The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. Formed in 1913, it consists mostly of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), with all but one member located in the Southern United States.

As of 2013, the SIAC has the highest football attendance of all NCAA Division II conferences.

History

Only three charter members are still part of the conference—Clark Atlanta University (formerly Clark College), Tuskegee University, and Morehouse (which briefly left before returning). Before 2014, all members had been southern HBCUs, but four of the SIAC's five newest members include its only non-HBCU, Spring Hill College (joined in 2014), and its only member outside the South, Central State University of Ohio (joined in 2015). Their last three recent members were former member schools in their first stints: Savannah State University returned to the SIAC in 2019 after a 19-year absence, Allen University returned to the SIAC in 2020 after a 51-year absence, and Edward Waters University returned to the SIAC in 2021 after a nearly 86-year absence. The U.S. Army's 24th Infantry Division teams competed as members of the SIAC from 1930 until 1935.

On March 31, 2021, Paine College left the SIAC and the NCAA and joined the NCCAA.

Chronological timeline 1913 – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) was founded as the Southeastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SEIAC). Charter members involved Lincoln Junior College (now Alabama State University), Atlanta University, Clark College, Fisk University, Jackson College (now Jackson State University), Morris Brown College, Morehouse College, Talladega College and Tuskegee University, beginning the 1913–14 academic year. 1914 – Jackson State left the SIAC after spending just one season after the 1913–14 academic year. 1920 – Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University), Knoxville College, and Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State Normal College (Tennessee A&I; now Tennessee State University) joined the SIAC in the 1920–21 academic year. 1927 – Miles Memorial College (now Miles College) joined the SIAC in the 1927–28 academic year. 1929: Atlanta University left the SIAC after the 1928–29 academic year. The SEIAC has been rebranded as the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in the 1929–30 academic year. Lane College joined the SIAC in the 1929–30 academic year. 1930: Tennessee State left the SIAC after the 1929–30 academic year. Edward Waters College (now Edward Waters University) joined the SIAC in the 1930–31 academic year. 1932 – Benedict College and LeMoyne College (now LeMoyne–Owen College) joined the SIAC in the 1932–33 academic year. 1935: Edward Waters left the SIAC after the 1934–35 academic year. The Normal Industrial Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina (now South Carolina State University) and Xavier University of Louisiana joined the SIAC in the 1935–36 academic year. 1941: Talladega left the SIAC after the 1940–41 academic year. Fort Valley State College (now Fort Valley State University) joined the SIAC in the 1941–42 academic year. 1947 – Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University; a.k.a. Alabama A&M) and Allen University joined the SIAC in the 1947–48 academic year. 1950 – Bethune–Cookman College (now Bethune–Cookman University) joined the SIAC in the 1950–51 academic year. 1960 – Xavier (La.) left the SIAC after the 1959–60 academic year. 1969 Allen left the SIAC after the 1968–69 academic year. Albany State College (now Albany State University) and Savannah State College (now Savannah State University) joined the SIAC in the 1969–70 academic year. 1971 – South Carolina State left the SIAC after the 1970–71 academic year. 1976 – Alabama State left the SIAC after the 1975–76 academic year. 1978 – Rust College and Stillman College joined the SIAC in the 1978–79 academic year. 1979 – Bethune–Cookman and Florida A&M left the SIAC to join the MEAC after the 1978–79 academic year. 1983 – Fisk left the SIAC after the 1982–83 academic year. 1985 – Paine College joined the SIAC in the 1985–86 academic year. 1988 – Rust left the SIAC after the 1987–88 academic year. 1990 – Knoxville left the SIAC after the 1989–90 academic year. 1997 – Kentucky State University joined the SIAC in the 1997–98 academic year. 1998 – Alabama A&M left the SIAC to join Division I ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) after the 1997–98 academic year. 1999 – Stillman left the SIAC to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) after the 1998–99 academic year. 2000 – Morris Brown and Savannah State left the SIAC to become NCAA D-II Independents after the 1999–2000 academic year. 2002 – Stillman rejoined the SIAC in the 2002–03 academic year. 2008 – Claflin University joined the SIAC in the 2008–09 academic year. 2013 – Central State University joined the SIAC as an associate member for football in the 2013 fall season (2013–14 academic year). 2014 – Spring Hill College joined the SIAC in the 2014–15 academic year. 2015 – Central State had upgraded to join the SIAC for all sports in the 2015–16 academic year. 2016 – Stillman left the SIAC for a second time to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) ranks after the 2015–16 academic year. 2018 – Claflin left the SIAC to join the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) after the 2017–18 academic year. 2019 – Savannah State rejoined the SIAC as a provisional member in the 2019–20 academic year; which would later gain full member status in 2020–21. 2020 – Allen rejoined the SIAC as a provisional member in the 2020–21 academic year; which would later gain full member status in 2022–23. 2021: Paine left the SIAC and the NCAA to join as an Independent within the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) after the 2020–21 academic year. Edward Waters rejoined the SIAC as a provisional member in the 2021–22 academic year; which would later gain full member status in 2022–23. 2027 – Spring Hill will leave the SIAC to join the Gulf South Conference (GSC) after the 2026–27 academic year.

Member schools Current members The SIAC currently has 15 full members; all but five are private schools. Only Spring Hill, leaving in 2027, is not an HBCU.

