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Big South Conference
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 | |
| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1983 |
| Commissioner | Sherika A. Montgomery (since 2023) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division I |
| Subdivision | FCS |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Region | South Atlantic States |
| Broadcaster | ESPN |
| Official website | bigsouthsports |
| Locations | |
 | |
The Big South Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. Originally a non-football conference, the Big South began sponsoring football in 2002 as part of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and began operating the OVC–Big South Football Association in partnership with the Ohio Valley Conference in 2023. The Big South, founded in 1983, is firmly rooted in the South Atlantic region of the United States, with full member institutions located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Associate members are located in Georgia and South Carolina.[1]
History
[edit]
Charter members included Armstrong State (later Armstrong Atlantic State University and now merged into Georgia Southern University as its Armstrong Campus) (1983–1987), Augusta (later Augusta State University and now merged into Augusta University) (1983–1990), Campbell University (1983–1994; 2011–2023), Baptist College (now Charleston Southern University) (1983–present), Coastal Carolina University (1983–2016), Radford University (1983–present) and Winthrop University (1983–present).
The expansion of membership occurred during the 1980s and 1990s. Some of those members are the University of North Carolina at Asheville (1984–present), Davidson College (1990–1992), Liberty University (1991–2018), the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (1992–1998), the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1992–1997), Towson University (1992–1995), Elon University (1999–2003), High Point University (1999–present) and Birmingham–Southern College (2000–2006).
The Big South Conference began sponsoring football in 2002, with Charleston Southern, Elon (at the time) and Liberty (Gardner–Webb University also joined as a football-only member) fielding teams; Coastal Carolina and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) joined the conference as football-only members in 2003. In that same athletic year, VMI also joined the conference for all sports, but left to re-join the Southern Conference in 2014. Presbyterian College joined the conference in 2007, moving up from Division II, and became eligible for regular-season championships and conference honors during the 2008–09 athletic year.[2] Gardner–Webb, which had been a football-only member since 2002, joined the conference for all sports on July 1, 2008.[2] Campbell rejoined the Big South for all sports except football in the 2011–12 athletic year. Longwood University accepted an invitation to join the Big South on January 23, 2012, and membership formally began July 1 of that year; Longwood had been independent since 2004, during their transition to Division I.[3] In 2014, following the departure of VMI, the conference returned to a single-division structure.[4] On September 1, 2015, Coastal Carolina announced they would leave the conference following the 2015–16 school year to transition to FBS-level football and the Sun Belt Conference.[5] On June 30, 2016, the day before the school joined the Sun Belt, Coastal Carolina won the 2016 College World Series in baseball. This was the first time in conference history that a team won an NCAA championship in any sport.
In September 2016, the Big South and the ASUN Conference (ASUN) announced a football partnership that effectively combined the two conferences in that sport. Under its terms, any members of either conference that add or upgrade to scholarship football, provided they fall within the current geographic footprint of the two leagues, automatically join Big South football. At the time of announcement, the only ASUN member that played scholarship football, Kennesaw State, was already a Big South football member. The partnership also provides a guaranteed football home to the leagues' non-scholarship football programs (at that time, Campbell from the Big South, and Jacksonville and Stetson from the ASUN) should they upgrade to scholarship status.[6]
In November 2016, Campbell announced that it would begin offering scholarships and move its football program from the Pioneer Football League to the Big South in 2018.[7]
In December 2016, the University of North Alabama, ASUN, and the Big South Conference announced that, effective in 2018, the school will leave the Division II Gulf South Conference and will join ASUN in non-football sports and the Big South in football. UNA has won three Division II NCAA national championships in football and has won at least a share of the Gulf South Conference football championship for four consecutive seasons through 2016.
Three months later, Liberty announced that it would begin a transition to FBS football in July 2017 and leave the Big South football league in 2018.[8] Liberty and the Big South agreed later in 2017 that the school would continue to house all of its non-football sports (except for field hockey and women's swimming, neither of which is sponsored by the Big South) in that conference for the immediate future. Once Liberty became a full FBS member at the start of the 2019–20 school year, it would have technically become a Big South associate member (barring the school joining an FBS conference).[9] However, Liberty's plans would change several months later, as it instead announced in May 2018 that it would move its non-football sports to the ASUN effective that July (except for the aforementioned field hockey and women's swimming, also not sponsored by the ASUN).[10]
In November 2017, the University of South Carolina Upstate and Hampton University announced that they would be leaving the ASUN and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, respectively, to join the Big South, starting in the fall of 2018.[11][12]
On November 19, 2017, Presbyterian College announced it would be moving its football program to the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League.[13] Presbyterian's last Big South football season was in 2019; the Blue Hose planned to play the 2020 season as an independent before joining the Pioneer League for 2021 and beyond.[14] The Blue Hose remain a member of the Big South in all other sports.[15]
A more recent change to its core membership was the July 2021 arrival of North Carolina A&T State University from the MEAC as a full member, including football.[16] At the same time, Robert Morris University was planned to join as a football-only member.[17] North Carolina A&T joined on the originally planned schedule, but Robert Morris became a Big South football member in November 2020. COVID-19 led the conference to move its 2020 football season to spring 2021. Since two of the eight Big South football members (apart from RMU) chose to play in the originally scheduled fall 2020 season and a third chose not to play football at all in 2020–21, the Big South chose to bring the Colonials into the football league for spring 2021.[18]
More recently, the Big South added three new single-sport members in women's lacrosse effective with the 2022 season (2021–22 school year): Furman University, Mercer University, and Wofford College. All three are full members of the Southern Conference (SoCon), which disbanded its women's lacrosse league after the 2021 season.[19]
On January 25, 2022, the Colonial Athletic Association (now the Coastal Athletic Association) announced that Hampton University would join that conference, as well as CAA Football, its technically separate football league, on July 1, 2022.[20] On February 22, that conference announced that North Carolina A&T State University would be leaving the Big South, joining the all-sports CAA on July 1. North Carolina A&T would play Big South football in 2022 and join CAA Football on July 1, 2023.[21]
Also on February 22, the conference announced its intent to combine its football membership with the Ohio Valley Conference beginning in 2023 and operate as the OVC–Big South Football Association.[22] The following month saw Bryant University announced as a new football-only member effective with the 2022 season.[23] Campbell announced on August 3 that it would join both sides of the CAA in 2023 as well.[24] This was followed by Bryant announcing that it would join CAA Football in 2024.[25] On November 28, it was announced that Robert Morris would also leave the association and return football to its previous home, the Northeast Conference effective after the 2023 football season.
