Conference changes

[KnightSlappy]

What's the deal with the SAA, why does it seem like everyone is abandoning ship?

[jeffconn]

What's the deal with the SAA, why does it seem like everyone is abandoning ship?

The SAA should be having serious talks with the Collegiate Conference of the South about a merger. The SAA will have 7 schools next year. The CCS will have 7, 1 of which is a women's college. They are in roughly the same footprint. And they're both full of that endangered species, the small private liberal arts college.

[Inkblot]

Provisional Pipeline for 2026-27 (now confirmed)
3rd year provisional members: Carlow, Penn State-Brandywine
2nd year provisional members: Regent, Johnson and Wales (NC)
1st year provisional members: Azusa Pacific (reclassification from D2), St. Francis (PA) (reclassification from D1)
Exploratory year: Maine-Augusta

Provisional Pipeline for 2027-28 (expected)
Full Membership: Carlow, Penn State-Brandywine
3rd year provisional members: Regent, Johnson and Wales (NC)
2nd year provisional members: Azusa Pacific (reclassification from D2), St. Francis (PA) (reclassification from D1)
1st year provisional members: St. Anselm (reclassification from D2)

*Games against Year 3 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for NPI and tournament selection purposes (possibly changing to include provisionals that conform to all D3 bylaws but may be earlier in the pipeline)

Conference Changes Starting in 2026-2027
Alfred State leaves the AMCC for the SUNYAC
Alverno (Women only) leaves the NACC for the C2C
Anna Maria (MASCAC) closes
Azusa Pacific joins the SCIAC (full D3 member 2028-29 academic year)
Luther leaves the ARC for the MWC
Maryville leaves the CCS for the SAA
Marywood leaves the AEC for the MAC Freedom
McMurry leaves the SCAC for the ASC
Neumann leaves the AEC for the MAC Commonwealth
New Jersey City leaves the NJAC for the CUNYAC merges into Kean (no NJCU NCAA D3 athletics)
Rosemont (UEC) ceases athletics (merging into Villanova)
St. Francis (PA) joins the PAC (full D3 member 2028-29 academic year)
Schreiner leaves the SCAC for the ASC
SUNY Cobleskill leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
SUNY Delhi leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
SUNY New Paltz leaves the SUNYAC for the NJAC
Valley Forge (UEC) closes
Wesleyan (Ga.) (Women only) leaves the D3 for NAIA
Virginia Wesleyan becomes Batten University (effective July 1, 2026)
Expecting 42 automatic bids, 22 at-large bids (C2C loses MBB AQ)

Conference Changes Starting in 2027-2028
Concordia (WI) leaves the NACC for the CCIW
Keuka leaves the Empire 8 for the AMCC
Millsaps leaves the SAA for the SCAC
Pratt leaves the AEC for the CUNYAC
St. Anselm joins the NEWMAC (full D3 member 2029-2030 academic year)
St. Elizabeth leaves the AEC for the CUNYAC
Southwestern leaves the SAA for the SCAC
Vermont State Castleton leaves the LEC for the MASCAC
Expecting 42 automatic bids, 22 at-large bids (C2C remains without MBB AQ)

[Berewyn]

I see that the NCAA has removed Trinity Washington from its membership directory.

I'm a bit surprised, given that in January the school posted this article about their new athletic director: https://discover.trinitydc.edu/athletics/2026/01/21/trinity-athletics-enters-new-era-of-development-and-opportunity/. The article highlights the value that Division III sports bring to the university, and it mentions the AD's interest in joining a conference.

[KnightSlappy]

I see that the NCAA has removed Trinity Washington from its membership directory.

I'm a bit surprised, given that in January the school posted this article about their new athletic director: https://discover.trinitydc.edu/athletics/2026/01/21/trinity-athletics-enters-new-era-of-development-and-opportunity/. The article highlights the value that Division III sports bring to the university, and it mentions the AD's interest in joining a conference.

The July membership committee report indicated they (i.e. Trinity Washington) withdrew their minimum sports sponsorship waiver request.