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Colors Albany State University Albany, Georgia 1903 Public 6,809 Golden Rams 1969 Allen University Columbia, South Carolina 1870 AME Church 657 Yellow Jackets 1947;2020 Benedict College Columbia, South Carolina 1870 Baptist 1,746 Tigers 1932 Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio 1887 Public 2,719 Marauders &Lady Marauders 2015 Clark Atlanta University Atlanta, Georgia 1988 UnitedMethodist 4,252 Panthers 1913 Edward Waters University Jacksonville, Florida 1866 AME Church 1,177 Tigers 1930;2021 Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, Georgia 1895 Public 2,905 Wildcats 1941 Kentucky State University Frankfort, Kentucky 1886 Public 1,932 Thorobreds &Thorobrettes 1997 Lane College Jackson, Tennessee 1882 CME Church 822 Dragons 1929 LeMoyne–Owen College Memphis, Tennessee 1862 United Churchof Christ 613 Magicians 1932 Miles College Fairfield, Alabama 1898 CME Church 1,489 Golden Bears 1927 Morehouse College Atlanta, Georgia 1867 Nonsectarian 2,206 Maroon Tigers 1913 Savannah State University Savannah, Georgia 1890 Public 3,208 Tigers 1969;2019 Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama 1830 Catholic 920 Badgers 2014 Tuskegee University Tuskegee, Alabama 1881 Nonsectarian 3,121 Golden Tigers 1913

Notes

Affiliate members Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Colors SIAC sport(s) Currentconference Virginia State University Ettrick, Virginia 1882 Public 5,605 Trojans 2026 men's tennis Central (CIAA)

Former members The SIAC has 17 former full members. All were HBCUs, and all but six were private schools.

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Nickname Joined Left Currentconference Alabama A&M University Normal, Alabama 1875 Public Bulldogs &Lady Bulldogs 1947 1998 Southwestern (SWAC) Alabama State University Montgomery, Alabama 1867 Public Hornets 1913 1976 Southwestern (SWAC) Bethune–Cookman University Daytona Beach, Florida 1904 Nonsectarian Wildcats 1950 1979 Southwestern (SWAC) Claflin University Orangeburg, South Carolina 1869 UnitedMethodist Panthers 2008 2018 Central (CIAA) Fisk University Nashville, Tennessee 1866 United Churchof Christ Bulldogs 1913 1983 HBCU (HBCUAC) Florida A&M University Tallahassee, Florida 1887 Public Rattlers 1920 1979 Southwestern (SWAC) Jackson State University Jackson, Mississippi 1877 Public Tigers 1913 1914 Southwestern (SWAC) Knoxville College Knoxville, Tennessee 1875 Presbyterian Bulldogs 1920 1990 N/A Morris Brown College Atlanta, Georgia 1881 AME Church Wolverines 1913 2000 N/A Paine College Augusta, Georgia 1882 United Methodist& CME Church Lions 1985 2021 NCCAA Independent Rust College Holly Springs, Mississippi 1866 UnitedMethodist Bearcats 1978 1988 HBCU (HBCUAC) South Carolina State University Orangeburg, South Carolina 1896 Public Bulldogs 1935 1971 Mid-Eastern (MEAC) Stillman College Tuscaloosa, Alabama 1874 Presbyterian Tigers 19782002 19992016 HBCU (HBCUAC) Talladega College Talladega, Alabama 1867 United Churchof Christ Tornadoes 1913 1941 HBCU (HBCUAC) Tennessee State University Nashville, Tennessee 1912 Public Tigers 1920 1930 Ohio Valley (OVC) Xavier University of Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana 1925 Catholic Gold Rush &Gold Nuggets 1935 1960 Red River (RRAC)

Notes

Membership timeline

Conference facilities

SchoolFootballBasketballStadiumCapacityArenaCapacityAlbany StateAlbany State University ColiseumHPER Gym ComplexAllenVariousJohn Hurst Adams GymBenedictCharlie W. Johnson StadiumBenjamin E. Mays ArenaCentral StateMcPherson StadiumBeacom/Lewis GymnasiumClark AtlantaPanther StadiumL. S. Epps GymEdward WatersNathaniel Glover Community Field & StadiumJohn Hurst Adams-Jimmy R. Jenkins Community Sports & Music ComplexFort Valley StateWildcat StadiumHealth and Physical Education Complex (FVSU)Kentucky StateAlumni FieldWilliam Exum HPER CenterLaneRothrock StadiumJ.F. Lane CenterLeMoyne–OwenBruce HallMilesAlumni StadiumKnox-Windham GymMorehouseB. T. Harvey StadiumForbes Arena Savannah StateTed Wright StadiumTiger ArenaSpring HillArthur R. Outlaw Recreation CenterTuskegeeAbbott Memorial Alumni StadiumJames Center Arena

Sports The SIAC currently sponsors 14 sports, eight for men and six for women. Men's volleyball, a Division I sport, became the 14th SIAC sport in the 2020–21 school year; play was intended to start in January 2021 but was delayed to 2022 due to COVID-19 issues.

A divisional format is used for baseball, men's and women's basketball, softball, and women's volleyball. Albany State Allen Benedict Clark Atlanta Edward Waters Fort Valley State Morehouse Savannah State Central State Kentucky State Lane LeMoyne–Owen Miles Spring Hill Tuskegee

+ Teams in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference competitionSportMen'sWomen'sBaseballBasketballCross countryFootballGolfSoftballTennisTrack & Field IndoorTrack & Field OutdoorVolleyball

Men's sponsored sports by school School Baseball Basketball CrossCountry Football Golf Tennis Track & FieldIndoor Track & FieldOutdoor Volleyball Total SIACSports Albany State 7 Allen 5 Benedict 9 Central State 6 Clark Atlanta 4 Edward Waters 7 Fort Valley State 5 Kentucky State 8 Lane 6 LeMoyne–Owen 5 Miles 5 Morehouse 8 Savannah State 7 Spring Hill 6 Tuskegee 7Totals 12 15 15 13 8 4+1 10 12 6 96+1