Member schools
[edit]Current full members
[edit]- Notes
- ^ Presbyterian's football team competes in the Pioneer Football League, a Division I FCS football-only conference whose members choose not to offer athletic scholarships for football.
Current associate members
[edit]| Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors | Big South sport |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryant University | Smithfield, Rhode Island | 1863 | 2025 | Private | 3,751 | Bulldogs | Men's tennis | America East (AmEast) | |
| Furman University | Greenville, South Carolina | 1826 | 2021 | Private (Nonsectarian) |
2,629 | Paladins | Women's lacrosse | SoCon | |
| Mercer University | Macon, Georgia | 1833 | 2021 | Private (Nonsectarian) |
9,026 | Bears | |||
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark, New Jersey | 1881 | 2025 | Public | 12,332 | Highlanders | Men's tennis | America East (AmEast) | |
| Women's tennis | |||||||||
| Wofford College | Spartanburg, South Carolina | 1854 | 2021 | Private (United Methodist) |
1,773 | Terriers | Women's lacrosse | SoCon |
- Notes
Former full members
[edit]- Notes
- ^ Armstrong State, which was last a member of the NCAA Division II Peach Belt Conference, dropped intercollegiate athletics at the end of the 2016–17 school year due to its impending consolidation with Georgia Southern University.
- ^ Formerly known as Augusta State University until January 2013, when it merged with another Augusta institution (Georgia Health Sciences University) to create Georgia Regents University. At the time of the merger, only GRU (as Augusta State) had an athletic program, and GRU's sports teams continued to compete as "Augusta State" through the end of the 2012–13 school year. The school changed its name again to the current Augusta University in 2015.
- ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
- ^ Campbell was a founding member of the Big South in 1983. The Fighting Camels left the Big South after the 1993–94 school year to join the Trans Atlantic Athletic Conference (TAAC; later the Atlantic Sun Conference, now the ASUN Conference); before rejoining effective the 2011–12 school year for all sports, except for their football program, which remained in the Pioneer Football League until joining Big South football in the 2018 fall season (2018–19 school year). Campbell then left the Big South again in 2023 to the Colonial Athletic Association as its primary athletic conference.[26]
- ^ Liberty was ineligible for the Big South football title in its final conference season of 2017 (2017–18 school year), as it had started a transition to FBS football in that season.
- ^ The North Carolina–Greensboro (UNC Greensboro) men's basketball and baseball teams joined the Big South a year after becoming a full member for other sports (1993–94).
Former associate members
[edit]- Notes
Membership timeline
[edit]
- Augusta State was merged into Georgia Regents University in January 2013; the merged school renamed itself Augusta University in 2015.
Full members Full members (non-football) Assoc. members (football only) Other Conference Other Conference
Sports
[edit]| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | 9 | – |
| Basketball | 9 | 9 |
| Cross Country | 9 | 9 |
| Football | 2 | – |
| Golf | 8 | 9 |
| Lacrosse | – | 9 |
| Soccer | 8 | 9 |
| Softball | – | 7 |
| Tennis | 6 | 6 |
| Track and Field (Indoor) | 6 | 7 |
| Track and Field (Outdoor) | 7 | 8 |
| Volleyball | – | 8 |
Men's sponsored sports by school
[edit]| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross country | Football | Golf | Soccer | Tennis | Track and field (indoor) |
Track and field (outdoor) |
Total Big South sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Southern | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| Gardner–Webb | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| High Point | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| Longwood | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 7 |
| Presbyterian | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[d] | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 6 |
| Radford | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| UNC Asheville | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| USC Upstate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| Winthrop | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| Totals | 9 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 4+2 | 7 | 8 | 64+2 |
| Affiliate members | ||||||||||
| Bryant | Yes | 1 | ||||||||
| NJIT | Yes | 1 | ||||||||
- Notes
- ^ a b c d CAA Football is technically a separate entity from the all-sports CAA.
- ^ Robert Morris was originally intended to join Big South football in the 2021 football season (part of the 2021–22 academic year). With the 2020 Big South football season moved to spring 2021, RMU was brought into the football league early.
- ^ Measured from North Carolina A&T's departure as a full Big South member.
- ^ Presbyterian football left the Big South after the 2019 season. It played as an FCS independent in the 2020–21 school year and is now in the Pioneer Football League.
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Big South Conference which are played by Big South schools:
| School | Lacrosse | Swimming | Wrestling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner–Webb | No | ASUN | SoCon |
| High Point | A-10 | No | No |
| Presbyterian | No | No | SoCon |
- Notes
In addition to the above, Campbell counts both its male and female cheerleaders as varsity athletes.
