Western Athletic Conference

The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is an NCAA Division I conference founded in 1962. It will operate as the United Athletic Conference (UAC) beginning in July 2026. A total of 43 institutions have been full members of the WAC, with membership spanning 15 states in the western United States. In the 2025–26 academic year, the final season using the Western Athletic Conference name, the conference includes three members in Texas, three in Utah, and one in California.

For the first 41 years of its existence, the WAC competed at the highest level of college athletics across all sports. The conference expanded from its original six members to a peak of 16 in 1996, before eight of its institutions (including the four remaining charter members) seceded in 1998 to form the Mountain West Conference. Thereafter the WAC struggled to maintain a top-level football conference and ultimately discontinued the sport after the 2012–13 season, leaving the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) to become a Division I non-football conference. After a major expansion in 2021, the WAC reinstated football, competing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Further membership losses soon foiled plans to someday return to the FBS level, and in 2023 the WAC again became a non-football conference, with its football-playing members joining the football schools of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) to form the football-only United Athletic Conference (UAC).

The WAC will officially rebrand as the United Athletic Conference on July 1, 2026, and become an all-sports conference including the three remaining members of the WAC (Abilene Christian University, Tarleton State University, and non-football University of Texas at Arlington), the five members of the ASUN that play football in the UAC (Austin Peay State University, University of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky University, University of North Alabama, and University of West Georgia), and the non-football University of Arkansas at Little Rock (athletically known as Little Rock) from the Ohio Valley Conference.

Members

Full members

Members departing for the Big West Conference on July 1, 2026.

Members departing for the Big Sky Conference on July 1, 2026.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"

!Institution

!Location

!Founded

!Joined

!Type

!Enrollment

!Endowment

(Millions)

!Nickname

! class="unsortable"|Colors

|-bgcolor=white

| Abilene Christian University

| Abilene, Texas

| 1906

| 2021

| Private (Churches of Christ)

| 6,730

| $824

| Wildcats

|-bgcolor=#d79cff

| California Baptist University

| Riverside, California

| 1950

| 2018

| Private (Baptist)

| $119.1

| Lancers

|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0

| Southern Utah University

| Cedar City, Utah

| 1897

| 2022

| Public

| 15,000

| $29.9

| Thunderbirds

|-bgcolor=white

| Tarleton State University (Tarleton)

| Stephenville, Texas

| 1899

| 2020

| Public (TAMUS)

| $42

| Texans

|-bgcolor=white

| (UT Arlington)

| Arlington, Texas

| 1895

| 2022

| Public (UTS)

| $218

| Mavericks

|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0

| Utah Tech University

| 1911

| 2020

| Public

| $16.3

| Trailblazers

|-bgcolor=#d79cff

| Utah Valley University

| Orem, Utah

| 1941

| 2013

| Public

| $100

| Wolverines

;Notes:

Future UAC members

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"

!Institution

!Location

!Founded

!Joining

!Type

!Enrollment

!Nickname

!Colors

!Current conference

|-bgcolor=white

| Austin Peay State University

| Clarksville, Tennessee

| 1927

|rowspan=6| 2026

|rowspan=6| Public

| 9,609

| Governors

|rowspan=3| ASUN

|-bgcolor=white

| University of Central Arkansas

| Conway, Arkansas

| 1907

| 10,123

| Bears

|-bgcolor=white

| Eastern Kentucky University

| Richmond, Kentucky

| 1874

| 13,984

| Colonels

|-bgcolor=white

| Little Rock, Arkansas

| 1927

| 8,026

| Trojans

| OVC

|-bgcolor=white

| University of North Alabama

| Florence, Alabama

| 1830

| 11,056

| Lions

|rowspan=2| ASUN

|-bgcolor=white

| University of West Georgia

| Carrollton, Georgia

| 1906

|14,394

| Wolves

Affiliate members

These schools field programs in the WAC for sports not sponsored by their primary conferences:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"

