Conference USA: Everything You Need to Know About the C-USA

Conference USA (also referred to as the C-USA or CUSA) is a college athletic conference with its member schools in the Southern United States. Conference USA is an athletic conference that is focused on building the next generation of great college programs with innovative partnerships, dynamic leadership and diverse membership.All member schools of the Conference USA participate in the NCAA Division 1 Basketball.

The C-USA prides itself on upholding unwavering standards of success and integrity in the ever-changing landscape of college athletics. They have a strong commitment to their student athletes and keeping excellence and leadership in basketball competition, and in academics and the community. The C-USA remains at the forefront as they embark on its 28^th season.

What is Conference USA and where are its Member Institutions Located?

Conference USA is an athletic conference that brings together colleges and universities primarily situated in the Southern region of the United States. This conference is notable for its participation in the Division I category of the NCAA, which is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics in the country.

The institutions within Conference USA collectively emphasize athletic as well as academic excellence. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the conference coordinates a variety of sports competitions, fostering a competitive spirit among its member colleges.

Conference USA serves as a central hub for southern colleges in the NCAA Division I, focusing on bringing students and athletes together across a range of sports disciplines.

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Conference USA Member Schools

Currently, 11 member schools in the Conference USA have basketball programs. Below you can find the list of all the member schools.

• The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte)
• Florida International University (FIU)
• Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
• Louisiana Tech University
• Middle Tennessee State University
• University of North Texas
• Rice University
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
• The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
• The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
• Western Kentucky University (WKU)

Future C-USA Members

With the Conference USA now in its third decade, with an unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and leadership in competition, academics, and community, they have announced the following schools with be joining the C-USA.

2023 New Joins:

• Jacksonville State – become a member on July 1st
• Liberty University – become a member on July 1st
• New Mexico State – become a member on July 1st
• Sam Houston – become a member on July 1st

2024 New Joins:

• Kennesaw State – become a member in 2024

Conference USA History

The Conference USA was formed in 1995 when it unveiled its name, logo and commissioner on April 24, 1995, in Chicago. C-USA quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top conferences. The C-USA’s headquarters were established in Chicago but after nine years here, they relocated to the current office in Dallas, Texas. Mike Slive was the conferences first Comissioner who’s spot was taken over by Britton Banowsky in October 2002. October 2015 saw Judy MacLeod become the league’s third Commissioner.

NOTE: The league’s founding members were: Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Houston, Louisville, Marquette, Memphis, Saint Louis, Southern Miss, Tulane, UAB and USF.

Eleven of the institutions began athletic participation in 1995, with Houston joining the competition in the fall of 1996. The C-USA added East Carolina (September, 1996) and the United States Military Academy (March, 1997) as football members. ECU began league competition in 1997; Army in 1998 and UAB began football play in 1999. The league brought in TCU and ECU (1999) for all sports and they began competition in 2001. USF started C-USA football in 2003. Marshall, Rice, SMU, Tulsa, UCF and UTEP became full-time Conference USA members for all sports in 2005.

In 2013, charter member Charlotte returned to C-USA and was joined by new members FIU, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Old Dominion and UTSA. WKU joined the league on July 1, 2014.

In November 2021, Conference USA added Jacksonville State, Liberty, New Mexico State and Sam Houston State to join the league on July 1, 2023.

Conference USA has significant representation in the NCAA governance structure with the presidents of the member schools serving as the league’s Board of Directors.

Conference USA Competition & Awards

Conference USA sponsors competition in 18 sports – eight for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field) and 10 for women (basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball).

Success is not limited to athletic achievement as more than 265 Conference USA student-athletes have garnered Academic All-America honors, and more than 877 have achieved academic all-district laurels and thousands of student-athletes have earned a college degree.

The C-USA league promotes the scholar-athlete ideal, honoring outstanding academic achievement with numerous conference-sponsored awards, including the Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Commissioner’s Academic Medal as well as sport-specific All-Academic teams.

NOTE: In 2024, Jacksonville State clinched the national championship in bowling. This remarkable achievement came during their inaugural season in both varsity bowling and as members of Conference USA.

C-USA Scholarships

C-USA annually awards 11 Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarships. Other notable awards they offer are the:

• Sport Academic Awards,
• Scholar-Athletes of the Year
• Institutional Academic Excellence Award
• Spirit of Service Award – given three times each year (to recognize student-athletes who excel on the field, in the classroom and give back to the community)

With a commitment to community involvement, the Conference USA has developed several initiatives to maintain strong ties in C-USA cities, fans and alumni across the country. The C-USA member schools place a priority on giving back to their communities through volunteer service with local and national organizations.