Women's sponsored sports by school
[edit]| School | Basketball | Cross country | Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Tennis | Track and field (indoor) |
Track and field (outdoor) |
Volleyball | Total Big South sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Southern | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| Gardner–Webb | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| High Point | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Longwood | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | 8 |
| Presbyterian | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | 8 |
| Radford | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| UNC Asheville | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| USC Upstate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Winthrop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| Totals | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6+3 | 9 | 7 | 5+1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 78+4 |
| Affiliate members | |||||||||||
| Furman | Yes | 1 | |||||||||
| Mercer | Yes | 1 | |||||||||
| NJIT | Yes | 1 | |||||||||
| Wofford | Yes | 1 | |||||||||
- Notes
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Big South Conference which are played by Big South schools:
| School | Acrobatics & Tumbling[a] |
Field Hockey | Rowing | Swimming | Wrestling[b] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner–Webb | No | No | No | ASUN | No |
| High Point | No | No | MAC | No | No |
| Longwood | No | MAC | No | No | No |
| Presbyterian | Independent | No | No | No | Independent |
| UNC Asheville | No | No | No | ASUN | No |
- Notes
- ^ Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program; national championship competition is governed by the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association.
- ^ Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports program; national championship competition is governed by the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association.
In addition to the above, Campbell, Gardner–Webb, and Presbyterian consider their female cheerleaders to be varsity athletes, with Campbell also considering its male cheerleaders as such.
Football – players drafted by the NFL
[edit]Football players from the Big South have been drafted to play professionally in the National Football League.
| Name | Position | School | Draft year | Draft pick | NFL team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Thigpen | QB | Coastal Carolina | 2007 | Round 7, Pick 217 | Vikings |
| Jerome Simpson | WR | Coastal Carolina | 2008 | Round 2, Pick 46 | Bengals |
| Brian Johnston | DE | Gardner–Webb | 2008 | Round 7, Pick 210 | Chiefs |
| Rashad Jennings | RB | Liberty | 2009 | Round 7, Pick 250 | Jaguars |
| Josh Norman | CB | Coastal Carolina | 2012 | Round 5, Pick 143 | Panthers |
| Justin Bethel | S | Presbyterian | 2012 | Round 6, Pick 177 | Cardinals |
| Walt Aikens | CB | Liberty | 2014 | Round 4, Pick 125 | Dolphins |
| NFL Draftees from the Big South Conference | |||||
Conference champions
[edit]Men's basketball
[edit]| Season | Regular season champion | Tournament champion | Tournament final location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Charleston Southern (5–1) | Charleston Southern | Savannah Civic Center, Savannah, GA |
| 1987 | Charleston Southern (12–2) | Charleston Southern | Savannah Civic Center |
| 1988 | Coastal Carolina (9–3) | Winthrop | Winthrop Coliseum, Rock Hill, SC |
| 1989 | Coastal Carolina (9–3) | UNC Asheville | Winthrop Coliseum |
| 1990 | Coastal Carolina (11–1) | Coastal Carolina | Winthrop Coliseum |
| 1991 | Coastal Carolina (13–1) | Coastal Carolina | Civic Center of Anderson, Anderson, SC |
| 1992 | Radford (12–2) | Campbell | Civic Center of Anderson |
| 1993 | Towson State (14–2) | Coastal Carolina | North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, SC |
| 1994 | Towson State (15–3) | Liberty | North Charleston Coliseum |
| 1995 | UNC Greensboro (14–2) | Charleston Southern | Vines Center, Lynchburg, VA |
| 1996 | UNC Greensboro (11–3) | UNC Greensboro | Vines Center |
| 1997 | UNC Asheville (11–3) | Charleston Southern | Vines Center |
| 1998 | UNC Asheville (11–1) | Radford | Vines Center |
| 1999 | Winthrop (9–1) | Winthrop | Asheville Civic Center, Asheville, NC |
| 2000 | Radford (12–2) | Winthrop | Asheville Civic Center |
| 2001 | Radford (12–2) | Winthrop | Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, VA |
| 2002 | Winthrop, UNC Asheville (10–4) | Winthrop | Roanoke Civic Center |
| 2003 | Winthrop (11–3) | UNC Asheville | Vines Center (semis & finals only) |
| 2004 | Liberty (12–4) | Liberty | Vines Center (finals only) |
| 2005 | Winthrop (15–1) | Winthrop | Winthrop Coliseum (finals only) |
| 2006 | Winthrop (13–3) | Winthrop | Winthrop Coliseum (semis & finals only) |
| 2007 | Winthrop (14–0) | Winthrop | Winthrop Coliseum (semis & finals only) |
| 2008 | UNC Asheville, Winthrop (10–4) | Winthrop | Justice Center, Asheville, NC (semis & finals only) |
| 2009 | Radford (15–3) | Radford | Dedmon Center, Radford, VA (finals only) |
| 2010 | Coastal Carolina (15–3) | Winthrop | Kimbel Arena, Conway, SC (semis & finals only) |
| 2011 | Coastal Carolina (16–2) | UNC Asheville | Kimbel Arena (semis & finals only) |
| 2012 | UNC Asheville (16–2) | UNC Asheville | Kimmel Arena, Asheville, NC (quarters, semis & final) |
