Template:Short description Template:Infobox sports league

Template:OSM Location map

The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in partnership with the Big South Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS; formerly known as Division I-AA), the lower of two levels of Division I football competition. The OVC has 11 members, seven of which compete in football in the conference.

HistoryEdit

Primary source:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Ohio Valley Conference can trace its roots to 1941 when Murray State athletic director Roy Stewart, Eastern Kentucky athletic director Charles "Turkey" Hughes, and Western Kentucky public relations director Kelly Thompson first formulated the idea of establishing a regional athletics conference. The plan was put on hold due to World War II, but it was resurrected after the conclusion of the war. In 1948, the three schools joined with Louisville, Morehead State, and Evansville to form the Ohio Valley Conference. While many collegiate conferences are struggling today with the question of whether their policies and rules should be determined by the athletic departments or by the institutional heads, from the very beginning, the OVC has been run by the presidents of its member schools.

Historically, the OVC was a pioneer in racial desegregation, with Morehead State signing the conference's first Black athlete, Marshall Banks, in 1958. The rest of the OVC soon followed in Morehead State's wake. From 1986 to 2018, the OVC was unique among NCAA Division I conferences in that it included one historically Black university, Tennessee State University, in a conference that otherwise consists of institutions that are not traditionally Black. During this period, every other HBCU in NCAA Division I belonged to either the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference or Southwestern Athletic Conference. That distinction changed when both Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University joined the Big South Conference in 2018 and 2021, respectively; both schools have since joined the Coastal Athletic Association.

The OVC has also been a leader in advancement of sports opportunities for women. The conference began adding championship competitions for women in 1977 several years after the AIAW began sponsoring national championships for women, but seven years before the NCAA was ready to move into the field. Since 2009, the OVC has been led by Commissioner Beth DeBauche, one of only six female commissioners for the thirty-two Division I conferences.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Athletic rivalries, really close colleges and especially when competitors are in relatively close proximity, can generate problems with fan behavior, and the conference leadership struggled with controlling the issue for many years. When the national debate on the problem reached its apex in the mid-1990s, the OVC unveiled the national first of its kind "Sportsmanship Statement" in 1995, stating the conference's policy on, "... principles of fair play, ethical conduct and respect for one's opponent." Since then, the OVC has also introduced individual, team (for each sport), and institutional sportsmanship awards.

Founded by six schools, the expansions of 2007 and 2011 brought the Ohio Valley Conference membership to twelve schools, the most in its history. The OVC dropped to 10 members after the 2020–21 school year, when founding member Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State left for the Atlantic Sun Conference (then branded as the ASUN Conference; "ASUN" is still the official abbreviation).<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> At that time, the OVC was searching for teams to replace both.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The OVC lost three more members after the 2021–22 school year. Football-sponsoring Austin Peay left for the ASUN, which ultimately launched its own football league in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Non-football Belmont left for the Missouri Valley Conference.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Another football school, founding member Murray State, left for the MVC. When announcing its move to the MVC, Murray State announced that it was seeking membership in the football-only Missouri Valley Football Conference, and also announced that it would continue to house its rifle team in the OVC.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> In a separate statement, Murray State's president indicated that the football team would remain in the OVC in the 2022 season, ensuring that the OVC would retain its automatic bid to the FCS playoffs in that season and giving the league more time to add new football members.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Murray State would eventually be accepted by the MVFC effective in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

Also in July 2022, the OVC added two non-football members in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, athletically known as Little Rock,<ref name=LittleRock>Template:Cite press release</ref> and the University of Southern Indiana, which started a transition from NCAA Division II,<ref name=USI>Template:Cite press release</ref> plus a new football-sponsoring member in Lindenwood University, also transitioning from D-II.<ref name=Lindenwood>Template:Cite press release</ref>

According to a report from Matt Brown of the Extra Points college sports blog, the OVC expected to lose Murray State, and was considering multiple expansion candidates, with Southern Indiana among them. Other schools named by Brown's sources as possible candidates were FCS programs Arkansas–Pine Bluff and Western Illinois, plus potential Division II upgraders Grand Valley State, Hillsdale, and Lincoln Memorial.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On February 22, 2022, the conference announced its intent to combine its football membership with the Big South Conference beginning in 2023 and operate as the OVC–Big South Football Association. The alliance follows the model that the ASUN and Western Athletic Conference used in 2021 and 2022 before merging their football leagues in 2023 as the United Athletic Conference.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

Shortly after the 2022 membership changes took effect, the OVC and the Horizon League jointly announced that they would merge their men's tennis leagues under the Horizon banner, effective immediately. All five OVC members that sponsored men's tennis became Horizon affiliates in that sport.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

On March 28, 2023, the OVC announced it was adding men's soccer as its 19th championship sport. The four OVC members sponsoring the sport in other conferences were joined by Chicago State University, Houston Christian University, University of the Incarnate Word, and Liberty University.<ref name=OVCMensSoccer>Template:Cite press release</ref> Chicago State was also announced as an incoming men's and women's golf associate on that day.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Chicago State's OVC teams left the conference at the end of the 2023–24 school year when the university joined the Northeast Conference, which sponsors all sports that CSU housed in the OVC.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

On May 12, 2023, it was announced that Western Illinois University would join the OVC from the Summit League in most non-football sports beginning for the 2023 season. Western Illinois football, which was then a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, played the 2023 season in that league before joining the university's other sports in the OVC for the 2024 season.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Western later announced its men's soccer team would also play the 2023 season in its former all-sports home of the Summit League before joining the OVC in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

OVC Digital NetworkEdit

In August 2012, the OVC announced that it had launched the OVC Digital Network as a replacement for and improvement over the conference's former efforts to provide streaming video coverage of many athletic events that had been in place since 2006.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This website carried live, student-produced coverage of most conference games and some non-conference games in baseball, men's and women's basketball, football, soccer, softball, and volleyball as well as some coaches' shows, special presentations, and archived game-casts available for later viewing.

In its first two years, the network provided well over 600,000 viewings of streamed live video of more than 1,400 events.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the 2018–19 school year, the coverage previously carried on the OVC Digital Network was switched over to ESPN+.

Member schoolsEdit

Full membersEdit

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Endowment
(millions)
Nickname Colors
Template:Sort Little Rock, Arkansas 1927 2022 Public 8,197 $80 Trojans Template:College color boxes
Eastern Illinois University Charleston, Illinois 1895 1996 8,857 $87.3 Panthers Template:College color boxes
Template:Sort St. Charles, Missouri 1827 2022 Private 6,992 $143.4 Lions Template:College color boxes
Morehead State University Morehead, Kentucky 1887 1948 Public 8,810 $71 Eagles Template:College color boxes
Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, Missouri 1873 1991 9,927 $84.2 Redhawks Template:College color boxes
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, Illinois 1957 2008 12,860 $27.4 Cougars Template:College color boxes
Template:Sort Evansville, Indiana 1965 2022 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

$103 Screaming Eagles Template:College color boxes
Tennessee State University Nashville, Tennessee 1912 1986Template:Efn 9,218 $91.1 Tigers/Lady Tigers Template:College color boxes
Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, Tennessee 1915 1949 9,902 $96.2 Golden Eagles Template:College color boxes
University of Tennessee at Martin Martin, Tennessee 1927 1992 6,873 $51 Skyhawks Template:College color boxes
Western Illinois University Macomb, Illinois 1899 2023Template:Efn citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

$63.6 Leathernecks Template:College color boxes
Notes

Template:Notelist Template:Notelist

Affiliate membersEdit

Years listed in this table are calendar years. For schools that play only spring sports (such as beach volleyball) in the OVC, the calendar year of arrival precedes the first season of competition.

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Nickname Colors OVC
sport(s)
Primary
conference
Bryant University Smithfield, Rhode Island 1863 2024 Private 3,751 Bulldogs Template:College color boxes men's golf America East
women's golf
women's tennis
Houston Christian University Houston, Texas 1960 2023 Private 2,567 Huskies Template:College color boxes men's soccer Southland
University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, Texas 1881 2023 Private 9,366 Cardinals Template:College color boxes
Liberty University Lynchburg, Virginia 1971 2023 Private 16,000Template:Efn Flames Template:College color boxes CUSA
Murray State University Murray, Kentucky 1922 2022 Public 10,495 Racers Template:College color boxes rifle MVC
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee 1886 2020 Public 11,388 Mocs Template:College color boxes beach volleyball SoCon

