Moon Township, Pa. – The Big South Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) announced Tuesday that they have signed a letter of intent to create an association of their football member institutions that will begin with the 2023 NCAA Division I season.
The unique agreement combines the football membership of each conference to ensure access to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs. The agreement also provides football member institutions a schedule of games against all teams in their multi-sport conference and additional games against schools from the other conference.
"Today's announcement regarding the association of the football institutions of the Big South and the Ohio Valley Conference solidifies the ability for our student-athletes to compete for championships and access to the NCAA FCS Playoffs," RMU Vice President and Director of Athletics
Chris King '94 said. "In today's changing landscape across college athletics, I want to thank both the Big South and the OVC for the forward thinking to allow student-athletes from both conferences that opportunity. The alliance of these two conferences will continue to enhance recruiting as well as a focus on football excellence."
Details of the association's overall structure and administration have been outlined and are expected to be finalized, along with a schedule for the 2023 season, in the coming months.
"The merging of the Big South and Ohio Valley Conference is exciting for college football," RMU head coach
Bernard Clark, Jr., said. "It provides our program with more opportunities to play high-quality teams as well as begin new rivalries. It's also another step forward as we continue to build this program."
Dr. J. Bradley Creed, Chair of the Big South Council of Football Members, Chair of the Council of Chief Executive Officers and President of Campbell University, and Dr. David Glassman, President of Eastern Illinois University and Chair of the OVC Board of Presidents, made the announcement Tuesday.
"The Big South-Ohio Valley Conference football association will strengthen the efforts of both conferences to provide greater opportunities for our student-athletes," Dr. Creed said. "This move has unanimous support of the CEOs of the football schools in the Big South Conference, and we look forward to enlarging and enlivening the field of competition for our teams. I commend President Glassman and his colleagues in the OVC for their role in establishing this collaboration."
RMU joined the Big South as an associate member in football in 2020. Led by Clark, Jr., the Colonials finished in a four-way tie for third place in the league standings in its first full season in 2021 with North Carolina A&T, Charleston Southern and Hampton. RMU finished 4-1 (.800) in home games at Joe Walton Stadium, while redshirt sophomores
Ricardo Watson and
Jamar Shegog were named to the 2021 All-Big South Second Team at defensive line and linebacker, respectively.
"The OVC is pleased to come together with the Big South to establish a new FCS football model, aimed at ensuring outstanding competition and championship access for our student-athletes," Glassman said. "The world of intercollegiate athletics is changing, and all of the OVC members are looking forward to working with Dr. Creed and the rest of the Big South presidents to establish a new paradigm for FCS football across our region. In addition, we welcome the participation of other leagues interested in working together for the betterment of intercollegiate athletics."
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