| 2013 | Charleston Southern, High Point (12–4) | Liberty | HTC Center, Conway, SC |
| 2014 | High Point (12–4) | Coastal Carolina | HTC Center, Conway, SC |
| 2015 | Charleston Southern, High Point (13–5) | Coastal Carolina | HTC Center, Conway, SC |
| 2016 | High Point, Winthrop (13–5) | UNC Asheville | Gore Arena, Buies Creek, NC |
| 2017 | Winthrop, UNC Asheville (15–3) | Winthrop | Winthrop Coliseum, Rock Hill, SC (quarters, semis, & finals) |
| 2018 | UNC Asheville (13–5) | Radford | Dedmon Center, Radford, VA |
| 2019 | Campbell, Radford (12–4) | Gardner–Webb | Dedmon Center, Radford, VA |
| 2020 | Radford, Winthrop (15–3) | Winthrop | Winthrop Coliseum, Rock Hill, SC |
| 2021 | Winthrop (17–1) | Winthrop | Winthrop Coliseum, Rock Hill, SC |
| 2022 | Longwood (15–1) | Longwood | Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, NC |
| 2023 | UNC Asheville (16–2) | UNC Asheville | Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, NC |
| 2024 | High Point (13–3) | Longwood | Qubein Center, High Point, NC |
| 2025 | High Point (14–2) | High Point | Freedom Hall Civic Center, Johnson City, TN |
Basketball tournament championships by school
[edit]| School | # of tournament championships | Last tournament championship |
|---|---|---|
| Winthrop | 13 | 2021 |
| UNC Asheville | 6 | 2023 |
| Coastal Carolina† | 5 | 2015 |
| Charleston Southern | 4 | 1997 |
| Liberty† | 3 | 2013 |
| Radford | 3 | 2018 |
| Longwood | 2 | 2024 |
| Campbell† | 1 | 1992 |
| Gardner–Webb | 1 | 2019 |
| High Point | 1 | 2025 |
| UNC Greensboro† | 1 | 1996 |
† – Former member of the Big South
Football
[edit]| Season | Champion | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Gardner–Webb | 3–0 |
| 2003 | Gardner–Webb | 4–0 |
| 2004 | Coastal Carolina | 4–0 (10–1) |
| 2005 | Charleston Southern | 3–1 (7–4) |
| Coastal Carolina | 3–1 (9–2) | |
| 2006 | Coastal Carolina | 4–0 (9–3) |
| 2007 | Liberty | 4–0 (8–3) |
| 2008 | Liberty | 5–0 (10–2) |
| 2009 | Stony Brook | 5–1 (6–5) |
| Liberty | 5–1 (8–3) | |
| 2010 | Coastal Carolina[a] | 5–1 (6–5) |
| Stony Brook | 5–1 (6–5) | |
| Liberty | 5–1 (8–3) | |
| 2011 | Stony Brook | 6–0 (8–3) |
| 2012 | Coastal Carolina[a] | 5–1 (7–4) |
| Stony Brook | 5–1 (9–2) | |
| Liberty | 5–1 (6–5) | |
| 2013 | Coastal Carolina | 4–1 (10–2) |
| Liberty | 4–1 (8–4) | |
| 2014 | Liberty[a] | 4–1 (8–4) |
| Coastal Carolina | 4–1 (11–1) | |
| 2015 | Charleston Southern | 6–0 (9–2) |
| 2016 | Charleston Southern[a] | 4–1 (7–4) |
| Liberty | 4–1 (6–5) | |
| 2017 | Kennesaw State | 5–0 (12–2) |
| 2018 | Kennesaw State | 5–0 (11–2) |
| 2019 | Monmouth | 6–0 (11–3) |
| 2020 | Monmouth | 3–0 (3–1) |
| 2021 | Kennesaw State | 7–0 (11–2) |
| 2022 | Gardner–Webb | 5–0 (7–6) |
| 2023 | Gardner–Webb | 5–1 (7–4) |
- ^ a b c d Won the Big South Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs.
Women's basketball
[edit]| Season | Regular-season champion | Tournament champion | Tournament runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–87 | Radford | Radford | Campbell |
| 1987–88 | Radford & Campbell | Radford | Campbell |
| 1988–89 | Radford | Campbell | Radford |
| 1989–90 | Radford | Radford | Campbell |
| 1990–91 | Campbell | Radford | Campbell |
| 1991–92 | Radford | Radford | Campbell |
| 1992–93 | UNC Greensboro | Radford | UNC Greensboro |
| 1993–94 | UNC Greensboro | Radford | UNC Greensboro |
| 1994–95 | UNC Greensboro | Radford | UNC Greensboro |
| 1995–96 | UNC Greensboro | Radford | Winthrop |
| 1996–97 | UNC Greensboro | Liberty | UNC Greensboro |
| 1997–98 | Liberty | Liberty | UNC Asheville |
| 1998–99 | Liberty | Liberty | Coastal Carolina |
| 1999–2000 | Liberty | Liberty | Coastal Carolina |
| 2000–01 | Liberty | Liberty | Elon |
| 2001–02 | Liberty | Liberty | Coastal Carolina |
| 2002–03 | Liberty | Liberty | High Point |
| 2003–04 | Liberty | Liberty | Birmingham–Southern |
| 2004–05 | Liberty | Liberty | UNC Asheville |
| 2005–06 | Liberty | Liberty | High Point |
| 2006–07 | High Point | UNC Asheville | Radford |
| 2007–08 | Liberty | Liberty | Radford |
| 2008–09 | Liberty | Liberty | Gardner–Webb |
| 2009–10 | Gardner–Webb | Liberty | Gardner–Webb |
| 2010–11 | Liberty | Gardner–Webb | Liberty |
| 2011–12 | Liberty | Liberty | High Point |
| 2012–13 | Liberty | Liberty | Longwood |
| 2013–14 | High Point | Winthrop | High Point |
| 2014–15 | Liberty | Liberty | High Point |
| 2015–16 | UNC Asheville | UNC Asheville | Liberty |
| 2016–17 | Radford | UNC Asheville | Radford |
| 2017–18 | Liberty | Liberty | UNC Asheville |
| 2018–19 | Radford | Radford | Campbell |
| 2020–21 | High Point | High Point | Campbell |
| 2021–22 | Campbell | Longwood | Campbell |
| 2022–23 | Gardner–Webb | Gardner–Webb | High Point |
| 2023–24 | High Point | Presbyterian | Radford |
| 2024–25 | High Point | High Point | Longwood |
Men's soccer
[edit]Broadcasters (Big South Network)
[edit]In addition to basketball games being broadcast on regional and national television, member schools of the Big South Conference are required to provide a live stream of all home games for all sports when playing teams both within and outside the conference. These streams are run by the university hosting the event. All streams are featured on the conference website and are available for free. The football games broadcast on the web are branded as part of a Big South Network.
