Lost Tradition: VMI Joined Big South After 78 Years in Southern Conference
April 9th, 2017 - 7:36
Wichita State is bound for the American Athletic Conference following 72 seasons in the Missouri Valley. Only one school ever has joined an existing league after a longer stint in an intact coalition. Virginia Military aligned with Big South in 2002-03 after 78 campaigns in the Southern Conference before rejoining SC in 2014-15.
The breakup of the SWC in mid-1990s dismantled the longest tradition. Following are the NCAA Division I schools departing for a different alliance after more than 60 years in a league:
| School | Longstanding League Member (Seasons) | Next Conference (First Season) |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor | 82 years in SWC (1915-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Rice | 82 years in SWC (1915-96) | WAC (1997) |
| Texas | 82 years in SWC (1915-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Texas A&M | 82 years in SWC (1915-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Southern Methodist | 78 years in SWC (1919-96) | WAC (1997) |
| Virginia Military | 78 years in Southern (1926-2003) | Big South (2004) |
| Texas Christian | 73 years in SWC (1924-96) | WAC (1997) |
| Wichita State | 72 years in Missouri Valley (1946-2017) | AAC (2018) |
| Arkansas | 68 years in SWC (1924-91) | SEC (1992) |
| Iowa State | 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Kansas | 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Kansas State | 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Missouri | 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Nebraska | 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Maryland | 61 years in ACC (1954-2014) | Big Ten (2015) |