List of NCAA conferences

Overview of NCAA Conferences

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the primary governing body for college athletics in the United States, overseeing a wide array of sports and competitions across various divisions. NCAA conferences are collections of college athletic programs that compete against each other, typically within a specific geographic region. These conferences play a critical role in organizing competitions, setting rules, and determining champions in various sports.

NCAA conferences are divided into three main divisions: Division I, Division II, and Division III. Each division has its own set of rules and regulations, with Division I being the most competitive and Division III focusing more on the balance between athletics, academics, and extracurricular activities. Within these divisions, conferences are further subdivided into various leagues and associations, each with its own unique characteristics and member institutions.

Division I Conferences

Division I is the highest level of NCAA competition, featuring the largest and most competitive athletic programs. It is further divided into the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for football, with other sports not having such subdivisions.

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)

The FBS is the top tier of college football, featuring schools with larger budgets, more athletic scholarships, and higher levels of competition. Conferences in the FBS include:

**Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)**: Known for its strong basketball programs, the ACC also competes at a high level in football and other sports. Member schools are primarily located in the southeastern United States.

**Big Ten Conference**: One of the oldest and most prestigious conferences, the Big Ten is renowned for its competitive football and basketball programs. It includes schools from the Midwest and Northeast.

**Big 12 Conference**: Comprising schools primarily from the central United States, the Big 12 is known for its high-scoring football games and competitive basketball teams.

**Pac-12 Conference**: Located on the West Coast, the Pac-12 is known for its strong athletic programs across various sports, including football, basketball, and Olympic sports.

**Southeastern Conference (SEC)**: The SEC is widely regarded as the most competitive conference in college football, with a strong tradition of success in other sports as well.

**American Athletic Conference (AAC)**: A relatively new conference, the AAC has quickly established itself as a competitive league in both football and basketball.

**Conference USA (C-USA)**: Known for its diverse membership, C-USA competes in a wide range of sports, with a focus on football and basketball.

**Mid-American Conference (MAC)**: The MAC is known for its competitive football programs, particularly during the midweek "MACtion" games.

**Mountain West Conference**: Featuring schools from the western United States, the Mountain West is competitive in both football and basketball.

**Sun Belt Conference**: Known for its geographic diversity, the Sun Belt competes in a variety of sports, with a strong focus on football.

**Independents**: Some schools, such as Notre Dame and BYU, compete as independents in football, meaning they are not affiliated with any conference.

Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)

The FCS includes schools that offer fewer athletic scholarships than FBS programs but still compete at a high level. Notable FCS conferences include:

**Big Sky Conference**: Known for its strong football programs, the Big Sky includes schools from the western United States.

**Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)**: The CAA is competitive in both football and basketball, with member schools located primarily on the East Coast.

**Missouri Valley Football Conference**: Renowned for its strong football programs, the Missouri Valley includes schools from the Midwest.

**Southern Conference (SoCon)**: One of the oldest conferences, the SoCon is known for its competitive football and basketball teams.

**Southland Conference**: Located in the South Central United States, the Southland competes in a variety of sports, with a focus on football.

**Ivy League**: Known for its academic prestige, the Ivy League competes at a high level in football and other sports, despite not offering athletic scholarships.

**Patriot League**: Similar to the Ivy League, the Patriot League emphasizes academics and offers limited athletic scholarships.

Division II Conferences

Division II offers a balance between athletics, academics, and extracurricular activities, with schools offering partial athletic scholarships. Notable Division II conferences include:

**Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)**: Known for its strong basketball programs, the CIAA includes historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

**Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)**: The GLVC is competitive in a variety of sports, with member schools located in the Midwest.

**Lone Star Conference**: Located in the southwestern United States, the Lone Star Conference is known for its strong football and basketball programs.

**Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10)**: The NE-10 is competitive in a wide range of sports, with member schools located in the northeastern United States.

**Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)**: Known for its strong athletic programs, the RMAC includes schools from the Rocky Mountain region.

**Sunshine State Conference (SSC)**: Located in Florida, the SSC is competitive in a variety of sports, particularly in basketball and baseball.

Division III Conferences

Division III focuses on the overall college experience of the student-athlete, with no athletic scholarships offered. Notable Division III conferences include:

**American Southwest Conference (ASC)**: The ASC is known for its competitive athletic programs, with member schools located in the southwestern United States.

**New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)**: Known for its academic prestige, the NESCAC competes at a high level in a variety of sports.

**Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC)**: The SCAC is competitive in a wide range of sports, with member schools located in the southern United States.

**University Athletic Association (UAA)**: Known for its academic excellence, the UAA competes in a variety of sports, with member schools located across the United States.

**Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC)**: The WIAC is known for its strong athletic programs, particularly in football and basketball.