National champions
[edit]| School | Sport | Coach | Year | Opponent | Opponent's conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Carolina | Baseball | Gary Gilmore | 2016 | Arizona | Pac-12 |
Facilities
[edit]- Notes
- ^ Charleston Southern uses the CSU Field House for all conference basketball games. Home games against local rivals or major-conference teams are played at the North Charleston Coliseum when available.
References
[edit]- ^ "Big South Conference History". Big South Sports. August 1, 2007.
- ^ a b "Gardner–Webb Officially Joins Big South". Big South Sports. July 1, 2008. Archived from the original on December 8, 2014.
- ^ "Big South Conference Adds Longwood University As Full Member". Big South Sports. January 23, 2012. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
- ^ Stretlow, Bret (October 28, 2014). "Title race in balanced Big South again tough to predict". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- ^ "Statement from Big South Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander on Coastal Carolina" (Press release). Big South Conference. September 1, 2015. Archived from the original on September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ "Big South and ASUN Conference Establish FCS Membership Partnership" (Press release). ASUN Conference. September 13, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
- ^ "Fighting Camels football to join Big South in 2018" (Press release). Campbell University. November 14, 2016. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ "NCAA Approves Liberty's Waiver Request for FBS Reclassification Process" (Press release). Liberty University Athletics. February 16, 2017. Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- ^ "Big South Conference Announces Decision on Liberty's Membership Status" (Press release). Liberty University Athletics. September 22, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- ^ "ASUN Conference Announces Liberty University as League Member for 2018-19" (Press release). ASUN Conference. May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- ^ Shanesy, Todd (November 15, 2017). "USC Upstate moving to Big South Conference". GoUpstate.com. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ Johnson, Dave (November 16, 2017). "Hampton to leave MEAC for Big South". Daily Press. Newport News, VA. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Presbyterian to join Pioneer Football League in 2021". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ "Presbyterian College to join Pioneer Football League in 2021" (Press release). Pioneer Football League. November 20, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "Presbyterian to join Pioneer Football League in 2021". FOX Sports. November 20, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ "North Carolina A&T to join Big South in 2021". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ "Big South Conference Adds Robert Morris University as Football Member" (Press release). Big South Conference. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ "Big South Announces Football 2021 Spring Schedule" (Press release). Big South Conference. November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ "Big South Adds Three Associate Members in Women's Lacrosse" (Press release). Big South Conference. June 7, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ ""CAA Welcomes Hampton University, Monmouth University and Stony Brook University as New Members"". Colonial Athletic Association. January 25, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
- ^ "CAA Welcomes North Carolina A&T as Newest Member of the Conference". Colonial Athletic Association. February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
- ^ "Big South Conference and OVC Announce Football Agreement" OVCSports.com. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
- ^ "Big South Adds Bryant University as Associate Football Member" (Press release). Big South Conference. March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- ^ "Campbell University Accepts Invitation To Join The CAA In 2023" (Press release). Colonial Athletic Association. August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "CAA Football Welcomes Bryant University As Its Newest Member In 2024" (Press release). CAA Football. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "Campbell University to join Colonial Athletic Association in 2023". Campbell University Fighting Camels. August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "Big South Adds Bryant University as Associate Football Member". BigSouthSports.com. March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
External links
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Big South Conference
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History
Formation and early years
The Big South Conference traces its origins to April 24, 1983, when discussions for forming a new athletic league began between Charleston Southern University (then known as Baptist College) athletic director Howard Bagwell and Augusta College president George Christenberry.[6][7] These efforts culminated in the conference's official formation on August 21, 1983, with five initial member institutions: Augusta College, Charleston Southern University, Campbell University, Coastal Carolina University, and Winthrop College.[6][9] The league was established to provide competitive opportunities for smaller institutions in the southeastern United States, emphasizing shared academic values and geographic proximity among its members.[6] In September 1983, Dr. Edward M. Singleton, former chancellor of Coastal Carolina University, was appointed as the conference's first commissioner.[6][9] Under Singleton's leadership, the Big South expanded by adding Armstrong State College, Radford University, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville, bringing the total membership to eight institutions.[6] The conference launched its inaugural season of competition in the fall of 1984, initially operating as a Division I non-football conference with sponsorship of sports including men's and women's basketball, baseball, and volleyball.[6][9] A key milestone came in September 1986, when the NCAA granted the Big South full Division I membership status, allowing its teams to compete in postseason tournaments.[6] During Singleton's tenure, which lasted until 1988, the conference achieved early successes, including at-large invitations to NCAA Championships in women's volleyball (1985), women's basketball (1986), and women's golf (1987).[6] These accomplishments highlighted the league's growing competitiveness despite its nascent status.[6] George F. "Buddy" Sasser succeeded Singleton as commissioner in 1989, marking a period of institutional development in the early 1990s.[6][10] Under Sasser, the Big South secured its first automatic qualification to an NCAA Championship in 1990, when Coastal Carolina represented the conference in the baseball tournament.[6] This era also saw the introduction of compliance programs, public relations initiatives, and the league's first men's basketball television package, laying foundational elements for future growth.[6] By the mid-1990s, the conference had stabilized as a recognized Division I entity, with member institutions consistently competing at regional and national levels.[6]Expansion and realignments
