Get to Know the FCS, 2023: Southland
Established: 1963
Headquarters: Frisco, TX
Commissioner: Chris Grant
History
The Southland conference was founded in 1963 in Dallas, TX as part of the NCAA College Division (what is now Division II) as an all sports conference. The founding members were Lamar, Arkansas State, Texas-Arlington, Trinity University, and Abilene Christian. Although Lamar is a founding and current member due to their departures and rejoining the league there are no schools who have played in every Southland season.
The Early years:
The early years of The Southland were uneventful for the most part. In 1971 the conference added ULL and LA Tech as full members and lost Trinity college in 1972 when they opted to move down to Division III, however, they were replaced with McNeese State that same year. Abilene Christian would then leave for the first time in 1973. In 1975 the conference and its member schools would make the jump to Division I, even playing as Division 1A/FBS in the early years of the split from 1978-1981 before moving to FCS in 1982 where they remain today. During their time in the FBS the Southland started and was the host school for the Independence Bowl, the same one still played today.
Turmoil in the 80s:
In the early to mid-80s realignment wore heavily on the Southland. In 1982 ULL departed, however they were replaced with North Texas and ULM. In 1985 Texas-Arlington dropped football, and in 1987 Lamar, Arkansas State, and LA Tech all left to be charter members of the now defunct American South Conference. In order to back fill this hole that left the conference at just 3 football playing members (UNT, ULM, and McNeese for those who have been keeping track) The Southland used the weight of their NCAA basketball tournament auto bid to pull away Texas State, SFA, SHSU, and Northwestern State from the floundering Gulf Star Conference, and gain stability.
The 90s and 00s:
With their new gained stability, the conference continued to grow adding Nicholls State in 1991, Troy and Jacksonville State in 1996 to replace a leaving UNT, SELA in 1997, Lamar returned, again, in 1999, and Central Arkansas in 2006 to replace a departing ULM. Troy and Jacksonville State would have short lived stints leaving in 2000 and 2002 respectively. Overall, however, with most of the two decades spent with 8-10 teams this was a period of relative stability for the conference. Some other interesting things of note that happened in this time frame include the launch of the short lived (2008-2015) Southland Conference Television Network, and The Southland partnering with The Big XII in 2007 for football officiating and training of officials. This was the first agreement of its kind in what is now common practice today.
Modern Era 2010 to present:
In 2011 the FCS Title game was moved to Frisco, TX at Toyota Stadium. Southland was named the host conference and this is still the case to this day and will remain so until at least 2025 per the current contract at the time of writing. In 2012 Texas State departed to try their luck in the FBS. They were replaced in 2013 with HBU (now HCU), Incarnate Word, and a returning Abilene Christian. In 2014 the league became the first FCS conference to have video replay available for all games for officials independent of the broadcast and whether the game was being televised or streamed. In 2021 chaos struck the conference again as SHSU, SFA, and Lamar announced they were leaving for the revived WAC and ACU, and UCA were leaving to become a founding members of the ASUN. Things looked dire when UIW also flirted with leaving for the WAC, but after SHSU announced the WAC would be a mere steppingstone on their way to the C-USA and FBS more uncertainty was cast on the WAC and they ultimately stayed. Southland was able to add DII transitioning to FCS Texas A&M Commerce in 2022 to help save their FCS autobid, and furthermore convince Lamar to return to the fold. As it sits today there are 8 football playing Southland members. Associate member New Orleans has flirted with the idea of adding football, but to date this has yet to happen.
Membership
Current Members
The Southland currently has 8 football members and 2 additional non football members (Texas A&M Corpus Christi and New Orleans).
Former Members
The Southland has 14 former football members
Conference Success and Strength
Conference Championships
*Technically in 2008 Texas State “won” the Southland and Central Arkansas, who had the better conference record, did not. But this was due to NCAA rules around Central Arkansas being in transition from DII that threatened the Southland with losing their autobid status.
FCS National Championships
The SLC has won two national titles, although both teams are now FBS.
The SLC also had runner ups in:
The SLC also claims national title for D2:
1973- LA Tech via the first ever NCAA playoffs
Note: Credit goes to u/NoChocolate1899 for putting this together!
Posted Aug 10, 2023, 2:39 PM UTC