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ASUN Announces WAC Alliance, Several Teams Exit: What's Next for Conference with JU, UNF?

On June 26, 2025, the Atlantic Sun Conference and the Western Athletic Conference announced they will establish a strategic partnership starting July 1, 2026, creating a joint consortium headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, under the leadership of ASUN Commissioner Jeff Bacon.
The alliance results from changes in membership, with five ASUN teams transitioning to the WAC, which plans to rename itself the United Athletic Conference and broaden its scope to an all-sports league amid the exit of several WAC schools to other conferences.
The consortium will preserve the ASUN and UAC as independent conferences with automatic NCAA qualifiers, enabling collaborative scheduling, shared resources, and operational efficiencies for the member institutions.
WAC Commissioner Rebekah Ray emphasized that partnering with the ASUN Conference sets their member schools up for sustained achievement, while Bacon highlighted the transformative nature of this period and praised university leaders for making the collaboration possible.
This alliance signals a pivotal evolution in collegiate athletics, aiming to enhance competitive opportunities, increase financial viability, and ensure stability amid ongoing conference realignments.

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Richmond Register

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TimesDaily

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thecabin.net

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Conference alliance leads UCA to switch conferences in 2026

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Naples Daily News

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What's next for FGCU after ASUN announces WAC alliance, 5 teams exit conference

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9 days ago·Naples, United States

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The Florida Times-Union

Center

ASUN announces WAC alliance, several teams exit: What's next for conference with JU, UNF?

Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida are heading for changes in ASUN sports. Here's the news on the conference's realignment.

9 days ago·Jacksonville, United States

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WAAY-TV

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Atlantic Sun Conference and Western Athletic Conference to Forge Strategic Alliance

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Thursday, the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced a groundbreaking strategic alliance, set to commence in July 2026. The WAC will rebrand as the United Athletic Conference (UAC) and together the ASUN…

9 days ago·Huntsville, United States

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