The Big South Conference was established on August 21, 1983, initially with five charter members: Augusta College, Baptist College (now Charleston Southern University), Campbell University, Coastal Carolina University, and Winthrop University. Later that year, Armstrong State College, Radford University, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville joined, expanding the league to eight institutions before its first season of competition in fall 1984.[6] Early adjustments included the departure of Augusta College after the 1990–91 academic year, when it transitioned most sports to Division II athletics while golf remained Division I independent until 2005, and Armstrong State College after the 1985–86 academic year, which shifted focus to Division II athletics; these changes reduced membership to six full members by the late 1980s.[11][12] The conference achieved full NCAA Division I recognition in September 1986 and began steady expansion in the 1990s to bolster its footprint in the Southeast. Liberty University joined as a full member in 1991, followed by High Point University in 1999, which added competitive depth in non-football sports.[13] Campbell University, an original charter member, departed after the 1993–94 season but rejoined as a full member in 2011, reflecting the league's emphasis on regional stability.[14] The 2000s marked significant growth, particularly with the introduction of football sponsorship in 2002 at the FCS level, initially featuring Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, and Liberty. Gardner-Webb University joined as a football associate in 2002 and became a full member in 2008, Presbyterian College transitioned from Division II and joined fully in 2007, and Longwood University entered in 2012 after provisional Division I status.[15][16][17][18] These additions helped maintain double-digit full membership for over a decade, peaking at 11 institutions by the mid-2010s.[6] Realignments accelerated in the late 2010s amid broader NCAA shifts, with Coastal Carolina departing for the FBS Sun Belt Conference—football in 2016 and other sports in 2017—to pursue higher visibility and resources.[19] To offset football losses, the Big South established a partnership with the ASUN Conference in 2016, allowing ASUN members like Kennesaw State (which joined the Big South for football in 2015) and North Alabama to compete in the Big South's FCS football structure while remaining in the ASUN for other sports.[20][21] Hampton University joined as a full member in 2018, bringing HBCU representation and strengthening the league's Mid-Atlantic presence.[22] That same year, the University of South Carolina Upstate transitioned from the ASUN to become a full Big South member, effective July 1, 2018.[23] Liberty, meanwhile, ended full membership in 2018 as part of its FBS transition, with non-football sports moving to the ASUN and football operating independently.[24] The 2020s brought further flux, influenced by national realignment waves and the need for football viability. Under Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander (1997–2012) and successor Tim Craft (2013–2022), the conference navigated these changes, with Commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery (since 2023) leading recent initiatives. Bryant University joined as a football associate in 2022 after leaving the Northeast Conference.[25] Hampton departed for the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in 2022, seeking a return to HBCU-centric competition.[26] To stabilize football amid departures, the Big South partnered with the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 2022, forming the Big South–OVC Football Association effective 2023; this alliance combined schedules for NCAA playoff access and was extended through 2030 in June 2024, with an option for further renewal.[27][28] Campbell left for the CAA in 2023, reducing core membership.[3] Kennesaw State transitioned to FBS Conference USA in 2024, exiting after winning multiple Big South football titles.[29] Bryant's football program followed suit, joining the CAA in 2024 while its other sports aligned with the America East Conference starting in 2022.[30] These moves left the Big South with nine full members by 2025, prompting ongoing strategic efforts to recruit associates and maintain competitive balance in a dynamic FCS landscape.[7]Membership
Current full members
The Big South Conference, an NCAA Division I athletic conference, currently comprises nine full member institutions, primarily situated in the southeastern United States across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. These universities participate in a wide array of sponsored sports, including basketball, baseball, soccer, and others, fostering regional competition and development for student-athletes. The conference emphasizes academic integrity alongside athletic excellence among its members.[31] The following table lists the current full members, including their primary campus locations:| Institution | Location | State |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston Southern University | North Charleston | SC |
| Gardner–Webb University | Boiling Springs | NC |
| High Point University | High Point | NC |
| Longwood University | Farmville | VA |
| Presbyterian College | Clinton | SC |
| Radford University | Radford | VA |
| University of North Carolina at Asheville | Asheville | NC |
| University of South Carolina Upstate | Spartanburg | SC |
| Winthrop University | Rock Hill | SC |
Current associate members
The Big South Conference maintains several associate members that compete in specific sports without full membership status. These affiliations allow the conference to sustain competitive balance and viable championship opportunities in select disciplines, particularly where full member participation is limited. As of the 2025-26 academic year, associate memberships are concentrated in football through a partnership with the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), women's lacrosse, and tennis.[33][2] In football, the Big South-OVC Football Association operates as a collaborative league, enabling OVC institutions to affiliate as associates for Big South postseason championships while the two full Big South football programs—Charleston Southern University and Gardner-Webb University—participate alongside them. This arrangement, established in 2023 and extended through 2030 (with a look-in clause after 2026 for further extension), includes seven OVC associate members.[34][28][4][35] For women's lacrosse, the conference added three associate members from the Southern Conference in 2021, effective for the 2022 season, to bolster league depth. These schools—Furman University, Mercer University, and Wofford College—compete alongside six full members, contributing to regular-season and postseason play.[36][37][38][39] In tennis, the Big South expanded its offerings in 2025 by adding two associates: Bryant University for men's tennis and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) for both men's and women's tennis. These additions increase the women's tennis league to six teams and the men's to eight, enhancing regional competition starting in the 2025-26 season.[2]| Institution | Location | Primary Conference | Sport(s) | Joining Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL | Ohio Valley Conference | Football | 2023 |
