DALLAS – Conference USA welcomes the University of Delaware and Missouri State University as the league’s 11^th and 12^th members with Tuesday marking their official start in the conference.
 
“Today marks an exciting new chapter for us as we look forward to the energy and competitive spirit that Delaware and Missouri State will add to the league,” CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod said. “Both institutions bring a strong tradition of academic and athletic excellence, and their commitment to innovation and growth aligns perfectly with our vision for the future.”

Founded in 1743, the University of Delaware’s academic programs are among the nation’s best, and its research classification places the University in the top 3% of all U.S. universities and colleges. Announced in September, UD ranks No. 86 among national universities and No. 44 nationally among public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings. U.S. News also ranked six undergraduate programs at UD among the nation’s top 100 in their disciplines, including No. 4 nationally in chemical engineering.
 
“Joining Conference USA gives us the opportunity to broaden our exposure, create visibility and let everyone know how special UD is as a flagship institution in the state,” Delaware Interim Director of Athletics, Community and Campus Recreation Jordan Skolnick said. “Now is the right moment for a lot of reasons. This step up in competition for us is so exciting to our coaches and our student-athletes.”
 
Delaware brings a rich athletic history to CUSA having won 10 national crowns, 172 team conference titles, 282 individual conference championships, 342 major conference award winners, 2,655 all-league selections, and 543 all-Americans. The Blue Hens have a strong tradition of excellence on the gridiron, having won the FCS National Championship in 2003 and deep playoff runs, including a semifinal appearance in the spring of 2020. UD has produced many professional talents, including Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco, 2002 NFL MVP Rich Gannon and WNBA All-Star Elena Delle Donne.
 
During the 2024-25 academic year, the Blue Hens compiled a cumulative 3.41 grade-point average, the highest in department history, excluding academic terms impacted by COVID-19. This marked the 11^th-consecutive year and the 23^rd-straight semester in which UD student-athletes have posted a 3.00 GPA or better.
 
UD is dedicated to a holistic student-athlete experience, highlighted by the Whitney Athletic Center, featuring training, medical, academic, and dining facilities. Additional upgrades within the last 15 years include the new Delaware Diamond, site of the 2026 CUSA Softball Championship, and enhancements to the Bob Carpenter Center for basketball and volleyball programs.
 
Located in Newark, Del., the university is within easy reach of major East Coast markets like Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. UD offers a strong media footprint and alumni base across the Mid-Atlantic region.
 
Founded in 1905, Missouri State holds the higher-level classification of doctoral and professional studies from The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, while the university's College of Business is the university of choice for Midwest business students with its fully accredited classification from the Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Located in the fastest growing part of the state, it has experienced a steady increase in enrollment, currently at around 25,000 students. Athletics plays a key role at the university, reflected by competitive and academic success, along with a continued commitment to improving the overall student-athlete experience.
 
MSU has a tradition of athletic success with 81 NCAA Division I postseason appearances, including 23 in men’s and women’s basketball, as well as 121 individual NCAA qualifiers and 106 total postseason appearances. In its history, MSU has qualified for 17 NCAA women’s basketball tournaments, highlighted by two Final Four appearances, and six NCAA men’s basketball appearances including a Sweet 16, as well as 10 trips to the NIT. The baseball program has made one appearance in the College World Series, along with three Super Regionals.
 
“It’s a big day for the university and our athletics department,” Missouri State Director of Athletics Patrick Ransdell said. “This is an opportunity that our fanbase has been clamoring for for some time. There’s been so much build up for today. Everyone around campus is excited. I hope this is a good platform for the overall university to grow. More than anything, I hope this allows the institution to achieve its full potential as a nationally relevant university. This is the first step in that.”
 
A prominent member of the Missouri Valley Conference for the past 35 years, Missouri State finished in the top four of Valley's All-Sports Trophy race in six of the last seven seasons. The Bears won five MVC All-Sports Trophy honors during their tenure and were runners-up in the MVC all-sports race nine times.
 
Missouri State is committed to continually improving facilities with upgrades totaling nearly $22 million in the past 15 years, including the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Academic Achievement Center project, the MSU Basketball Complex at Great Southern Bank Arena, and new or renovated home facilities for 14 of MSU’s 19 intercollegiate sports.
 
The addition of Missouri State also adds to the academic pedigree of Conference USA. The last 10 years have seen 1,299 student-athletes earn degrees, while 518 former Bears have graduated over the past four years alone. The 2024-25 academic year marked the 12th consecutive year that MSU graduated more than 100 student-athletes. In the spring of 2025, MoState student-athletes collaborated for a 3.314 departmental grade-point average -- the second-highest semester performance on record -- with 315 individuals achieving a 3.0 or better for the term. The Bears also boast 90 Academic All-Americans and have earned several conference scholar-athlete awards.
 
Located in Springfield, Mo., MSU sits in the heart of the Midwest, within driving distance of major markets like Kansas City, St. Louis and Tulsa. Springfield, which ranks as the third-largest city in Missouri, experienced the largest population growth rate in the state from 2020-23.
 
ABOUT CONFERENCE USA
Conference USA is an NCAA Division I conference championing success in college athletics through dedicated leadership, dynamic partnership and diverse membership. Founded in 1995 and based in Dallas, CUSA is home to 12 schools: Delaware, FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP, and WKU.