nts Morgan Brothers Field Template:Nts Cheryl Holt Field Template:Nts Raymond C. Hand Park Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| California Baptist Non-football school Fowler Events Center Template:Nts[106] CBU Soccer Stadium[107] Template:Nts[108] John C. Funk Stadium Template:Nts[109] James W. Totman Stadium Template:Nts[109]
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Central Arkansas Estes Stadium Template:Nts Farris Center Template:Nts Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex Template:Nts Farris Field Template:Nts Bear Stadium Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Eastern Kentucky Roy Kidd Stadium Template:Nts Baptist Health Arena Template:Nts EKU Soccer Field Template:Nts Gertrude Hood Field Template:Nts Turkey Hughes Field Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Little Rock Non-football school Jack Stephens Center Template:Nts Coleman Sports Complex Template:Nts Non-softball school Gary Hogan Field Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Template:CollegeSecondaryColorLink Bank Independent Stadium Template:Nts Flowers Hall Template:Nts Bill Jones Athletic Complex — Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium — Mike D. Lane Field Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Southern Utah Eccles Coliseum Template:Nts America First Event Center Template:Nts Thunderbird Soccer Field Template:Nts Kathryn Berg Field Template:Nts[110]
Non-baseball school
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style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Tarleton Memorial Stadium Template:Nts EECU Center[111] Template:Nts[112] Tarleton Soccer Complex[113] — Tarleton Softball Complex Template:Nts[114] Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex Template:Nts[115]
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| UT Arlington Non-football school College Park Center Template:Nts Non-soccer school Allan Saxe Field Template:Nts Clay Gould Ballpark Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Utah Tech Greater Zion Stadium Template:Nts Burns Arena Template:Nts[116] Greater Zion Stadium Template:Nts Karl Brooks Field Template:Nts[117] Bruce Hurst Field Template:Nts[118]
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Utah Valley Non-football school UCCU Center Template:Nts Clyde Field Template:Nts Wolverine Field Template:Nts UCCU Ballpark Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| West Georgia University Stadium Template:Nts The Coliseum Template:Nts University Soccer Field Template:Nts University Softball Field Template:Nts Cole Field Template:Nts
Template:CollegePrimaryHeaderTemplate:CollegePrimaryHeader
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Template:CollegeSecondaryColorLink Baseball-only member John Smith Field* Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| San Diego State SDSU Sports Deck Template:Nts Soccer-only member

Template:Notelist

Awards

Commissioner's Cup

The WAC awards its Commissioner's Cup to the school that performs the best in each of the conference's 19 men's and women's championships.

Joe Kearney Award

Named in honor of former WAC commissioner Dr. Joseph Kearney, the awards are given annually to the top male and female WAC athlete. The various WAC member institutions Athletics Directors select the male award winner, while the WAC member institutions Senior Women's Administrators choose the female honoree.

Stan Bates Award

The award is named in honor of former WAC Commissioner Stan Bates and honors the WAC's top male and female scholar-athletes, recognizing the recipients' athletic and academic accomplishments. In addition, the awards carry a $3,000 postgraduate scholarship.

Media

WAC Digital Network

In 2014–15, the WAC initiated a new digital network to give fans high quality streaming internet access to many of its regular season games and postseason championships including volleyball, soccer, swimming and diving, basketball, softball and baseball.[119]

Footnotes

Template:Notelist

References

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  21. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ WAC disbanding? – rec.sport.softball | Google Groups. Groups.google.com.
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ WAC Announces Addition of Seattle Template:Webarchive. WACSports.com (June 14, 2011).
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ The Salt Lake Tribune Template:Webarchive. Sltrib.com.
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Cbignore
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Template:Cite tweet
  67. ↑ Template:Cite tweet
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  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  79. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  80. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  84. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  85. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  86. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  87. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  88. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  89. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  91. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  92. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  93. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  94. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  95. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  97. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  98. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  99. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  100. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  101. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  102. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  103. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  104. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  105. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  106. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  107. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  108. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  109. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  110. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  111. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  112. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  113. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  114. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  115. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  116. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  117. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  118. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links

Template:Sister project

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