| Furman University | Greenville, SC | Southern Conference | Women's Lacrosse | 2022 |
| Lindenwood University | St. Charles, MO | Ohio Valley Conference | Football | 2023 |
| Mercer University | Macon, GA | Southern Conference | Women's Lacrosse | 2022 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau, MO | Ohio Valley Conference | Football | 2023 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, TN | Ohio Valley Conference | Football | 2023 |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville, TN | Ohio Valley Conference | Football | 2023 |
| University of Tennessee at Martin | Martin, TN | Ohio Valley Conference | Football | 2023 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb, IL | Ohio Valley Conference | Football | 2023 |
| Wofford College | Spartanburg, SC | Southern Conference | Women's Lacrosse | 2022 |
| Bryant University | Smithfield, RI | America East Conference | Men's Tennis | 2025 |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark, NJ | America East Conference | Men's and Women's Tennis | 2025 |
Former members
The Big South Conference has experienced several membership changes since its founding in 1983, with various institutions departing for other conferences, transitions to different NCAA divisions, or other affiliations. These departures have often been driven by factors such as geographic alignment, competitive opportunities, and institutional priorities. Below is a list of former full members, including their tenure and primary reasons for leaving, based on official announcements and conference records.| Institution | Location | Joined | Left | Notes and Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong State University | Savannah, GA | 1983 | 1987 | Charter member; returned to NCAA Division II as an independent after struggling to maintain Division I status.[40] |
| Augusta University (formerly Augusta State University) | Augusta, GA | 1983 | 1991 | Charter member; dropped most sports to NCAA Division II (Peach Belt Conference), retaining golf in Division I until 2006.[41] |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek, NC | 1983 | 1994 (rejoined 2011; left again 2023) | Charter member; first departure to become an NCAA Division I independent before joining the Trans-Atlantic Athletic Conference; rejoined in 2011 and departed again for the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in 2023 to enhance competitive and media opportunities.[42][40] |
| Coastal Carolina University | Conway, SC | 1983 | 2016 | Charter member; moved to the Sun Belt Conference for broader regional alignment and FBS football transition.[19] |
| Davidson College | Davidson, NC | 1990 | 1992 | Brief membership during early expansion; returned to the Southern Conference for stronger basketball competition.[43] |
| Elon University | Elon, NC | 1999 | 2003 | Joined during Division I transition; departed for the Southern Conference.[44] |
| Hampton University | Hampton, VA | 2018 | 2022 | Full membership added for expansion; left for the CAA to join other Virginia schools and enhance athletics profile.[45] |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA | 1991 | 2018 | Long-term member; transitioned to the ASUN Conference in 2018 as part of FBS football move, later joining Conference USA in 2023.[46] |
| University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) | Catonsville, MD | 1992 | 1998 | Expansion addition; withdrew to become an NCAA Division I independent before joining the America East Conference in 2003.[47] |
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 2000 | 2007 | Joined for Division I growth; dropped to NCAA Division III (Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) due to financial and enrollment challenges.[48] |
| North Carolina A&T State University | Greensboro, NC | 2021 | 2022 | Added as full member for regional expansion; most sports moved to the CAA in 2022, with football following in 2023, to reconnect with HBCU peers and improve visibility.[49][50] |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | 1992 | 1997 | Joined as full member; departed for the Southern Conference to enhance basketball competition.[51]</PROBLEMATIC_TEXT> |
Membership timeline
The Big South Conference was established on September 22, 1983, with five initial institutions—Augusta State University, Campbell University, Charleston Southern University, Coastal Carolina University, and Winthrop University—announcing their intent to form the league. Shortly thereafter, Armstrong State University, Radford University, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville were added, bringing the total to eight full members by the conference's inaugural season in fall 1984.[6][52] The league received full NCAA Division I recognition in September 1986, solidifying its status as a multi-sport conference primarily focused on institutions in the Carolinas and Virginia.[6] Early membership fluctuations reflected the challenges of building a stable Division I conference in the Southeast. Armstrong State departed after the 1986–87 academic year to return to NCAA Division II due to recruiting and facility constraints. Davidson College joined in 1990 but left after the 1991–92 season for the Southern Conference. Augusta State exited following the 1990–91 season, also dropping to Division II. Liberty University joined as a full member in 1991, helping to stabilize the roster. In 1992, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) became a full member, though its men's basketball and baseball programs joined a year later in 1993; UNCG departed after the 1996–97 season for the Southern Conference. Campbell departed after the 1993–94 season for the Trans Atlantic Athletic Conference (now Atlantic Sun). By the late 1990s, the conference expanded with Elon University and High Point University both joining in 1999, increasing membership to nine. Elon then left after the 2002–03 season for the Southern Conference.[53][54][51][55][56][44][57] The 2000s brought further growth under Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander, who led the league from 1996 to 2023. Presbyterian College joined effective 2007–08, followed by Gardner–Webb University in 2008. Campbell returned in 2011 after 17 years away. Longwood University was added in 2012, pushing membership to 11. Coastal Carolina transitioned out after the 2015–16 season, with most sports moving to the Sun Belt Conference (football followed in 2017–18). To offset losses, Hampton University and the University of South Carolina Upstate joined in 2018, while Liberty shifted to associate membership in select sports after ending full status at the end of the 2017–18 season. North Carolina A&T State University briefly joined in 2021 but departed after one year for the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in 2022, alongside Hampton. Campbell exited again in 2023 for the CAA. These changes reduced the full membership to nine institutions by the 2023–24 season, all located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.[6][15][58][59][60][61][23][62][63][42] As of the 2025–26 academic year, the Big South maintains nine full members: Charleston Southern University, Gardner–Webb University, High Point University, Longwood University, Presbyterian College, Radford University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, the University of South Carolina Upstate, and Winthrop University. The conference has also added associate members in niche sports, such as Bryant University (men's tennis, 2025–26) and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (men's and women's tennis, 2025–26), to bolster competition without expanding full membership. Football is sponsored through the Big South–OVC Football Association alliance, extended through 2030, which includes additional affiliates like Robert Morris University and Eastern Illinois University. This structure allows the Big South to navigate ongoing realignment pressures while prioritizing regional alignment and academic compatibility among members.[64][6][28][65]| Year | Key Membership Changes | Full Members After Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Founded with Armstrong State, Augusta State, Campbell, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Radford, UNC Asheville, Winthrop (8 total). | 8 |
