COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The 2025-2026 season will mark Tennessee Tech University's last in the Ohio Valley Conference after 76 years. School officials announced Wednesday that the Golden Eagles will soon compete in the Southern Conference.

Tennessee Tech's arrival on July 1, 2026, will grow the SoCon to an 11-team conference that includes in-state foes East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Dating back over a century, the SoCon is the fifth-oldest NCAA Division I Collegiate athletic conference in the nation. A university announcement said that the majority of Tennessee Tech students come from states that have a SoCon member school like Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The switch will also see Tennessee Tech renew its longstanding rivalry with Samford.

“This historic move changes the trajectory of our athletic aspirations and makes a statement to our campus and our community that Tech sports will be a part of a vibrant conference with new geographic rivalries,” said Tennessee Tech Director of Athletics Casey Fox. “Our student-athletes and coaches will benefit from the reputation and competition the SoCon offers.”

Tennessee Tech has competed in the Ohio Valley Conference since 1949. Their 11 OVC football championships are tied for the second most in conference history.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/sports/tennessee-tech-to-join-etsu-utc-in-southern-conference/