Template:Notelist

Former full membersEdit

Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Nickname Colors Conference
they joined
after leaving
the OVC
Current
conference
Template:Sort Akron, Ohio 1870 1980 1987 Public Zips Template:College color boxes NCAA D-I Independent MAC
Austin Peay State University Clarksville, Tennessee 1927 1962 2022 Governors Template:College color boxes ASUN
Belmont University Nashville, Tennessee 1890 2012 Private Bruins Template:College color boxes Missouri Valley
East Tennessee State University Johnson City, Tennessee 1911 1958 1978 Public Buccaneers/
Lady Buccaneers
Template:Efn
Template:College color boxes SoCon
Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, Kentucky 1906 1948 2021 Colonels Template:College color boxes ASUN
Template:Sort Evansville, Indiana 1854 1952 Private Purple Aces Template:College color boxes ICC
Template:Small
Missouri Valley
Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, Alabama 1883 2003 2021 Public Gamecocks Template:College color boxes ASUN CUSA
University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky 1798 1948 1949 Cardinals Template:College color boxes NCAA Independent ACC
Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia 1837 1949 1952 Thundering Herd Template:College color boxes NCAA IndependentTemplate:Efn Sun Belt
Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee 1911 1952 2000 Blue Raiders Template:College color boxes Sun Belt CUSA
Murray State University Murray, Kentucky 1922 1948 2022 Racers Template:College color boxes Missouri Valley
Samford University Homewood, Alabama 1841 2003 2008 Private Bulldogs Template:College color boxes SoCon
Western Kentucky UniversityTemplate:Efn Bowling Green, Kentucky 1906 1948 1982 Public Hilltoppers/
Lady Toppers
Template:College color boxes Sun Belt CUSA
Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio 1908 1981 1988 Penguins Template:College color boxes Mid-Continent Horizon
NCAA I-AA Independent
(football)
MVFC
(football)
Notes

Template:Notelist

Former affiliate membersEdit

Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Nickname Colors Sport Current
primary
conference
Current
conference
in former
OVC sport
Chicago State University Chicago, Illinois 1867 2023–24 2024–25 Public Cougars Template:College color boxes men's soccer,
men's golf
women's golf
NEC
Columbus State University Columbus, Georgia 1958 2012–13 2014–15 Public Cougars Template:College color boxes Rifle Peach Belt
Template:Small
noneTemplate:Efn
Murray State University Murray, Kentucky 1922 2022–23Template:Efn 2023–24 Public Racers Template:College color boxes Football MVC
Template:Small
MVFC
Notes

Template:Notelist

Membership timelineEdit

<timeline> DateFormat = yyyy

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20

Period = from:1948 till:2036

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#

Colors =

id:current   value:tan2
id:former    value:tan1
id:line      value:black
id:bg        value:white
id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # all sports
id:FullxF value:rgb(0.551,0.824,0.777) # all sports except for football
id:AssocF value:rgb(0.98,0.5,0.445) # football only
id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.5,0.691,0.824) # some sports, but not all (consider identifying in legend or a footnote)
         id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference
         id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference where OtherC1 has already been used, to distinguish the two