| 1987 | Armstrong State departs for Division II. | 7 |
| 1990 | Davidson joins. | 8 |
| 1991 | Augusta State departs for Division II; Liberty joins. | 8 |
| 1992 | Davidson departs; UNCG joins. | 8 |
| 1994 | Campbell departs for Atlantic Sun. | 7 |
| 1997 | UNCG departs for Southern Conference. | 7 |
| 1999 | Elon and High Point join. | 9 |
| 2003 | Elon departs for Southern Conference. | 8 |
| 2007 | Presbyterian joins (effective 2007–08). | 9 |
| 2008 | Gardner–Webb joins. | 10 |
| 2011 | Campbell rejoins. | 11 |
| 2012 | Longwood joins. | 11 |
| 2016 | Coastal Carolina departs for Sun Belt (most sports). | 10 |
| 2018 | Hampton and USC Upstate join; Liberty ends full membership (associate in select sports). | 11 |
| 2021 | North Carolina A&T joins. | 12 |
| 2022 | Hampton and North Carolina A&T depart for CAA. | 10 |
| 2023 | Campbell departs for CAA. | 9 |
| 2025 | Bryant (men's tennis) and NJIT (men's and women's tennis) join as associates. | 9 |
Sports
Sponsored sports overview
The Big South Conference, an NCAA Division I athletic conference, sponsors 19 varsity sports across its member institutions, with nine dedicated to men and ten to women. This portfolio emphasizes a balanced emphasis on team and individual competitions, supporting competitive play, championships, and postseason opportunities for student-athletes. The conference's sports offerings have evolved since its founding in 1983, initially centered on core programs like basketball before expanding to include emerging disciplines. Today, these sports foster regional rivalries and align with NCAA standards, including Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) competition for football.[67][6][68] Key expansions to the sponsored sports occurred under long-serving Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander. In 1997, men's and women's indoor track and field were added to broaden individual athletic opportunities. Football joined as a sponsored sport in 2002, marking the conference's entry into FCS-level play and enhancing its football infrastructure through affiliations like the current OVC-Big South Football Association. Women's lacrosse was incorporated in 2013, reflecting growing interest in the sport and increasing gender equity in offerings. These additions have solidified the Big South's commitment to comprehensive athletic development, with all 19 sports now eligible for annual conference championships and NCAA postseason berths where applicable.[6] The following tables outline the current sponsored sports, highlighting the diversity from team-based contests like soccer and volleyball to individual events in track and field.Men's Sponsored Sports
| Sport | Notes |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Spring season; features regional tournaments. |
| Basketball | Primary winter sport; highly competitive with national visibility. |
| Cross Country | Fall season; qualifies teams for NCAA regionals. |
| Football | FCS level; fall season with playoff potential. |
| Golf | Spring season; individual and team championships. |
| Soccer | Fall season; advances top teams to NCAA tournament. |
| Tennis | Spring season; dual-match format. |
| Indoor Track & Field | Winter season; indoor competitions leading to nationals. |
| Outdoor Track & Field | Spring season; outdoor events with NCAA qualifiers. |
Women's Sponsored Sports
| Sport | Notes |
|---|---|
| Basketball | Winter season; prominent conference and NCAA tournament participant. |
| Cross Country | Fall season; regional and national qualification. |
| Golf | Spring season; emphasizes precision and team play. |
| Lacrosse | Spring season; growing program with associate members. |
| Soccer | Fall season; competitive league with postseason play. |
| Softball | Spring season; fast-pitch format with regional focus. |
| Tennis | Spring season; individual and team duals. |
| Indoor Track & Field | Winter indoor events; builds toward NCAA championships. |
| Outdoor Track & Field | Spring outdoor competitions; high potential for national qualifiers. |
| Volleyball | Fall season; team-based with intense rivalries. |
Participation by member institutions
The Big South Conference's full member institutions collectively sponsor a majority of the conference's 19 championship sports, though participation varies by school due to each institution's athletic department resources and strategic priorities. All nine full members compete in core sports such as men's and women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball, ensuring robust competition in these areas. However, not all members field teams in every sport; for instance, football is limited to two full members through the OVC-Big South Football Association alliance, while women's lacrosse see participation from select schools. Associate members contribute to niche sports like tennis and women's lacrosse, enhancing depth without full conference affiliation. This structure allows for balanced scheduling and postseason opportunities while accommodating institutional differences. To illustrate participation, the following table summarizes the involvement of full members in Big South-sponsored sports as of the 2025-26 academic year. Data reflects varsity teams competing in conference play; indoor and outdoor track & field are combined as T&F for brevity. Associate member contributions are noted separately below the table.| Institution | Baseball (M) | M Basketball | W Basketball | M XC | W XC | Football (M) | M Golf | W Golf | W Lacrosse | M Soccer | W Soccer | Softball (W) | M Tennis | W Tennis | M T&F | W T&F | Volleyball (W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Southern University | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gardner-Webb University | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| High Point University | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Longwood University | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Presbyterian College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Radford University | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UNC Asheville | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USC Upstate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Winthrop University | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |