FB: Southern Athletic Association

[jknezek]

Some of these teams change conferences faster than drunk 20 year olds change partners in a nightclub.

[MCScots2013]

Scheduling is going to be fun...

6 schools in the SAA:
Maryville, Centre, Sewanee, Rhodes, Trinity, Berry

6 schools in the ASC:
HSU, UMHB, Howard Payne, ETBU, McMurry, Schreiner

8 schools in the SCAC, pending whatever they do with Gallaudet:
TLU, Hendrix, Millsaps, Lyon, Austin, Centenary, Southwestern, Gallaudet

[awadelewis]

Scheduling is going to be fun...

6 schools in the SAA:
Maryville, Centre, Sewanee, Rhodes, Trinity, Berry

6 schools in the ASC:
HSU, UMHB, Howard Payne, ETBU, McMurry, Schreiner

8 schools in the SCAC, pending whatever they do with Gallaudet:
TLU, Hendrix, Millsaps, Lyon, Austin, Centenary, Southwestern, Gallaudet

Southwestern leaving adds to my belief that the league will look to the east for expansion candidates.  Still think the leading candidates would be football playing members of the CCS + Brevard from the USA South..

[Ron Boerger]

(1) will Trinity get "St Thomased" - possible except the SAA would need to find another school to retain football bid.  And if so they might *have* to go to the ASC if the SCAC is happy with 12 (or the presidents don't want them back).
(2) another possibly more important question - will the SAA continue.  Rumblings of other schools - plural - looking for new homes.

There's something - something unsavory - going on behind the scenes for there to be this much activity suddenly going on.

[MCScots2013]

Scheduling is going to be fun...

6 schools in the SAA:
Maryville, Centre, Sewanee, Rhodes, Trinity, Berry

6 schools in the ASC:
HSU, UMHB, Howard Payne, ETBU, McMurry, Schreiner

8 schools in the SCAC, pending whatever they do with Gallaudet:
TLU, Hendrix, Millsaps, Lyon, Austin, Centenary, Southwestern, Gallaudet

Southwestern leaving adds to my belief that the league will look to the east for expansion candidates.  Still think the leading candidates would be football playing members of the CCS + Brevard from the USA South..

If that's the case, we'll get to see what Berry people really think of LaGrange...

LaGrange, Huntingdon, Belhaven are CCS/USA South schools. Adding those 3 gives the SAA 9, assuming Trinity stays. Either way, might not need Brevard who is a full USA member.

Losing those 3 for the USA South would give them 5. Snag Gallaudet for a 6th. They'd be up the same creek. Tough situation.

[jknezek]

(1) will Trinity get "St Thomased" - possible except the SAA would need to find another school to retain football bid.  And if so they might *have* to go to the ASC if the SCAC is happy with 12 (or the presidents don't want them back).
(2) another possibly more important question - will the SAA continue.  Rumblings of other schools - plural - looking for new homes.

There's something - something unsavory - going on behind the scenes for there to be this much activity suddenly going on.

IF I had to guess, I'd say the pressure was building when Trinity and Southwestern joined. Some members were not going to be happy about adding those expensive trips. Then the catalyst was Maryville joining the SAA. The "peer group" thought died for necessity that day. I'm sure that had some of the more stressed schools look at the travel line item and question, "why the heck are we doing this?"

[MCScots2013]

Maryville's invitation was unanimous. Either the presidents thought it was a good idea to extend the invitation, or someone played along to get along.  Hard to believe they didn't consult a map until after the ink dried.

Maryville had a good thing going and it's looking more and more like the wool was pulled over our eyes. Would not be surprised if MC is one of the schools looking for that escape hatch and asking the CCS/USAC for forgiveness.

[jknezek]

Maryville's invitation was unanimous. Either the presidents thought it was a good idea to extend the invitation, or someone played along to get along.  Hard to believe they didn't consult a map until after the ink dried.

Maryville had a good thing going and it's looking more and more like the wool was pulled over our eyes. Would not be surprised if MC is one of the schools looking for that escape hatch and asking the CCS/USAC for forgiveness.

Lots of things are unanimous once people realize they've lost. It does little good to extend the hand to Maryville while someone says "these are the three schools that didn't want you". It's much better for those three schools to say, "Maryville, buddy, welcome to the conference. So excited to have you!" while calling the SCAC and saying "how much interest you got?"

And yes, I'm just pulling 3 out of a hat. No idea if anyone didn't actually want Maryville, but the results kind of speak to a conclusion.

[Bmo]

More details in this link, for those who don't already follow this blog.

https://d3vbwest.wordpress.com/2026/07/07/southwestern-returns-to-the-scac/

Sounds like Centre and Oglethrope are shopping.  If so, the SAA might be DOA.

[Patrick Coleman]

Yes, it requires a unanimous decision for the SAA to admit another full member.

[awadelewis]

Really off the wall thought: Trinity to UAA with FB as affiliate in either ASC or SCAC?

[Ron Boerger]

Really off the wall thought: Trinity to UAA with FB as affiliate in either ASC or SCAC?

Trinity does not meet the UAA's standards in basically any dimension.  And why the UAA would want to fly to Texas is beyond comprehension.

[jekelish]

Really off the wall thought: Trinity to UAA with FB as affiliate in either ASC or SCAC?

Trinity does not meet the UAA's standards in basically any dimension.  And why the UAA would want to fly to Texas is beyond comprehension.

Also heard that the UAA has already given Trinity a definitive and uncompromising "No" previously.

[MCScots2013]

Sounds like Centre and Oglethrope are shopping.  If so, the SAA might be DOA.

Oglethorpe is in the middle of non-football sponsoring CCS with several D3 GA schools. Centre calling the HCAC? They have 10 schools, 7 of which have football. 2 other KY D3's are there, too.

[Ron Boerger]

Pat Coleman interviews SCAC Commissioner Hanberry on recent events:  https://d3sports.com/notables/2026/07/chat-with-commish-scac

A lot of great topics covered:
1:00 Getting the band back together
2:00 Were financial incentives given to Millsaps, Southwestern?
2:45 Is there a third school or announcement coming?
3:41 The varying size of the SCAC over its history
6:17 What schools are looking for in new conference affiliations
8:19 Geographic distribution of conference championship events
10:57 The fate of Gallaudet as an affiliate football member
13:05 Scheduling in football for a six-team conference
14:20 Southwestern didn't contact the SCAC until Millsaps returned
17:00 Is Trinity (Texas) going to return to the SCAC as well
19:55 Easier to re-admit a former member
23:21 The current trend of conferences getting larger
25:35 The "island" conferences in D-III postseason play
28:50 The role of NPI in making the brackets more equitable
30:22 Life for the SCAC behind the video streaming paywall
35:30 Kudos to Trinity University's streaming quality
36:15 Favorite eats in the SCAC

I won't spoil the conversation here other that to say that there's not a lot of good news if you're Trinity.