PlotData=

  width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s
  bar:1  color:Full from:1948 till:1949 text:Louisville (1948–1949)
  bar:1  shift:(100) color:OtherC1 from:1949 till:1964 text:Independent
  bar:1  color:OtherC2 from:1964 till:1975 text:MVC
  bar:1  color:OtherC1 from:1975 till:1995 text:Metro
  bar:1  color:OtherC2 from:1995 till:2005 text:C-USA
  bar:1  color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2013 text:Big East
  bar:1  shift:(-10) color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2014 text:AAC
  bar:1  color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:ACC
  bar:2  color:Full from:1948 till:1952 text:Evansville (1948–1952)
  bar:2  shift:(70) color:OtherC1 from:1952 till:1977 text:Indiana Collegiate Conference
  bar:2  color:OtherC1 from:1977 till:1979 text:DI
  bar:2  color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1994 text:MCC
  bar:2  color:OtherC1 from:1994 till:end text:MVC
  bar:3  color:Full from:1948 till:1982 text:Western Kentucky (1948–1982)
  bar:3  color:OtherC1 from:1982 till:1999 text:Sun Belt
  bar:3  color:AssocF from:1999 till:2001 text:('99–'01 in football)
  bar:3  color:OtherC1 from:2001 till:2014
  bar:3  color:OtherC2 from:2014 till:end text:C-USA
  bar:4  color:Full from:1948 till:1996 text:Morehead State (1948–present)
  bar:4  color:FullxF from:1996 till:end
  bar:5  color:Full from:1948 till:2021 text:Eastern Kentucky (1948–2021)
  bar:5  color:OtherC1 from:2021 till:end text:ASUN
  bar:6  color:Full from:1948 till:2022 text:Murray State (1948–2022)
  bar:6  color:AssocF from:2022 till:2023 text:('22–'23 in football)
  bar:6  color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text:
  bar:7  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1949
  bar:7  color:Full from:1949 till:1952 text:Marshall (1949–1952)
  bar:7  color:OtherC2 from:1952 till:1954
  bar:7  shift:(55) color:OtherC1 from:1954 till:1969 text:MAC
  bar:7  color:OtherC2 from:1969 till:1976 text:Independent
  bar:7  color:OtherC1 from:1976 till:1997 text:SoCon
  bar:7  color:OtherC2 from:1997 till:2005 text:MAC
  bar:7  color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2022 text:C-USA
  bar:7  color:OtherC2 from:2022 till:end text:Sun Belt
  bar:8  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1949
  bar:8  color:Full from:1949 till:end text:Tennessee Tech (1949–present)
  bar:9  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1952 text:VSAC
  bar:9  color:Full from:1952 till:1999 text:Middle Tennessee State (1952–2000)
  bar:9  color:FullxF from:1999 till:2000
  bar:9  color:OtherC2 from:2000 till:2013 text:Sun Belt
  bar:9  color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:C-USA
  bar:10  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1950 text:SMC
  bar:10  color:OtherC2 from:1950 till:1951
  bar:10  color:OtherC1 from:1951 till:1957 text:VSAC
  bar:10  color:Full from:1957 till:1978 text:East Tennessee State (1957–1978)
  bar:10  color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2005 text:SoCon
  bar:10  color:OtherC2 from:2005 till:2014 text:ASUN
  bar:10  color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:endtext:SoCon
  bar:11  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1962 text:VSAC
  bar:11  color:Full from:1962 till:1997 text:Austin Peay (1962–2022)
  bar:11  color:FullxF from:1997 till:2007 
  bar:11  color:Full from:2007 till:2022
  bar:11  color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:ASUN
  bar:12  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1966 text:OAC
  bar:12  color:OtherC2 from:1966 till:1978 text:Independent
  bar:12  shift:(-5) color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1980 text:MCC
  bar:12  color:Full from:1980 till:1987 text:Akron (1980–1987)
  bar:12  shift:(15) color:OtherC1 from:1987 till:1990 text:Ind.
  bar:12  color:OtherC2 from:1990 till:1992 text:MCC
  bar:12  shift:(10) color:OtherC1 from:1992 till:end text:MAC
  bar:13  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1981 text:Independent
  bar:13  color:Full from:1981 till:1988 text:Youngstown State (1981–1988)
  bar:13  color:OtherC1 from:1988 till:1992
  bar:13  shift:(30) color:OtherC2 from:1992 till:2001 text:MCC
  bar:13  color:OtherC1 from:2001 till:end text:Horizon
  bar:14  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1966 text:Midwest
  bar:14  color:OtherC2 from:1966 till:1986 text:Independent
  bar:14  color:FullxF from:1986 till:1988 text:Tennessee State (1986–present)
  bar:14  color:Full from:1988 till:end
  bar:15  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1991 text:MIAA
  bar:15  color:Full from:1991 till:end text:Southeast Missouri State (1991–present)
  bar:16  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1951 text:Indep.
  bar:16  color:OtherC2 from:1951 till:1971 text:VSAC
  bar:16  color:OtherC1 from:1971 till:1991 text:GSC
  bar:16  shift:(-10) color:OtherC2 from:1991 till:1992 text:Ind.
  bar:16  color:Full from:1992 till:end text:Tennessee-Martin (1992–present)
  bar:17  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1970 text:IIAC
  bar:17  color:OtherC2 from:1970 till:1982 text:Independent
  bar:17  color:OtherC1 from:1982 till:1989 text:AMCU
  bar:17  color:OtherC1 from:1989 till:1996 text:MCC
  bar:17  color:Full from:1996 till:end text:Eastern Illinois (1996–present)
  bar:18  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1954 text:Dixie
  bar:18  color:OtherC2 from:1954 till:1978 text:Independent
  bar:18  color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2003 text:TAAC/A-Sun
  bar:18  color:Full from:2003 till:2008 text:Samford (2003–2008)
  bar:18  shift:(60) color:OtherC1 from:2008 till:end text:SoCon
  bar:19  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1959 text:AIC
  bar:19  color:OtherC1 from:1959 till:1971 text:ACC
  bar:19  color:OtherC2 from:1971 till:1993 text:GSC
  bar:19  color:OtherC1 from:1993 till:1995 text:Ind.
  bar:19  color:OtherC2 from:1995 till:2003 text:TAAC/A-Sun
  bar:19  color:Full from:2003 till:2021 text:Jacksonville State  (2003–2021)
  bar:19  shift:(-10) color:OtherC1 from:2021 till:2023 text:ASUN
  bar:19  color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:C-USA
  bar:20  color:OtherC1 from:1967 till:1995 text:Independent
  bar:20  color:OtherC2 from:1995 till:2008 text:GLVC
  bar:20  color:FullxF from:2008 till:end text:SIUE (2008–present)
  bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:1952 till:1985 text:VSAC
  bar:21 color:OtherC2 from:1985 till:1996 text:TCAC
  bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2001 text:Indep.
  bar:21 shift:(10) color:OtherC2 from:2001 till:2012 text:A-Sun
  bar:21 color:FullxF from:2012 till:2022 text:Belmont (2012–2022)
  bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:MVC
  bar:24  color:OtherC1 from:1970 till:1993 text:NAIA Independent
  bar:24  color:OtherC2 from:1993 till:1996 text:AMC
  bar:24  color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2011 text:HAAC
  bar:24  shift:(-5) color:OtherC2 from:2011 till:2012 text:Ind.
  bar:24  color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2019 text:MIAA
  bar:24  color:OtherC2 from:2019 till:2022 text:GLVC
  bar:24  color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Lindenwood (2022–present)
  bar:25  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1961 text:Independent
  bar:25  color:OtherC2 from:1961 till:1977 text:AIC
  bar:25  color:OtherC1 from:1977 till:1979 text:Ind.
  bar:25  color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1991 text:TAAC
  bar:25  color:OtherC1 from:1991 till:2022 text:Sun Belt
  bar:25  color:FullxF from:2022 till:end text:Little Rock (2022–present)
  bar:26  color:OtherC1 from:1970 till:1978 text:Independent
  bar:26  color:OtherC2 from:1978 till:2022 text:GLVC
  bar:26  color:FullxF from:2022 till:end text:Southern Indiana (2022–present)
  bar:27  color:OtherC1 from:1948 till:1970 text:IIAC
  bar:27  color:OtherC2 from:1970 till:1982 text:Independent
  bar:27  color:OtherC1 from:1982 till:1989 text:AMCU
  bar:27  color:OtherC1 from:1989 till:2007 text:MCC
  bar:27  color:OtherC1 from:2007 till:2023 text:Summit
  bar:27  color:FullxF from:2023 till:2024 text:Western Illinois (2023–present)
  bar:27  color:Full from:2024 till:end

