News Summary
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference has welcomed Hendrix College and LeTourneau University as core members, boosting its membership to twelve institutions. This expansion follows the exit of Southwestern University and Trinity University. With upcoming championships and events, including an inaugural football championship weekend, the SCAC aims to maintain competitive equity and enhance the collegiate athletics experience for student-athletes across its member institutions.
Georgetown, Texas – The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) has announced the official membership of Hendrix College and LeTourneau University as core members, expanding the conference to a total of 12 institutions. LeTourneau’s membership was confirmed on April 25, 2024, while Hendrix College accepted its invitation on June 11, 2024. Their addition comes after the departure of Southwestern University and Trinity University from the conference.
With these new additions, the SCAC remains robust, encouraging competitive play across various sports. LeTourneau and Hendrix will join the ranks of existing SCAC members while Asbury University will kick off its tenure as an affiliate member in men’s and women’s swimming and diving, ensuring that the league will continue to feature eight teams in both categories. This move solidifies the SCAC’s commitment to maintaining competitive equity among its institutions.
Upcoming Championships and Events
The SCAC has several exciting events planned in the near future. The men’s and women’s soccer championships are set to take place at the Round Rock Multisport Complex in Round Rock, Texas, on November 6-7 and November 9, marking a shift in the championship’s format to include an expanded top-six team selection for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
Additionally, for the first time, the SCAC will host an inaugural football championship weekend at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas, on November 15. All six football teams in the conference have qualified to participate, featuring a schedule that includes a fifth/sixth seeds game at 11 AM CT, a third/four seeds game at 3 PM CT, and a championship game between the top two seeds at 7 PM CT.
Baseball and Cross Country Developments
The SCAC baseball tournament will also see an expansion to a top-six qualification event, scheduled for April 30-May 3, 2026, inviting a more competitive landscape for the postseason. The exact location for this tournament is yet to be determined.
The SCAC Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship will occur on November 2, 2024, hosted by Centenary College at South Bossier Park, Bossier City. This year’s championship will feature the largest participating fields since 2011, with 11 men’s and 11 women’s teams competing due to the inclusion of Concordia University (Texas), McMurry University, and the University of the Ozarks. Colorado College aims to defend their titles from the previous year, as the men’s and women’s teams are the reigning champions.
Recognition and Future Expectations
Furthermore, nine SCAC spring programs have been acknowledged for their sportsmanship, with Texas Lutheran Men’s and Women’s Track and Field being recognized consecutively. In the lead-up to the 2024 football season, McMurry University has been designated as the preseason favorite to win the SCAC football title, receiving 25 points in the coaches’ poll, along with all five first-place votes.
The SCAC football season will commence with non-conference games on September 7, 2024, followed by the first conference matchups scheduled for September 14. This new season is anticipated to bring competitive excitement and tension as teams battle for the championship.
Leadership Changes
As a part of the SCAC’s organizational structure, the leadership council has transitioned to the University of Dallas, with Dr. Jonathan Sanford serving as the chair of the SCAC Presidents Council and Jarred Samples taking on the role of chair for the Athletic Directors Council for the academic year 2025-26. These leadership changes indicate an ongoing commitment to enhancing the conference’s fostered environment for student-athletes across all member institutions.
In summary, the SCAC is poised for a promising future thanks to the inclusion of new members, exciting upcoming events, and strong leadership that will maintain and elevate the competitiveness of collegiate athletics in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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Additional Resources
- Centenary College Men’s Cross Country Release
- Wikipedia: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
- Centenary College General Release
- Google Search: Collegiate Athletics
- Centenary College Men’s Golf Release
- Google Scholar: Southwestern University Athletics
- Centenary College Football Release
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Collegiate Sports
- Seguin Today News Article
- Google News: SCAC Conference
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