UNITED ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SET TO LAUNCH IN JULY 2026

College athletics is preparing for another major realignment. Beginning in July 2026, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and the ASUN Conference will officially merge their partnership to form a new all-sports league: the United Athletic Conference (UAC).

The UAC has existed the past few years as a football-only alliance between the WAC and ASUN, but starting in 2026, it will become a full, multisport conference. This move effectively retires the WAC brand name, uniting its remaining members with several ASUN institutions under one banner. The structure is designed to preserve NCAA automatic qualification status, avoiding the waiting period usually required for new conferences.

Member Schools Joining the UAC in 2026

The inaugural lineup for the UAC will feature nine schools stretching from Texas to Georgia:

• Abilene Christian University (from WAC)

• Tarleton State University (from WAC)

• University of Texas at Arlington (from WAC)

• Central Arkansas (from ASUN)

• Austin Peay State University (from ASUN)

• Eastern Kentucky University (from ASUN)

• North Alabama (from ASUN)

• University of West Georgia (from ASUN)

• University of Arkansas at Little Rock (from the Ohio Valley Conference)

This lineup gives the UAC a strong regional presence, combining the WAC’s Texas-based programs with the ASUN’s southeastern footprint.

Who’s Leaving and What’s Changing

The creation of the United Athletic Conference will bring several departures and transitions:

• The Western Athletic Conference will cease to exist as a standalone league, with its remaining members absorbed into the UAC identity.

• ASUN football members will officially move all their athletic programs into the UAC, while the ASUN will continue as a separate conference for its non-football schools.

• Southern Utah and Utah Tech, two current WAC members, are departing the league to join the Big Sky Conference beginning in 2026.

• Eastern Kentucky, Central Arkansas, and others will move their entire athletic programs from the ASUN to the new UAC.

The Purpose Behind the Move

Conference leaders say the formation of the UAC aims to provide stability, preserve competitive opportunities, and strengthen postseason access. By combining resources, the member schools will benefit from shared scheduling, reduced travel costs, and a more balanced geographic layout.

The new conference also retains the WAC’s NCAA automatic qualification rights for tournaments such as basketball and baseball, ensuring that its programs remain eligible for postseason play without interruption.

The United Athletic Conference will officially begin competition on July 1, 2026, marking the start of a new era for these nine institutions and ending one of college athletics’ most storied conference names — the Western Athletic Conference.