Collegiate Conference of the South

The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Member schools are located in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky.

While competitive CCS play began immediately during the 2022Ã¢ÂÂ23 school year, the CCS was not eligible for automatic NCAA Division III tournament bids until 2024Ã¢ÂÂ25. The conference sponsors 14 championship sports. Football, women's golf, and men's and women's lacrosse teams sponsored by CCS members continue to compete in the USA South as associate members.

History

First changes

On June 1, 2023, Berea announced that it accepted an invitation to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) as a full member, thus leaving the CCS, and join there, beginning the 2024Ã¢ÂÂ25 school year.

On October 6, 2023, Asbury University was accepted as a full member of the CCS, thus replacing Berea's spot, to join there beginning during the 2024Ã¢ÂÂ25 school year.

On July 17, 2024, Maryville announced that it will leave the CCS to accept an invitation to the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) as a full member, and will join there, beginning the 2026Ã¢ÂÂ27 school year.

Chronological timeline

2022 Ã¢ÂÂ The College Conference of the South was founded and established after a decision to split the 19-member USA South Athletic Conference (USA South) into two smaller, geographically oriented leagues. Charter members included Agnes Scott College, Belhaven University, Berea College, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University and Wesleyan College, beginning the 2022Ã¢ÂÂ23 academic year.
2024:
Berea left the CCS to join the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) after the 2023Ã¢ÂÂ24 academic year.
Asbury University joined the CCS in the 2024Ã¢ÂÂ25 academic year.
2026:
Maryville (TN) will leave the CCS to join the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) after the 2025Ã¢ÂÂ26 academic year.
Wesleyan will leave the CCS and the NCAA to begin a transition to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) after the 2025Ã¢ÂÂ26 academic year.

Member schools

Founding members

The CCS began with nine full members, all private and faith-based schools. The only members not tied to one or more specific Christian denominations are current member Asbury and former member Berea, although Asbury is historically associated with the Methodist movement.

Member departing for the Southern Athletic Association on July 1, 2026.<br> Member departing for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Southern States Athletic Conference on July 1, 2026.

Notes:

Former members

The CCS has one former full member, which was also a private school:

Notes:

Membership timeline

Sports

The CCS sponsors championships in the following sports:

Men's sponsored sports by school

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the CCS that are played by CCS schools

Women's sponsored sports by school

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the CCS that are played by CCS schools

Conference facilities

All CCS members with football teams play that sport in the USA South.

References

External links