Conference Carolinas and SIAC Unveil Unique and Beneficial Collaboration in Football
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) have entered into a truly unique and beneficial collaboration in football.
The two-year partnership will officially begin in the fall of 2025 and continue in the fall of 2026.
The agreement articulates that two Conference Carolinas institutions that do not qualify for the 2025 conference championship will travel to two SIAC institutions that do not qualify for their league championship during week 11 of the season on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.
The partnership continues in 2026, with two SIAC institutions not qualifying for their conference championship, traveling to two Conference Carolinas institutions who do not advance to the league championship game during week 11 of the season on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026.
Participants in the two games each year will be finalized on the Saturday preceding the scheduled games. The Commissioners of Conference Carolinas and the SIAC will have final approval on the selection of participating institutions and matchups.
"This is a historic announcement for Conference Carolinas football, and we appreciate the hard work of Commissioner Holloman and his staff to help us make this a reality," Conference Carolinas Commissioner Chris Colvin said. "When we officially unveiled last year that Conference Carolinas would be sponsoring football for the first time since the 1974-75 academic year, it was a high priority to all of our football-playing member institutions to find partnerships such as this that would not only allow for strong scheduling but also allow for us to continue to build our footprint and to expand our regional rivalries. This partnership is a huge win for all involved."
As the second oldest historically black college and university athletic conference, the SIAC has one of the most storied histories in the NCAA. This partnership allows two of the most storied conference brands in NCAA Division II to work together.
"The SIAC is excited to partner with Conference Carolinas. This partnership reflects our commitment to providing our student-athletes with the best competitive opportunities while fostering a spirit of excellence and sportsmanship in collegiate football," said SIAC Commissioner Anthony Holloman.
"This collaboration aims to orchestrate meaningful contests that highlight the exceptional skills of our student-athletes and play a pivotal role in positively impacting the final regional rankings before playoff seeding is determined."
Institutions with a .500 record or better against NCAA Division II competition will be given priority in the selection process for the week 11 games in 2025 and 2026. In addition, any institution that is scheduled to compete in a postseason competition or has a prior obligation will not be eligible to participate.
Conference Carolinas originally announced, with the addition of Shorter as a full conference member in January of 2023, that it will officially start sponsoring football in the 2025-26 academic year. Conference Carolinas football will feature Barton, Chowan, Erskine, UNC Pembroke, North Greenville, and Shorter in the 2025 college football season.
Conference Carolinas Football Membership History
Appalachian State 1931--1967 (No Teams 1943-44)
Atlantic Christian/Barton 1946--1950; 2025--
Catawba 1931--1974 (No Team 1943)
Chowan 2025--
East Carolina 1947--1961
Elon 1931--1974 (No Teams 1942-45)
Erskine 2025--
Guilford 1931--1974 (No Teams 1943-44)
High Point 1931--1932, 1938--1942, 1945--1950
Lenoir-Rhyne 1931--1974 (No Teams 1942-45)
Mars Hill 1973--1974
UNC Pembroke 2025--
Newberry 1961--1972
North Greenville 2025--
Presbyterian 1965--1972
Shorter 2025--
Western Carolina 1933--1968 (No Teams 1942-44)
(Note: The 1974-75 academic year was the final year that Conference Carolinas sponsored football until its eventual return in the 2025-26 academic year)
About Conference Carolinas
Conference Carolinas has a rich tradition in roots that dates back to its inception on Dec. 6, 1930. The NCAA Division II athletics conference presently has member schools located in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Member institutions for the upcoming 2023-24 academic year are Barton, Belmont Abbey, Chowan, Converse, Emmanuel, Erskine, Francis Marion, King, Lees-McRae, Mount Olive, UNC Pembroke, North Greenville, Southern Wesleyan and Young Harris. Shorter will join the league with the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year.
Conference Carolinas believes in the development and formation of the whole person in body, mind and soul. Our students are nationally recognized for their extraordinary success in the classroom, in the community and at the highest levels of NCAA competition. Conference Carolinas is built upon the idea of offering challenging NCAA competition in an environment that fosters both the academic and athletic achievements of its student-athletes. Conference members offer exemplary educations and scholarships for performance in the classroom and on the field. Conference Carolinas and its members are committed to challenging adversity and building tomorrow's leaders.
Conference Carolinas is a sole sponsor of 23 sports and collaborates with two other conferences to offer opportunities in four additional sports for a total of 27. The conference is the sole sponsor of 24 sports (28 total including collaborations with other conferences) in the 2023-24 academic year. That number will advance to 25 sports (29 total including collaborations with other conferences) with the addition of football in the 2025-26 academic year.
The ability to provide its membership sports sponsorship in 29 sports is the most in all of NCAA Division II. In addition, Conference Carolinas also provides championship opportunities for its member institutions in esports and spirit (cheerleading and dance).
This is all in addition to holding Developmental Championships for its member institutions. A Developmental Championship will be held in men's soccer, men's wrestling, men's and women's basketball, men's volleyball and baseball in the 2023-24 academic year.
Conference Carolinas is believed to be the first NCAA conference to offer sub-varsity championships to its members.
Please visit ConferenceCarolinas.com to learn more about Conference Carolinas.
Current Conference Carolinas Membership
*Atlantic Christian/Barton: 1930-31--present
Belmont Abbey: 1989-90--present
Chowan: 2019-20--present
Converse: 2008-09--present
Emmanuel: 2018-19--present
Erskine: 1995-96--present
Francis Marion: 2021--present
King: 2011-12--present
Lees-McRae: 1993-94--present
Mount Olive: 1988-89--present
UNC Pembroke: 1976-92; 2021-22--present
North Greenville: 2011-12--present
Shorter: 2024-25
Southern Wesleyan: 2016-17--present
Young Harris: 2023-24
*Charter Member
Twitter: @ConfCarolinas
Instagram: @ConfCarolinas
Facebook: Facebook.com/ConferenceCarolinas
#LeadingTheWay
#BodyMindSoul
About the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors seven men's and six women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit www.thesiac.com.
Current SIAC Membership
| Institution |
Mascot |
Location |
Joined SIAC |
| Albany State University |
Golden Rams |
Albany, GA |
1969 |
| Allen University |
Yellow Jackets |
Columbia, S.C. |
2020 |
| Benedict College |
Tigers |
Columbia, S.C. |
1932 |
| Central State University |
Marauders |
Wilberforce, OH |
2013 |
| Clark Atlanta University * |
Panthers |
Atlanta, GA |
1913 |
| Edward Waters University |
Tigers |
Jacksonville, FL |
2021 |
| Fort Valley State University |
Wildcats |
Fort Valley, GA |
1941 |
| Kentucky State University |
Thorobreds |
Frankfort, KY |
1997 |
| Lane College |
Dragons |
Jackson, TN |
1929 |
| LeMoyne-Owen College |
Magicians |
Memphis, TN |
1932 |
| Miles College |
Golden Bears |
Fairfield, AL |
1927 |
| Morehouse College * |
Maroon Tigers |
Atlanta, GA |
1913 |
| Savannah State University |
Tigers |
Savannah, GA |
2019 |
| Spring Hill College |
Badgers |
Mobile, AL |
2014 |
| Tuskegee University * |
Golden Tigers |
Tuskegee, AL |
1913 |
*Institutions that have held continuous membership.
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