!Institution

!Location

!Founded

!Type

!Enrollment

!Nickname

!Primary conference

!WAC sport(s)

!Joined

!Former full member

|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0

| (Sacramento State)

| Sacramento, California

| 1947

| Public

| 27,972

| Hornets

| Big Sky

| Baseball

| 2005–06

;Notes

Future affiliate members

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"

!Institution

!Location

!Founded

!Type

!Enrollment

!Joining

!Nickname

!Primary conference

!UAC sport(s)

| Pensacola, Florida

| 1963

| Public

| 14,343

| 2026

| Argonauts

| Gulf South

| Football

;Notes

Former full members

The WAC has 36 former full members:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"

!Institution !! Nickname !! Location !! Founded !! Type !! Enrollment !! Joined !! Left !! Current primary conference

| (Air Force)

| Falcons

| USAF Academy, Colorado

| 1954

| Federal

| 4,413

| 1980

| 1999

| Mountain West

| Wildcats

| Tucson, Arizona

| 1885

| Public

| 39,236

| 1962

| 1978

| Big 12

| Arizona State University

| Sun Devils

| Tempe, Arizona

| 1885

| Public

| 59,794

| 1962

| 1978

| Big 12

| Boise State University

| Broncos

| Boise, Idaho

| 1932

| Public

| 22,678

| 2001

| 2011

| Mountain West (Pac-12 in 2026)

| Brigham Young University (BYU)

| Cougars

| Provo, Utah

| 1875

| Private (LDS)

| 34,130

| 1962

| 1999

| Big 12

| California State University, Bakersfield

| Roadrunners

| Bakersfield, California

| 1965

| Public

| 10,500

| 2013

| 2020

| Big West

| (Fresno State)

| Bulldogs

| Fresno, California

| 1911

| Public

| 22,565

| 1992

| 2012

| Mountain West (Pac-12 in 2026)

| Chicago State University

| Cougars

| Chicago, Illinois

| 1867

| Public (TMCF)

| 2013

| 2022

| NEC

| Colorado State University

| Rams

| Fort Collins, Colorado

| 1870

| Public

| 28,417

| 1968

| 1999

| Mountain West (Pac-12 in 2026)

| Pioneers

| Denver, Colorado

| 1864

| Private

| 11,476

| 2012

| 2013

| Summit (WCC in 2026)

| Grand Canyon University

| Antelopes

| Phoenix, Arizona

| 1949

| Private For-Profit (Non-denominational)

| 2013

| 2025

| Mountain West

| Rainbow Warriors & Rainbow Wahine

| Honolulu, Hawaii

| 1907

| Public

| 20,435

| 1979

| 2012

| Big West Mountain West (football only; full member in 2026)

| Vandals

| Moscow, Idaho

| 1889

| Public

| 12,312

| 2005

| 2014

| Big Sky

| (Kansas City)

| Roos

| Kansas City, Missouri

| 1933

| Public

| 16,944

| 2013

| 2020

| Summit

| Lamar University

| Cardinals/ Lady Cardinals

| Beaumont, Texas

| 1923

| Public

| 2021

| 2022

| SLC

| Louisiana Tech University

| Bulldogs (men's) Lady Techsters (women's)

| Ruston, Louisiana

| 1894

| Public

| 11,581

| 2001

| 2013

| CUSA (Sun Belt in 2026)

| (UNLV)

| Rebels

| Las Vegas, Nevada

| 1957

| Public

| 28,203

| 1996

| 1999

| Mountain West

| Wolf Pack

| Reno, Nevada

| 1874

| Public

| 18,227

| 2000

| 2012

| Mountain West

| Lobos

| Albuquerque, New Mexico

| 1889

| Public

| 35,211

| 1962

| 1999

| Mountain West

| New Mexico State University

| Aggies

| Las Cruces, New Mexico

| 1888

| Public

| 21,694

| 2005

| 2023

| CUSA

| Rice University

| Owls

| Houston, Texas

| 1912

| Private

| 6,082

| 1996

| 2005

| American

| San Diego State University

| Aztecs

| San Diego, California

| 1897

| Public

| 28,789

| 1978

| 1999

| Mountain West (Pac-12 in 2026)