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:4 start:1950

TextData =

   fontsize:L
   textcolor:black
   pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center)
   text:^"Ohio Valley Conference membership history"
  1. > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following six options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space. Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color <# </timeline>

Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color

CommentsEdit

  • Morehead State'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.
  • Austin Peay's football team left the OVC after the 1996 season to compete as an NCAA D-I FCS Independent. After four seasons as an Independent, the team joined the Pioneer Football League in 2001, and remained there through the 2005 season. Austin Peay then returned to scholarship football, spending the 2006 season as an Independent before re-entering OVC football competition in 2007.

Conference divisionsEdit

Starting with the 2012–13 school year, the twelve member schools were split into two divisions for those sports where all schools competed. In the 2014–15 season, women's sports with twelve teams returned to a single league table, while continuing to play a divisional schedule. Men's basketball moved to an 18-game schedule in 2017–18, and they continued to play home-and-home versus the former divisional rivals, and they play home-and-home versus two teams from the other division, with those opponents on a rotation that sets up different pairs from year-to-year. The OVC returned to a single-table format after Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State left in 2021.

East Division West Division
Belmont Austin Peay
Eastern Kentucky Eastern Illinois
Jacksonville State Murray State
Morehead State SIU Edwardsville
Tennessee State Southeast Missouri
Tennessee Tech UT Martin

Sports offeredEdit

The Ohio Valley Conference currently offers championship competition in 19 NCAA sanctioned sports, with eight for men, 10 for women, and rifle for men's, women's, and coed teams.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Teams in OVC competition
Sport Men's Women's Coed
Baseball check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Basketball check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Beach Volleyball check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Cross Country check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Football check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Golf check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Rifle check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Soccer check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Softball check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Tennis check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Track and Field (Indoor) check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Track and Field (Outdoor) check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Volleyball check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}

Men's sponsored sports by schoolEdit

Departing members are displayed in red.

