Conference changes

[ccd494]

Many of the NAC schools have been playing UMPI and UMFK like travel partners the last two seasons.  If you're making the trip up there, no real reason not to play both.  It'll be helpful to have both count in the future.

There's been open speculation that Cobleskill and Delhi are not long for the league, plus there's a real possibility one or both of the NVU campuses end or scale back athletics to the point they can't be in the NCAA.  Lots of unknowns, but I'm sure the league wants to be clear of the minimum.

It's not inconceivable in a couple years you'd have 7 Maine schools and Lesley.  I don't really know anything about Lesley's financial status, but that's certainly a similar profile to a lot of schools that have been closing.

I reviewed the USCAA and NAIA websites. There are no more likely candidates for D3 members in New England. Bay Hill is USCAA (Soccer, Softball Volleyball) and the remaining schools are small. Fisher College (NAIA Boston) has only 4 & 4 sports; probably needs to add Cross Country. Vermont State - Randolph (USCAA) is resuming baseball in "Fall 2026" to get to 5 & 5 sports.

The only four year schools left in Maine that aren't in the NCAA system don't offer sports, and I can't imagine that College of the Atlantic or Maine College of Art & Design are champing at the bit to start an athletics program.

[KnightSlappy]

The Penn State system is closing seven campuses following the 2026-27 academic year. I wonder if the resulting consolidation will push a few more PSU schools to D3? I believe all of the campuses with enrollments of 1,000 or more are currently NCAA.

The 12-team PSUAC conference competing in the USCAA will be down to 6 following the closures.

[Patrick Coleman]

NJCU will no longer be joining the CUNYAC. In fact, there will be no Division III athletics at New Jersey City University following the end of this academic year.
https://d3sports.com/notables/2026/01/kean-to-absorb-njcu-athletics

[KnightSlappy]

Provisional Pipeline for 2025-26 (now confirmed)
Full Membership: Hartford, Lyon
3rd year provisional members: none
2nd year provisional members: Carlow, Penn State-Brandywine
1st year provisional members: Regent, Johnson and Wales (NC)

Provisional Pipeline for 2026-27
Applications expected: Azusa Pacific (reclassification from D2), St. Francis (PA) (reclassification from D1), Maine-Augusta, Maine-Ft. Kent

*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 2025-2026
Anna Maria leaves GNAC for the MASCAC
Bryn Athyn (UEC) drops athletics
Ferrum leaves the ODAC for D2
Fontbonne (SLIAC) closes
Hendrix leaves the SAA for the SCAC
Hiram leaves the NCAC for the PAC
John Carroll leaves the OAC for the NCAC
Johnson & Wales (NC) joins the C2C
Johnson & Wales (RI) leaves the GNAC for the CNE
Keystone (UEC) is doing the limbo, but allowed to play
LeTourneau leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Northland closes
Regent joins the C2C
Southwestern leaves the SCAC for the SAA
St. Elizabeth leaves the UEC for the AEC
Trinity (Texas) leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2026-2027
Alfred State leaves the AMCC for the SUNYAC
Alverno (Women only) leaves the NACC for the C2C
Asuza 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
Wesleyan (Ga.) (Women only) leaves the D3 for NAIA

Conference Changes Starting in 2027-2028
Concordia (WI) leaves the NACC for the CCIW

[Caz Bombers]

NJCU will no longer be joining the CUNYAC. In fact, there will be no Division III athletics at New Jersey City University following the end of this academic year.
https://d3sports.com/notables/2026/01/kean-to-absorb-njcu-athletics

what in the uncanny valley is going on with those AI models in your linked story, those are TERRIFYING

[Patrick Coleman]

Hmm -- I used an AI tool to remove a bunch of text from this graphic but I see it also did things I didn't ask it for, go figure. I uploaded a different version.

[Great Day to be a Royal]

The Penn State system is closing seven campuses following the 2026-27 academic year. I wonder if the resulting consolidation will push a few more PSU schools to D3? I believe all of the campuses with enrollments of 1,000 or more are currently NCAA.

The 12-team PSUAC conference competing in the USCAA will be down to 6 following the closures.

I can't imagine the local branch campus (PSU-Scranton) joining the NCAA. The enrollment is low, was one of the campuses under consideration for closing, and the facilities for athletics don't stand up.