C-USA Success on the Basketball Court

In Men’s Basketball the following achievements have been attained so far:

• 142 postseason teams (58 NCAA, 53 NIT, 15 CBI, 14 CIT, 2 LV16)
• One National Championship title game appearance
• Three Final Four teams
• Seven Elite Eight NCAA Tournament teams
• One NIT Champion and six NIT semifinalists
• Two CBI Champions
• One CIT Championship
• Inaugural Las Vegas 16 Champion

In addition to this, C-USA schools are among the nation’s best in academic performance of student-athletes. The student-athletes at the league schools have a higher graduation rate than the general student population. Among C-USA’s 5,300 student athletes you will find that they are also champions off the court as well as on the court.

In 27 years, more than 52,000 student-athletes have been named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll or received the Commissioner’s Academic Medal. The Honor Roll is awarded to student athletes in Conference sponsored sports (which includes basketball) that have achieved a 3.0 cumulative GPA or above, while Academic Medal recipients have achieved a 3.75 cumulative GPA or above.

Conference USA – Media

C-USA enjoys significant exposure through various multimedia partners. These partnerships include:

• CBS Sports Network
• ESPN
• Stadium

The multi-tiered selection process that is rooted in partnering with all entities has substantially increased the number of national, regional and digital appearances for men’s (and women’s) basketball and conference Olympic sports.

CUSA.TV

Conference USA introduced CUSA TV in the fall of 2016. It is powered by Sidearm Sports. CUSA TV includes the following:

• Live streaming of non-televised events
• Video on demand
• Specialty events
• Regular-season and championship event highlights
• Press conferences
• Feature stories

It is available exclusively at CUSA.tv. It is your one-stop online access to the league and each school has its own branded channel and URL.

Television and Streaming Contracts

In 2016, C-USA embarked on a comprehensive television and streaming strategy by entering into contracts with major networks and platforms. The agreements include:

• ESPN: Broadcasting 5 football games, the football championship game, and extensive coverage across basketball seasons.
• CBS Sports Network: Carrying 6 football games, 5 basketball games, and both the men’s and women’s basketball championship games.
• American Sports Network (ASN): Owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, ASN agreed to cover between 15-30 football games, 13-55 men’s basketball games, and 2-5 women’s basketball games, in addition to 10 events in other sports within the conference.
• beIN Sports: Marking a first for domestic American football rights, beIN Sports covers 10 football games, 10 men’s and women’s basketball games, 12 baseball and softball games, 10 men’s and women’s soccer games (with exceptions), and 10 women’s volleyball games.

The total values of these contracts reflect changes from previous agreements, notably those involving Fox Sports. Additionally, former soccer affiliates like Kentucky and South Carolina have shifted their men’s soccer coverage to the Sun Belt Conference, with prior agreements ensuring online streaming through their primary conference.

In 2017, the merger of American Sports Network and Campus Insiders created Stadium, expanding C-USA’s digital footprint. Stadium’s content streams on platforms like Twitter and Pluto TV, and a deal with Facebook ensures exclusive streaming for select football games. C-USA also collaborates with FloSports for additional football coverage.

CUSA.TV

Conference USA introduced CUSA TV in the fall of 2016. It is powered by Sidearm Sports. CUSA TV includes the following:

• Live streaming of non-televised events
• Video on demand
• Specialty events
• Regular-season and championship event highlights
• Press conferences
• Feature stories

Available exclusively at CUSA.tv, it is your one-stop online access to the league. Each school has its own branded channel and URL.

Through these diverse partnerships, C-USA not only enhances its visibility but also caters to a broad audience by delivering content across multiple platforms, ensuring fans have access to their favorite sports anytime, anywhere.

C-USA Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) 

In 1998, the NCAA adopted proposal No. 98-99 which mandated that Division 1 conferences have a student athlete advisory committee. So, the Conference USA formed what is now know as “SAAC”. The SAAC consists of 23 members (one male and one female from each school) and one national representative. Out of the 22 members, one member serves as Chair and one member serves as Vice Chair with the Committee meeting five times a year which includes one in-person meeting.

What does the SAAC Provide?

The Committee provides insight into the student athlete experience and offers input on the rules, regulations and polices that affect student-athletes’ lives within Conference USA. The Committee also functions to strengthen the communication between the campus and national committees.

What does the SAAC do?

There are 4 main jobs that the SAAC aim to do, these are detailed in the following list:

1. The Committee reviews all issues relating to the student athlete experiences and welfare. Through increased communication and networking, the SAAC hopes to better represent the views of all student-athletes.
2. To provide a forum for student athletes to express ideas, concerns, and opinions relating to NCAA and Conference legislation plus other issues that affect their welfare.
3. To maintain a positive environment that fosters a healthy relationship between athletic administrators and student-athletes.
4. To provide an environment that values cultural diversity and gender equity among student-athletes and community service.