School Baseball Basketball Cross
Country
Football Golf RifleTemplate:Efn Soccer Track
& Field
(Indoor)
Track
& Field
(Outdoor)
Total
OVC
Sports
Eastern Illinois Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 8
Lindenwood Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:No Template:No 6
Little Rock Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes 6
Morehead State Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:NoTemplate:Efn Template:Yes Template:YesTemplate:Efn Template:No Template:No Template:Yes 6
SIU Edwardsville Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 7
Southeast Missouri Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes 6
Southern Indiana Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 7
Tennessee State Template:NoTemplate:Efn Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes 6
Tennessee Tech Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Template:No Template:No 5
UT Martin Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:YesTemplate:Efn Template:No Template:No Template:No 6
Western Illinois Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 8
Associate members
Bryant Template:Yes 1
Houston Christian Template:Yes 1
Incarnate Word Template:Yes 1
Liberty Template:Yes 1
Murray State Template:YesTemplate:Efn 1
Totals 10 11 11 7 11 3 8 8 9 77
Notes

Template:Notelist

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Ohio Valley Conference which are played by OVC schools
School Ice Hockey Swimming & Diving RodeoTemplate:Efn Tennis Volleyball Wrestling
Eastern Illinois Summit Template:Efn
Lindenwood Independent<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || – || – || – || MIVA || –

Little Rock Pac-12
SIU Edwardsville MAC
Southern Indiana Summit Horizon
Tennessee State Template:Efn Horizon
Tennessee Tech Horizon
UT Martin NIRATemplate:Efn
Notes

Template:Notelist

Women's sponsored sports by schoolEdit

Departing members in red.

School Basketball Beach Volleyball Cross Country Golf RifleTemplate:Efn Soccer Softball Tennis Track & Field
(Indoor)
Track & Field
(Outdoor)
Volleyball (Indoor) Total OVC Sports
Eastern Illinois Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:NoTemplate:Efn Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 9
Lindenwood Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 10
Little Rock Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 7
Morehead State Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 10
Southeast Missouri Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 8
Southern Indiana Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 9
SIU Edwardsville Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 8
Tennessee State Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:NoTemplate:Efn Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 8
Tennessee Tech Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 8
UT Martin Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yesx2 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Template:No Template:Yes 7
Western Illinois Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 10
Associate members
Bryant Template:Yes Template:Yes 2
Chattanooga Template:Yes 1
Murray State Template:Yes 1
Totals 11 6 11 9 4 10 10 7 10 10 11 100

Template:Notelist

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Ohio Valley Conference which are played by OVC schools
School EquestrianTemplate:Efn Gymnastics Ice Hockey Lacrosse RodeoTemplate:Efn StuntTemplate:Efn Swimming & Diving WrestlingTemplate:Efn
Eastern Illinois Summit
Lindenwood AHA ASUN<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Independent
Little Rock MVC
Southeast Missouri MIC
Southern Indiana Summit
Tennessee State Template:Efn
UT Martin ECAC NIRA Independent

Template:Notelist

Conference championsEdit

Football conference championsEdit

This is a list of the champions between 2010 and the 2023 establishment of the OVC–Big South Football Association.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> For the complete history, see List of Ohio Valley Conference football champions.

Year Regular Season Champion Record FCS Championship Result
2010 Southeast Missouri State 7–1 Second Round
2011 Tennessee Tech*
Eastern Kentucky
Jacksonville State
6–2
6–2
6–2
First Round
First Round
DNP
2012 Eastern Illinois 6–1 First Round
2013 Eastern Illinois 8–0 Quarterfinals
2014 Jacksonville State 8–0 Second Round
2015 Jacksonville State 8–0 FCS Championship Runner Up
2016 Jacksonville State 7–0 First Round
2017 Jacksonville State 8–0 Second Round
2018 Jacksonville State 7–1 Second Round
2019 Austin Peay**
Southeast Missouri State
7–1 Quarterfinals
First Round
2020 Jacksonville State 6–1 Quarterfinals
2021 UT Martin 5–1 Second Round
2022 Southeast Missouri State***
UT Martin
5-0 First Round
  • – Tennessee Tech won the tie-breaker and received the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.
    • – Austin Peay won the tie-breaker and received the automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.
      • - Southeast Missouri won the tie-breaker and received the automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.

