The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) is one of the most competitive and influential athletic conferences in all of NCAA Division I. Spanning across nine states including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and West Virginia, the OVC is home to nine highly regarded member institutions, each vying to be crowned conference champions. Comprised of five public universities, three private universities, and one joint public/private university, the OVC competitively compeates in 19 sports with a focus on academic and athletic excellence. Read on to learn more about the Ohio Valley Conference and what makes it a preeminent collegiate athletic league.
History of the Ohio Valley Conference
Originally called the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference, the OVC was founded on April 28, 1948 as an NCAA Division II athletic conference with six original members. In 1977, the OVC moved up to the NCAA Division I level bringing along four of the original members. Over the years the conference realigned their membership resulting in the nine instituions we have today. The OVC has evolved with time, recently becoming an affiliate of the Big 12 Conference, allowing its teams to compete in a greater number of non-conference games against tougher competition.
OVC Member Institutions
The Ohio Valley Conference is comprised of the following nine schools; Austin Peay State University, Belmont University, Eastern Illinois Unversity, Jacksonville State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Southeast Missouri State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University, and University of Tennessee at Martin. All OVC schools are either public or private institutions, and are located within or near the Ohio Valley region.
Sports & Achievements
The Ohio Valley Conference competitively competes in 19 championship sports and is home to numerous successful programs, both at the conference and national levels. Member institutions compete in basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer, and golf, as well as a variety of non-varsity sports. Student athletes have enjoyed tremendous successes, with recent highlights including back-to-back OVC basketball championships for Austin Peay State University (2017-18, 2018-19) and the University of Tennessee at Martin winning the 2018-19 OVC football championship.
Ohio Valley Conference Rivalries
The Ohio Valley Conference is known for its rivalries, which embody the competitive spirit of the conference. Belmont University and Lipscomb University are bitter rivals, each vying for bragging rights in the Battle of the Boulevard. Austin Peay State University vs. Tennessee State University is another storied rivalry known as the I-40 Series. Eastern Kentucky University and Western Kentucky University neck-and-neck in the Battle of the Bluegrass. And lastly, the Eastern Illinois University and Southeast Missouri State University rivalry is deemed the Battle of the Interstate 57.
Operations
The Ohio Valley Conference is governed by an Executive Council comprised of nine members, one representative from each member institution. The Executive Council sets policy on various operational aspects of the conference including scheduling, budgeting, and championships. The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner serve as the executive officers of the OVC, with additional staff overseeing league operations such as budget, media, and marketing.
Role & Impact
The Ohio Valley Conference is an integral part of NCAA Division I, offering student-athletes a platform to compete for championships and recognition. Fans enjoy watching exciting matchups between OVC rival schools, boosting team spirit and loyalties. Athletes of the OVC have gone on to accomplish remarkable feats both on and off the field, including multiple NCAA Division I Championships, and more importantly, academic success in graduate programs across the nation.
Future Prospects
The Ohio Valley Conference looks to maintain their nationwide impact, with the continued focus on developing hungry young athletes. The conference seeks to expand their reach, with recent membership application procedures as well as enhanced marketing and promotional campaigns. Aiming to bring the best and brightest student athletes to the OVC, the conference looks to the future as a period of growth and success.
Conclusion
The Ohio Valley Conference is an NCAA Division I powerhouse, boasting some of the nation’s best student athletes and teams. Its storied rivalries, academic prestige, and commitment to excellence make it one of the most influential conferences in the country. With ongoing promotional efforts and membership applications, the OVC is on track to continue its upward trajectory for years to come.