| Sam Houston State University

| Bearkats

| Huntsville, Texas

| 1879

| Public

| 21,679

| 2021

| 2023

| CUSA

| San Jose State University

| Spartans

| San Jose, California

| 1857

| Public

| 30,448

| 1996

| 2013

| Mountain West

| Seattle University

| Redhawks

| Seattle, Washington

| 1891

| Private (Jesuit)

| 7,755

| 2012

| 2025

| WCC

| Southern Methodist University (SMU)

| Mustangs

| Dallas, Texas

| 1911

| Private (United Methodist Church)

| 12,000

| 1996

| 2005

| ACC

| Stephen F. Austin State University

| Lumberjacks & Ladyjacks

| Nacogdoches, Texas

| 1923

| Public (UTS)

| 2021

| 2024

| SLC

| Texas Christian University (TCU)

| Horned Frogs

| Fort Worth, Texas

| 1873

| Private (Disciples of Christ)

| 9,725

| 1996

| 2001

| Big 12

| (UTEP)

| Miners

| El Paso, Texas

| 1914

| Public

| 21,011

| 1968

| 2005

| CUSA (Mountain West in 2026)

| (UTRGV)

| Vaqueros

| Edinburg, Texas

| 2013

| Public (UTS)

| rowspan=2 | USAF Academy, Colorado

| rowspan=2 | 1955

| rowspan=2 | Federal

| rowspan=2 | 4,413

| rowspan=2 | Falcons

| rowspan=2 | Mountain West

| {sortname|Men's swimming

| rowspan=2 | 2013

| rowspan=2 | 2025

| {sortname|Men's soccer

| rowspan=2 | Boise State University

| rowspan=2 | Boise, Idaho

| rowspan=2 | 1932

| rowspan=2 | Public

| rowspan=2 | 22,678

| rowspan=2 | Broncos

| rowspan=2 | Mountain West

| rowspan=2 |

| 1990

| 1993

| 2012

| 2013

| California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)

| San Luis Obispo, California

| 1901

| Public

| 20,186

| Mustangs

| Big West

| Baseball

| 1994

| 1996

| rowspan=2 | California State University, Bakersfield (Cal State Bakersfield)

| rowspan=2 | Bakersfield, California

| rowspan=2 | 1965

| rowspan=2 | Public

| rowspan=2 | 8,720

| rowspan=2 | Roadrunners

| rowspan=2 | Big West

| Baseball

| rowspan=2 | 2012

| rowspan=2 | 2013

| California State University, Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton)

| Fullerton, California

| 1959

| Public

| 38,128

| Titans

| Big West

| 2005

| 2011

| California State University, Northridge (Cal State Northridge/CSUN)

| Northridge, California

| 1958

| Public

| 38,310

| Matadors

| Big West

| Baseball

| 1992

| 1996

| (Sacramento State)

| Sacramento, California

| 1947

| Public

| 27,972

| Hornets

| Big Sky

| 2005

| 2013

| Dallas Baptist University

| Dallas, Texas

| 1898

| Private

| 5,422

| Patriots

| Lone Star

| Baseball

| 2012

| 2013

| Denver, Colorado

| 1864

| Private

| 11,476

| Pioneers

| Summit

| 2011

| 2012

| Drury University

| Springfield, Missouri

| 1873

| Private

| 5,474

| Panthers

| Great Lakes Valley

| 1999

| 2000

| rowspan=2 | Grand Canyon University

| rowspan=2 | Phoenix, Arizona

| rowspan=2 | 1949

| rowspan=2 | Private, for-profit

| rowspan=2 | 17,650

| rowspan=2 | Antelopes

| rowspan=2 | Mountain West