The Great American Conference (GAC) is a collegiate athletic conference composed of 11 institutions in the south and midwest of the United States. The conference is known for being the only Division II conference in the south and is part of the NCAA’s Division II. The GAC is currently the largest Division II conference in the country and is comprised of members from the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

History of the Conference:

The GAC was created in 2010 by the institutions of seven teams, five from the former Lone Star conference, as well as two teams from the Great Lakes Valley conference. The members of the newly formed conference met in Dallas to officially establish the conference in a contract that laid out the governance of the conference, criteria for future members, and various rules. The Great American Conference also instituted a football-only program in its inaugural season, allowing the seven members to compete for a conference championship.

Since its inception, the GAC has seen several changes with both additions and subtractions. In 2012, the conference added four new members and the football program became a full-sport program. Two years later, in 2014, the conference added two more members and reached its current number of 11.

Member Institutions and Sports Competed

The 11 institutions of the GAC are Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas-Fort Smith, East Central University, Henderson State University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Ouachita Baptist University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southern Arkansas University and University of Arkansas- at Little Rock.

The conference competes in 17 different sports, including football, men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, softball, golf, track and field, volleyball, soccer, and tennis. The conference also has several emerging sports, including acrobatics & tumbling, esports, and equestrian.

Notable Achievements

The GAC has seen many successes in its short history. In 2012, Henderson State won the first GAC football championship, and the teams have gone on to win 11 total championships since then. In addition to football, the teams have also won national championships in baseball, softball, equestrian, and men’s and women’s track and field. The conference is also home to three teams that have won national championships in acrobatics & tumbling – Arkansas-Monticello in 2018 and 2019, and Henderson State in 2019.

Rivalries within the Conference

With 11 teams in the conference, there are many rivalries among the schools. Some of the major rivalries of the conference are Henderson State vs Ouachita Baptist, East Central University vs Southeastern Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma Baptist vs Northwestern Oklahoma State. With the addition of football, the rivalry between Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State has become one of the fiercest in the conference.

Governance, Scheduling, Championship Events

The Great American Conference is governed by its 11 member institutions. The conference is led by a Commissioner, Conference administrator, and Executive Committee. The Conference also has a Council of Athletics Directors, which is composed of Athletics Directors from each member institution, and is responsible for setting conference policies and governing the affairs of the conference.

The member schools of the GAC compete in a round-robin schedule, with each school playing each other once a year. At the end of the season, the top teams from each division participate in a one-game playoff to determine the overall conference champion. In addition, the conference holds several championship events throughout the year, including golf, tennis, soccer, and track & field.

Impact on Local, National Sports Scene

The GAC has had an impact on both the local and national sports scenes. The conference is located in the south and midwest, where football is especially popular, so the teams benefit from playing in front of large, raucous crowds. Furthermore, many GAC teams have gone on to compete in national tournaments and have seen success at the national level.

Future Prospects of the Great American Conference

The future of the Great American Conference looks bright. With its success in football and other sports, the conference is well-positioned to continue its success in the years to come. Furthermore, the conference has added non-traditional sports such as acrobatics & tumbling, equestrian, and esports, which has helped to diversify the conference and given the schools new options for competition.

With its mix of traditional and non-traditional sports, and its commitment to competitive excellence, the Great American Conference has positioned itself to be one of the top Division II conferences in the country.