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION

Academic Affiliations and Rankings of CUSA Universities

The Conference USA (CUSA) universities showcase a range of academic affiliations and rankings that reflect their research capabilities and educational stature. Here’s a breakdown of their academic positions:

Departing Schools

• Rice University: A prestigious member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), known for its leading research initiatives.
• Doctorate-Granting Universities with High Research Activity: Six of the current 14 members in CUSA have received the “very high research activity” classification, the highest recognition from the Carnegie Foundation:
  • Among them, the universities of Charlotte, North Texas, Rice, and UTSA will be transitioning to the American Athletic Conference by July 2023.
• Tier One National Universities: A number of schools in CUSA are acknowledged as Tier One National Universities, as per the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

Incoming Members

• Delaware: Recognized in the “very high research activity” category by the Carnegie Foundation. It shares a tie for the #76 spot in the “National Universities” ranking by U.S. News & World Report.
• Jacksonville State: Classified as “Master’s Colleges and Universities (Larger Programs)” by the Carnegie Foundation. It isn’t listed as a national university in U.S. News, but categorized as a Southern “Regional University”.
• Kennesaw State: Falls under the “high research activity” classification. It holds a rank between 331 and 440 in the “National Universities” category according to U.S. News & World Report.
• Liberty: Listed in the “Doctoral/Professional” classification by the Carnegie Foundation, also finding a spot between 331 and 440 in the “National Universities” ranking.
• New Mexico State: Shares the “high research activity” label and ties for #263 in the U.S. News “National Universities” rankings.
• Sam Houston: Like New Mexico State, it is also identified with “high research activity”, sharing the #263 position in the national rankings.

This diverse array of institutions highlights the blend of research intensity and academic excellence present in CUSA, offering prospective students and stakeholders a snapshot of the academic landscape.

Departing CUSA Schools

Among the departing schools from the Conference USA (CUSA), some stand out for their prestigious classifications:

• Rice University is distinguished as a member of the Association of American Universities, a group composed of the top research universities in North America.
• Charlotte, North Texas, Rice, and UTSA are all recognized as institutions with “very high research activity,” the pinnacle status awarded by the Carnegie Foundation. Despite this, they are all transitioning to the American Athletic Conference in July 2023.

The majority of CUSA’s current members are also acknowledged as Tier One National Universities in U.S. News & World Report‘s Best Colleges rankings for 2022.

Incoming CUSA Schools

The new members joining CUSA bring a diverse range of research classifications and national rankings:

• Delaware is categorized under “very high research activity” and shares the #76 spot in U.S. News‘s National Universities rankings.
• Jacksonville State is listed as “Master’s Colleges and Universities (Larger Programs)” and does not feature in the national university rankings by U.S. News. However, it appears under the Southern “Regional University” category.
• Kennesaw State and Liberty both fall into the “high research activity” and “Doctoral/Professional” categories, respectively. Both rank between 331 and 440 in the National Universities list.
• New Mexico State shares the “high research activity” classification with Kennesaw State. It is tied at #263 in the National Universities rankings.
• Sam Houston also enjoys a “high research activity” label and ranks together with New Mexico State at #263.

These classifications and rankings highlight the changing landscape of CUSA as it swaps some of its most research-intensive members for a broader array of research institutions.

The merger between American Sports Network and Campus Insiders in 2017 significantly enhanced media coverage for Conference USA (C-USA). This strategic alliance birthed a new media entity, Stadium, which expanded the accessibility of C-USA content through various digital platforms.

Following the merger, Stadium leveraged modern streaming technologies by making C-USA’s sports content available on popular platforms like Twitter and Pluto TV. This move ensured that fans could easily access live and on-demand events, broadening the audience reach.

Moreover, Stadium secured an exclusive partnership with Facebook, allowing select C-USA football games to be streamed directly on the social media giant’s platform. This arrangement not only increased the visibility of C-USA games but also tapped into Facebook’s vast global user base, providing a unique viewing experience for sports fans worldwide.

In summary, the consolidation of American Sports Network and Campus Insiders into Stadium profoundly transformed C-USA’s media presence by embracing the digital landscape and engaging with a broader audience through key streaming partnerships.

Analyzing the financial data for Conference USA (CUSA) schools during the 2021–22 academic year reveals significant numbers in terms of athletic revenues and expenses.

Here’s a breakdown of the total revenues and expenses for each institution:

• Liberty University: Both revenues and expenses amounted to $57,423,638.
• University of Delaware: Equal revenues and expenses, totaling $41,625,478.
• Florida International University: Reported $39,299,776 in revenue against $35,610,534 in expenses.
• Middle Tennessee State University: Both revenues and expenses were $35,614,512.
• New Mexico State University: Similarly, revenues and expenses matched at $31,168,241.
• Western Kentucky University: Recorded both revenues and expenses at $28,545,295.
• University of Texas at El Paso: Brought in $26,215,359 in revenue with slightly lower expenses of $25,236,319.
• Louisiana Tech University: Generated revenues of $25,976,375 with expenses close at $25,579,294.
• Kennesaw State University: Collected $25,178,544 in revenue with lower expenses of $20,022,946.
• Sam Houston State University: Revenue stood at $20,600,321, while expenses were $19,861,089.
• Jacksonville State University: Saw matched figures of $18,344,447 for both revenue and expenses.

