The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), the conference that the Skyhawks have competed in since 1992, will decrease in size from 12 to 10 schools, losing the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (JSU) and Eastern Kentucky Colonels (EKU), according to a press release from OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche on Jan. 29.
Both schools, along with Central Arkansas of the Southland Conference, will transition to the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) beginning on July 1, 2021, leaving only 10 schools left in the OVC. The Skyhawks, along with the Governors (Austin Peay), Panthers (Eastern Illinois), Racers (Murray State), Tigers (Tennessee State) and Golden Eagles (Tennessee Tech) are the only football programs remaining.
The ASUN conference, originally founded in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference, now has five schools that have NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football with the additions of EKU, JSU and Central Arkansas, in addition to existing members North Alabama and Kennesaw State. A conference needs a minimum of six football-playing schools in order for it’s champion to earn an automatic berth in the FCS playoffs. Due to EKU and JSU’s partnerships with the OVC for this season, they will still be eligible for automatic qualification for the FCS playoffs should they win the conference.
“This is the result of over two years of work,” ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart said. “In those two years of work we realized that one of the biggest things we needed for sustainability and stability was to focus on football. It’s been a primary reason that people either enter or depart other conferences.”
“Being able to control our football future was vital,” EKU’s vice president and director of athletics Matt Roan said. “Creating this new FCS league with Kennesaw State, North Alabama, UCA, JSU and others to be announced later instantly elevates our program.”
DeBauche alluded to future OVC expansion plans, saying, “It is now time for the OVC to look forward. As we evaluate expansion opportunities, our ten outstanding members remain committed to one another and to the student-athletes we serve.” The OVC has not announced any further expansion plans or any prospective schools at time of writing.
As football returns to UTM, the Skyhawks will still play JSU on March 14 at Hardy M. Graham Stadium, but will not face EKU during the regular season.
Photo Credits / Ohio Valley Conference
