The Big South Conference and Ohio Valley Conference altered their football association agreement. The two conferences allow a “look-in” provision following the 2026 season that could allow the agreement to be extended four years through the 2030 season. The original agreement was set to last four years from 2023 through 2026 as the two conferences partnered up to stave off any potential realignment changes.
In 2023, the Big South-OVC was comprised of 10 teams with Bryant (Big South), Charleston Southern (Big South), Eastern Illinois (OVC), Gardner-Webb (Big South), Lindenwood (OVC), Robert Morris (Big South), Southeast Missouri State (OVC), Tennessee Martin (OVC), Tennessee State (OVC), and Tennessee Tech (OVC) competing. Gardner-Webb won the 2023 automatic qualifying bid to the FCS playoffs while Eastern Illinois and Chattanooga were two of the first four teams out of the 2023 FCS Playoffs.
In 2024, Bryant departs for the CAA, Robert Morris will join the Northeast Conference, and Western Illinois will join the Big South-OVC from the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Of the 9 members in the Big South-OVC, seven of them have the Ohio Valley Conference as their primary home. The updated agreement states that the OVC is in charge of the day-to-day operations.
Photo Credit to the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association