In summary, these figures illustrate the financial balance many of these institutions maintain between their athletic revenues and expenses.

Comparing Basketball Arenas and Baseball Parks: CUSA Schools Overview

The contrasting capacities of basketball arenas and baseball parks among Conference USA (CUSA) schools reflect their varied emphasis on these sports.

Basketball Arena Capacities

• New Mexico State stands out with the largest basketball venue, the Pan American Center, accommodating 12,482 spectators.
• Middle Tennessee follows closely, boasting a capacity of 11,802 at the Murphy Center.
• Missouri State has a capacity of 11,000 at the Great Southern Bank Arena.
• Other notable capacities include:
  • Louisiana Tech’s Thomas Assembly Center with 8,098 seats
  • Western Kentucky’s E. A. Diddle Arena holding 7,326 fans
  • Sam Houston allows for 6,110 in the Bernard Johnson Coliseum
• Several schools, such as FIU and Delaware, maintain more intimate settings, hosting around 5,000 each.

Baseball Park Capacities

• Baseball parks typically host fewer spectators than basketball arenas.
• Missouri State showcases Hammons Field, which can accommodate up to 7,986 fans, the highest among their peers.
• Middle Tennessee follows with a 2,600-seat capacity at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
• Schools like Liberty and Louisiana Tech offer similar capacities, with around 2,500 and 2,000 seats, respectively.
• On the smaller side, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston have capacities closer to 1,000.
• Notably, UTEP does not have a facility for baseball, distinguishing it from its peers.

Observations

While basketball arenas generally offer more seating, reflecting perhaps a wider audience interest, baseball parks provide more intimate settings. Missouri State stands out in both categories for its large facilities. Meanwhile, schools like UTEP demonstrate a more focused investment in sports other than baseball.

National Championships of Current and Future CUSA Teams

Here is a comprehensive look at the national championships won by current and upcoming Conference USA (CUSA) teams during their time outside the conference:

Delaware

• Equestrian: 1 title in 1997
• Figure Skating: 6 titles across 2002, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016
• Field Hockey: 1 title in 2016
• Football: Various titles in different divisions:
  • Division I FCS: 1 title in 2003
  • Division II: 1 title in 1979
  • College Division: 4 titles in 1946, 1963, 1971, and 1972
• Women’s Lacrosse:
  • 1 title in 1983
  • AIAW Division II: 2 titles in 1981 and 1982

FIU

• Men’s Soccer (Division II): 2 titles in 1982 and 1984

Jacksonville State

• Baseball (Division II): 2 titles in 1990 and 1991
• Men’s Basketball (Division II): 1 title in 1985
• Football (Division II): 1 title in 1992
• Women’s Gymnastics (Division II): 2 titles in 1984 and 1985

Kennesaw State

• Baseball (Division II): 1 title in 1996
• Men’s Basketball (Division II): 1 title in 2004
• Women’s Soccer (Division II): 1 title in 2003
• Softball (Division II): 2 titles in 1995 and 1996

Louisiana Tech

• Football (Division II): 2 titles in 1972 and 1973
• Women’s Basketball:
  • AIAW: 1 title in 1981
  • NCAA: 2 titles in 1982 and 1988

Missouri State

• Field Hockey (AIAW Division II): 1 title in 1979
• Men’s Golf (Division II): 1 title in 1983
• Softball (AIAW): 1 title in 1974

Sam Houston

• Bowling: 1 title in 2014
• Football (Division I FCS): 1 title in 2020

Stephen F. Austin (Associate Member)

• Bowling: 2 titles in 2016 and 2019

UTEP

• Men’s Basketball: 1 title in 1966
• Men’s Outdoor Track and Field: 6 titles (1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982)
• Men’s Indoor Track and Field: 7 titles (1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982)
• Men’s Cross Country: 7 titles (1969, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981)

Vanderbilt (Associate Member)

• Bowling: 3 titles in 2007, 2018, and 2023

Western Kentucky

• Football (Division I FCS): 1 title in 2002

Total Championship Wins

Overall, these teams collectively boast 84 national championships across a variety of sports and divisions.

Among the current members of the CUSA
conference, Jacksonville State
stands out as the only school to secure a national team championship while part of the conference. They achieved this feat by winning the 2024 national bowling championship. Impressively, this victory came during their inaugural season of both varsity bowling and membership in CUSA.