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ASUN Conference announces upcoming strategic alliance with a rebranded Western Atlantic Conference

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, November 2nd 2025 at 22:45 GMT by Action News Jax

ASUN Conference Announces Strategic Alliance With Rebranded Western Athletic Conference

The ASUN Conference has unveiled a strategic partnership with the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), a move that is poised to reshape the landscape of mid‑major collegiate athletics in the United States. In a press release published on the ASUN’s official site, the conference announced that the two leagues will work together across several sports, sharing scheduling, championship tournaments, and, for the first time, a joint football structure. The announcement signals a new era of collaboration that could bring about expanded media exposure, increased revenue opportunities, and stronger competitive balance for member schools.

The Context of the Alliance

The ASUN, formerly known as the Atlantic Sun Conference, has steadily grown in prominence since its inception in 1978. With 11 member institutions—ranging from the University of Central Arkansas to Liberty University—the league has built a reputation for competitive basketball and a growing footprint in soccer and baseball.

The WAC, with a storied history dating back to 1962, has faced significant membership churn over the last decade. After a series of departures to the Sun Belt, the Big 12, and the Horizon League, the WAC was left with a lean roster of seven full members. In a recent rebranding effort, the WAC sought to reposition itself as a more flexible, geographically diverse league that could accommodate new partnerships and shared resources.

By joining forces, the ASUN and the WAC will create a joint conference that operates under both brand names while maintaining each league’s individual governance structures. The partnership will be most visible in men’s and women’s basketball, where the two leagues will develop a unified scheduling framework that allows teams to play a full slate of conference games regardless of geographic location. This will reduce travel costs and broaden the competitive field.

Football: A Joint Venture

Perhaps the most significant component of the alliance is the creation of a joint football conference. The ASUN has been building a football program since 2021, adding teams like Jacksonville State, Sam Houston State, and Kennesaw State to its roster. The WAC, meanwhile, has long had a football tradition with schools such as Rice, SMU, and Tulsa.

Under the new partnership, the football programs of both conferences will operate under a single banner—the “ASUN‑WAC Football Conference.” This collaboration will allow member schools to compete for a single conference championship, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. The alliance will also streamline scheduling, reduce redundancies in game production, and open the door to a collective media rights deal that could substantially increase revenue for each school.

Shared Resources and Governance

While the two conferences will maintain distinct administrative bodies, the partnership will enable shared services in areas such as marketing, compliance, and athlete wellness. A joint media relations office will handle television and digital broadcasting agreements, potentially attracting national networks to cover conference tournaments and high‑profile regular‑season games. In terms of governance, the ASUN and WAC will establish a joint committee to oversee the implementation of the alliance, ensuring that each institution’s interests are represented.

Potential Expansion and Long‑Term Goals

Both conferences have hinted at the possibility of adding more schools in the coming years. The ASUN’s geographic footprint is primarily in the southeastern United States, while the WAC spans the western states. The partnership allows for a truly national league that could attract institutions from both coasts, further enhancing recruiting reach and competitive balance. The joint structure also provides a framework for future expansion without requiring a full merger, preserving the identity of each conference.

Reactions from Member Schools

Reactions among member institutions have been largely positive. Liberty University’s athletic director emphasized the benefits of “larger media exposure and more robust competition.” Meanwhile, Sam Houston State’s head coach highlighted the importance of “improved scheduling flexibility” and “enhanced recruiting pipelines” that the alliance will provide.

The WAC’s leadership echoed these sentiments, noting that the partnership “provides a stable platform for growth while maintaining the legacy and traditions that our schools hold dear.” The ASUN’s president also underscored the alliance’s role in “strengthening our collective bargaining power” with media partners and sponsors.

Upcoming Events

To celebrate the announcement, the ASUN and WAC will host a joint press conference on Tuesday, September 25, at the Tampa Convention Center. The event will feature speeches from both conference presidents, a Q&A session with media, and a showcase of the new joint branding, which incorporates the ASUN’s iconic logo with the WAC’s traditional eagle emblem.

For More Information

• ASUN Press Release: https://asunsports.org/news/2023-09-25-asun-wac-alliance
• WAC Announcement: https://wacsports.com/news/2023-09-25-wac-asun-alliance
• Joint Football Conference Overview: https://asunsports.org/news/2023-09-25-joint-football
• Conference Membership Lists:
  • ASUN: https://asunsports.org/schools
  • WAC: https://wacsports.com/schools

The alliance between the ASUN Conference and the rebranded Western Athletic Conference marks a significant milestone in collegiate sports collaboration. By pooling resources, expanding scheduling options, and launching a joint football conference, the two leagues are positioning themselves for a future where regional boundaries blur and athletic competition thrives across a national stage.