BasketballEdit

This is a list of the champions since 2010. For the complete men's history, see List of Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball champions. Template:See also Template:See also

Year Men's Women's
Regular Season Champion Record Tournament champion Regular Season Champion Record Tournament champion
2010–11 Murray State 14–4 Morehead State Tourney Tennessee Tech 15–3 UT Martin
2011–12 Murray State 15–1 Murray State Tourney UT Martin 15–1 UT Martin
2012–13 East: Belmont
West: Murray State
14–2
10–6
Belmont Tourney East: Tennessee Tech
West: Eastern Illinois
12–4
12–4
UT Martin
2013–14 East: Belmont
West: Murray State
14–2
13–3
Eastern Kentucky Tourney East: Belmont
West: UT Martin
10–6
15–1
UT Martin
2014–15 East: Eastern Kentucky & Belmont
West: Murray State
11–5
16–0
Belmont Tourney UT Martin 16–0 Tennessee State
2015–16 East: Belmont
West: UT Martin & Murray State
12–4
10–6
Austin Peay Tourney UT Martin 14–2 Belmont
2016–17 East: Belmont
West: UT Martin
15–1
10–6
Jacksonville State Tourney Belmont 16–0 Belmont
2017–18 Murray State 15–2 Murray State Tourney Belmont 18–0 Belmont Tourney
2018–19 Belmont
Murray State
16–2 Murray State Tourney Belmont 16–2 Belmont Tourney
2019–20 Belmont
Murray State
15–3 Belmont Tourney Belmont
UT Martin
16–2 Southeast Missouri State Tourney
2020–21 Belmont 18–2 Morehead State Tourney UT Martin 17–4 Belmont Tourney
2021–22 Murray State 18–0 Murray State Tourney Belmont 16–2 Belmont Tourney
2022–23 Morehead State 14–4 Southeast Missouri Tourney Little Rock 17–1 Tennessee Tech Tourney
2023–24 Little Rock
Morehead State
UT Martin
14–4 Morehead State Tourney Southern Indiana 17–1 Southern Indiana Tourney

BaseballEdit

This is a list of the champions since 2010.

Year Regular Season Champion OVC
record
Season
record
Tournament champion OVC
record
Season
record
2010 Tennessee Tech 14–6 31–25 Jacksonville State 15–8 32–26
2011 Austin Peay 17–6 34–24 Austin Peay 17–6 34–24
2012 Austin Peay
Eastern Kentucky
19–7 40–24
31–23
Austin Peay 19–7 40–24
2013 Tennessee Tech 24–6 40–17 Austin Peay 22–7 47–15
2014 Southeast Missouri 23–7 37–20 Jacksonville State 18–12 36–27
2015 Southeast Missouri 22–8 36–23 Morehead State 20–10 38–22
2016 Southeast Missouri 22–8 39–21 Southeast Missouri 22–8 39–21
2017 Tennessee Tech 23–7 39–18 Tennessee Tech 23–7 39–18
2018 Tennessee Tech 27–3 53–12 Morehead State 18–12 37–26
2019 Jacksonville State 22–8 39–23 Jacksonville State 22–8 39–23
2020 Canceled
2021 Southeast Missouri State 17–10 30–22 Southeast Missouri State 17–10 30–22
  • # = 2009 Eastern Illinois lost 1 conference and 4 non-conference games by forfeit for using an ineligible player.

SoftballEdit

This is a list of the champions since 2010.

Year Regular Season Champion OVC
record
Season
record
Tournament champion OVC
record
Season
record
2010 UT Martin 22–3 47–11 Jacksonville State 13–6 30–19
2011 Eastern Illinois 26–4 40–12 Jacksonville State 21–9 40–21
2012 UT Martin 23–6 39–22 UT Martin 23–6 39–22
2013 East– Eastern Kentucky
West– Eastern Illinois
19–6
20–3
36–20
36–14
Jacksonville State 11–11 30–27
2014 East– Jacksonville State
West– SIUE
22–5
19–5
40–15
30–23
SIUE 19–5 30–23
2015 SIUE 20–6 43–16 Tennessee Tech 15–11 33–28
2016 Jacksonville State 26–0 43–17 Jacksonville State 26–0 43–17
2017 Jacksonville State 15–1 41–12 Jacksonville State 15–1 41–12
2018 Eastern Kentucky 19–3 45–21 Jacksonville State 16–6 35–25
2019 Southeast Missouri State
Jacksonville State
17–5 46–18
36–15
Southeast Missouri State 17–5 46–18
2020 Canceled
2021 Southeast Missouri 23–6 30–17 Eastern Kentucky 22–9 35–17
2022 Murray State 21–7 40–18–1 Murray State 21–7 40–18–1

