GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Conference Carolinas and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) have entered into a truly unique and beneficial collaboration in NCAA football.
The two-year partnership will officially begin in the fall of 2025 and continue in the fall of 2026.
The agreement articulates that two Conference Carolinas institutions that do not qualify for the 2025 conference championship will travel to two SIAC institutions that do not qualify for their league championship during week 11 of the season on Saturday, November 15, 2025.
The partnership continues in 2026, with two SIAC institutions not qualifying for their conference championship, traveling to two Conference Carolinas institutions who do not advance to the league championship game during week 11 of the season on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
Participants in the two games each year will be finalized on the Saturday preceding the scheduled games. The Commissioners of Conference Carolinas and the SIAC will have final approval on the selection of participating institutions and matchups.
“This is a historic announcement for Conference Carolinas football, and we appreciate the hard work of Commissioner Holloman and his staff to help us make this a reality,” Conference Carolinas Commissioner Chris Colvin said. “When we officially unveiled last year that Conference Carolinas would be sponsoring football for the first time since the 1974-75 academic year, it was a high priority to all of our football-playing member institutions to find partnerships such as this that would not only allow for strong scheduling but also allow for us to continue to build our footprint and to expand our regional rivalries. This partnership is a huge win for all involved.”
As the second oldest historically black college and university athletic conference, the SIAC has one of the most storied histories in the NCAA. This partnership allows two of the most storied conference brands in NCAA Division II to work together.
“The SIAC is excited to partner with Conference Carolinas. This partnership reflects our commitment to providing our student-athletes with the best competitive opportunities while fostering a spirit of excellence and sportsmanship in collegiate football,” said SIAC Commissioner Anthony Holloman.
“This collaboration aims to orchestrate meaningful contests that highlight the exceptional skills of our student-athletes and play a pivotal role in positively impacting the final regional rankings before playoff seeding is determined.”
Institutions with a .500 record or better against NCAA Division II competition will be given priority in the selection process for the week 11 games in 2025 and 2026. In addition, any institution that is scheduled to compete in a postseason competition or has a prior obligation will not be eligible to participate.
Conference Carolinas originally announced, with the addition of Shorter as a full conference member in January of 2023, that it will officially start sponsoring football in the 2025-26 academic year. Conference Carolinas football will feature Barton, Chowan, Erskine, UNC Pembroke, North Greenville, and Shorter in the 2025 college football season.
Conference Carolinas Football Membership History
Appalachian State 1931–1967 (No Teams 1943-44)
Atlantic Christian/Barton 1946–1950; 2025–
Catawba 1931–1974 (No Team 1943)
Chowan 2025–
East Carolina 1947–1961
Elon 1931–1974 (No Teams 1942-45)
Erskine 2025–
Guilford 1931–1974 (No Teams 1943-44)
High Point 1931–1932, 1938–1942, 1945–1950
Lenoir-Rhyne 1931–1974 (No Teams 1942-45)
Mars Hill 1973–1974
UNC Pembroke 2025–
Newberry 1961–1972
North Greenville 2025–
Presbyterian 1965–1972
Shorter 2025–
Western Carolina 1933–1968 (No Teams 1942-44)
(Note: The 1974-75 academic year was the final year that Conference Carolinas sponsored football until its eventual return in the 2025-26 academic year)
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