Conference USA
The Conference USA has twenty nine years of history and is still going strong. In its nearly three decades of existence, C-USA has gone through many changes over the years.
Here’s the complete history of Conference USA. Read below to see how C-USA was shaped and see the list of schools that currently call the conference home.
The History of Conference USA
Conference USA or C-USA is a college conference that was formed in 1995. The conference was formed after the Great Midwest Conference and the Metro Conference merged into one.
For the next decade, C-USA would continue adding schools to the conference. From 2005 to 2014, the conference saw a max exodus of schools going to the original Big East and Big 12.
The newly formed American conference also took many schools from C-USA, but it has carried on. Despite those losses the conference managed to replace the former schools and is still going.
Conference USA Teams
There are currently ten full schools that are full members of Conference USA, 12 associate members, and currently two future members.
Full Members
Here are the ten full-fledged members of Conference USA with the date each joined.
- Florida International University(FIU): Joined in 2013
- Jacksonville State University: Joined in 2023
- Kennesaw State University: Joined in 2024
- Liberty University: Joined in 2023
- Louisiana Tech University: Joined in 2013
- Middle Tennessee State University: Joined in 2005
- New Mexico State University: Joined in 2023
- Sam Houston State University(SHSTU): Joined in 2023
- University of Texas-El Paso(UTEP): Joined in 2005
- Western Kentucky University(WKU): Joined in 2014
Associate Members
Conference USA currently has twelve associate universities, which participate in various schools.
- Arkansas State University: Joined in 2023 for bowling
- Dallas Baptist University: Joined in 2022 for baseball
- Florida Atlantic University: Joined in 2023 for beach volleyball
- Missouri State University: Joined in 2023 for beach volleyball
- Stephen F. Austin University: Joined in 2023 for bowling
- Tarleton State University: Joined in 2023 for beach volleyball
- Tulane University: Joined in 2022 for beach volleyball and 2023 for bowling
- University of Alabama-Birmingham: Joined in 2023 for beach volleyball
- Valparaiso University: Joined in 2023 for bowling
- Vanderbilt University: Joined in 2023 for bowling
- Wichita State University: Joined in 2024 for bowling
- Youngstown State University: Joined in 2023 for bowling
Former Members
As of this write-up, there have been twenty three universities which are formerly associated with C-USA.
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Left in 2023 for the American Conference
- University of Cincinnati: Left in 2005 for the Big 12
- DePaul University: Left in 2005 for the Big East
- East Carolina University: Left in 2014 for the American Conference
- Florida Atlantic University: Left in 2023 for the American Conference
- University of Houston: Left in 2013 for the Big 12
- University of Louisville: Left in 2005 for the ACC
- Marshall University: Left in 2022 for the Sun Belt Conference
- Marquette University: Left in 2005 for the Big East
- University of Memphis: Left in 2013 for the American Conference
- University of North Texas: Left in 2023 for the American Conference
- Old Dominion: Left in 2022 for the Sun Belt Conference
- Rice University: Left in 2023 for the American Conference
- Saint Louis University: Left in 2005 for the Atlantic 10
- Southern Methodist University: Left in 2013 for the ACC
- University of South Florida: Left in 2005 for the American Conference
- University of Southern Mississippi: Left in 2022 for Sun Belt Conference
- Texas Christian University: Left in 2005 for the Big 12
- Tulane University: Left in 2014 for the American Conference
- University of Tulsa: Left in 2014 for the American Conference
- University of Alabama at Birmingham: Left in 2023 for the American Conference
- University of Central Florida: Left in 2013 for the Big 12
- University of Texas at San Antonio: Left in 2024 for the American Conference
Future Members
There are currently two future members which are scheduled to join C-USA in 2025.
- University of Delaware: Coming from the Coastal Athletic Association
- Missouri State University: Coming from the Missouri Valley Conference
Conference USA Football
There are currently ten teams playing within C-USA football.
- Sam Houston State
- Liberty University
- Louisiana Tech
- Jacksonville State
- Western Kentucky
- University of Texas-El Paso
- Kennesaw State
- Middle Tennessee
- New Mexico State
In the 2023-24 season, Liberty University defeated New Mexico State in the C-USA finals 49-35. Liberty finished the season with a 13-1 record and earned a bid to play in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon.
Conference USA Basketball
There are currently ten teams competing in C-USA men’s basketball as of the start of the 2024-2025 season.
- Florida International
- Jacksonville State
- Kennesaw State
- Liberty University
- Louisiana Tech
- Middle Tennessee
- New Mexico State
- Sam Houston State
- University of Texas-El Paso
- Western Kentucky
In the 2023-2024 men’s college basketball season, Florida Atlantic won their 1st C-USA tournament title. They beat UAB in the finals 78-56 and played in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Conference USA Baseball
There are currently eleven universities(10 Full & 1 associate) participating in Conference USA men’s baseball.
- Florida International University(FIU)
- Jacksonville State University
- Kennesaw State University
- Liberty University
- Louisiana Tech University
- Middle Tennessee State University
- New Mexico State University
- Sam Houston State University(SHSTU)
- University of Texas-El Paso(UTEP)
- Western Kentucky University(WKU)
- Dallas Baptist University(Associate Member)
In 2024, associate C-USA school Dallas Baptist won the Conference USA tournament in their first year in the conference. They defeated Louisiana Tech in the tournament finals.
