ATLANTA, Ga. — An alliance between the ASUN and the Western Athletic Conference has created a new football partnership and a new league.

What You Need To Know

  • ASUN and Western Athletic Conferences form football alliance

  • The two conferences are rebranded the United Athletic Conference

  • EKU is a member of the new football conference

  • The teams will play a six-game conference schedule in 2023

Eastern Kentucky University is now part of the United Athletic Conference.

During the last two football seasons, the nine schools in the two conferences have teamed up. The two conferences did not have enough schools competing in football to sponsor the sport. Beginning this season, the UAC will have a recognized champion and automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Championship Subdivision playoffs.

The FCS is the second-tier of Division I below the Bowl Subdivision.

The members of the UAC include EKU, Abilene Christian University, Austin Peay State University, University of Central Arkansas, University of North Alabama, Southern Utah University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Tarleton State University and Utah Tech University.

This season, the schools will play a six-game conference schedule and move to an eight-game schedule in 2024.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will join the conference in 2025.

Oliver Luck, former West Virginia athletic director and NCAA executive, is the UAC executive director.

The other sports in each conference will continue to play as they have been. This includes Bellarmine, which is in the ASUN.

Related Stories