Men's soccerEdit

Men's soccer was first sponsored by the OVC in 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Year Regular season champions Tournament champions
2023 SIUE SIUE

Women's soccerEdit

This is a list of champions since 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Year Regular season champions Tournament champions
2010 Morehead State Morehead State
2011 Southeast Missouri UT Martin
2012 UT Martin UT Martin
2013 UT Martin Morehead State
2014 Southeast Missouri SIUE
2015 Murray State Murray State
2016 Murray State SIUE
2017 Murray State Murray State
2018 UT Martin Murray State
2019 Southeast Missouri Belmont
2020-21 Murray State SIUE
2021 UT Martin SIUE
2022 Tennessee Tech SIUE
2023 Tennessee Tech Morehead State

FacilitiesEdit

Template:CollegePrimaryHeader
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Eastern Illinois Panthers|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Eastern Illinois]] O'Brien Field 10,000 Lakeside Soccer Field Template:Nts Lantz Arena 5,300 Coaches Stadium
at Monier Field
500 Williams Field Template:Nts Lantz Arena 5,300
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Lindenwood Lions|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Lindenwood]] Hunter Stadium Template:Nts Hunter Stadium Template:Nts Hyland Arena Template:Nts Lou Brock Sports Complex Template:Nts Lou Brock Sports Complex Template:Nts Hyland Arena Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Little Rock Trojans|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Little Rock]] Non-football school Coleman Sports Complex Template:Nts Jack Stephens Center Template:Nts Gary Hogan Field Template:Nts Non-softball school Jack Stephens Center Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Morehead State Eagles|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Morehead State]] Jayne Stadium 10,000 Jayne Stadium Template:Nts Ellis Johnson Arena 6,500 John "Sonny" Allen Field 1,200 University Field Template:Nts Ellis Johnson Arena 6,500
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Southeast Missouri State Redhawks|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Southeast Missouri State]] Houck Stadium 11,015 Houck Stadium Template:Nts Show Me Center 6,972 Capaha Field 2,000 Southeast Softball Complex Template:Nts Houck Fieldhouse 1,000
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Southern Indiana]] Non-football school Strassweg Field 550 Liberty Arena Template:Nts USI baseball field Template:Nts USI Softball Field 400 Liberty Arena Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[SIU Edwardsville Cougars|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">SIU Edwardsville]] Non-football school Bob Guelker Field at Ralph Korte Stadium 4,000 First Community Arena Template:Nts Roy E. Lee Field at Simmons Baseball Complex 1,500 Cougar Field Template:Nts First Community Arena 4,000
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Tennessee State Tigers and Lady Tigers|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Tennessee State]] Nissan Stadium 68,000 Non-soccer school Gentry Complex 10,500 Non-baseball school Tiger Field Template:Nts Kean Hall 2,500
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Tennessee Tech]] Tucker Stadium 16,500 Tech Soccer Field Template:Nts Eblen Center 9,280 Bush Stadium at Averitt Express Baseball Complex 1,100 Tech Softball Field Template:Nts Eblen Center 9,280
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[UT Martin Skyhawks|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">UT Martin]] Graham Stadium 7,500 Skyhawk Soccer Field Template:Nts Skyhawk Arena 4,300 Skyhawk Baseball Field 500 Bettye Giles Softball Field Template:Nts Skyhawk Fieldhouse 3,000
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Western Illinois Leathernecks|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Western Illinois]] Hanson Field 16,368 John MacKenzie Alumni Field Template:Nts Western Hall 5,139 Alfred D. Boyer Stadium Template:Nts Mary Ellen McKee Stadium Template:Nts Western Hall 5,139
Template:CollegePrimaryHeaderTemplate:CollegePrimaryHeader
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Houston Christian Huskies men's soccer|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Houston Christian]] Sorrels Field Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Incarnate Word Cardinals men's soccer|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Incarnate Word]] Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium Template:Nts
style="text-align:center; Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| [[Liberty Flames men's soccer|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Liberty]] Osborne Stadium Template:Nts

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

External linksEdit

Template:Commons cat

Template:Ohio Valley Conference navbox Template:NCAA Division I all-sports conferences Template:NCAA Division I FCS conference navbox