ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Effective in 2026, the Washington University in St. Louis football team will become an affiliate member of the North Coast Athletic Conference, announced University Administration and Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Director of Athletics Anthony J. Azama.
 
"We are excited about our acceptance into the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in the sport of football. We look forward to competing for championships while prioritizing the student-athlete experience in the competitive arena and in the classroom," said Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. "I am grateful to the NCAC member institutions and their leaders for their partnership and warm welcome. WashU looks forward to competing and making memories with this storied conference."
 
"The history and traditions of the WashU football program have contributed to the strength of our athletics program for well over a century," added Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Anna Gonzalez. "We have enjoyed continued success and look forward to building upon our successes in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Joining the NCAC gives us the chance both to continue to play competitive football and also travel to a new region where we have a significant number of prospective future student-athletes and many alumni."
 
The Bears will join the ranks of Denison, DePauw, John Carroll (beginning in 2025), Kenyon, Oberlin, Ohio Wesleyan, Wabash, Wittenberg and Wooster. WashU will remain in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) for the remainder of the 2024 season and the full 2025 season before making the transition to the NCAC. WashU has been an affiliate member of the CCIW since 2018.
 
Founded in 1983, the NCAC's mission aligns closely with WashU's, as "it's members strive for athletic excellence, for fair and equal opportunities for men and women, and for the development of a broad-based program."
 
"This is a wonderful move for NCAC football," said NCAC Executive Director Keri Alexander Luchowski. "It just makes sense to partner with an institution that aligns with the NCAC philosophy of highly competitive athletics within a rigorous academic environment. I'm so pleased to formally welcome the Bears back into the NCAC Football family. We last worked together as part of a scheduling agreement with the UAA football-playing members; I look forward re-establishing these relationships in the coming years throughout conference competition."
 
In that UAA-NCAC partnership, the Bears faced off with NCAC opponents 20 times, resulting in a 10-10 record against then-NCAC members. Since the NCAC's first playing season in 1984, WashU played NCAC opponents 35 times, resulting in a nearly even 17-18 (.486) record. Overall, the Bears have competed against the current lineup of NCAC programs 75 times, including taking on Wabash 45 times from 1915 to 2012. WashU has not competed against an NCAC team since 2012.
 
"What an exciting time for our football program, coaches, staff, and alumni as we begin the next chapter in the NCAC," said Azama. "While the opponents and locations are new, our mission and commitment remain the same – graduate student-athletes, compete for championships and prepare them for post-grad opportunities while simultaneously prioritizing the student-athlete experience. We are grateful for both the NCAC member institutions and our University leadership for solidifying this partnership."
 
Historically, Allegheny and Wittenberg hold national championships in football among NCAC teams, with the Gators winning the 1990 crown and Wittenberg claiming the 1973 and 1975 national titles. DePauw has won the conference title the last three years and prior to that, Denison, Wabash and Wittenberg were tri-champs in both 2019 and 2018.
 
"We are thrilled to be joining the NCAC as an affiliate member for football starting in the 2026 season," said Head Coach Aaron Keen '94. "Everyone associated with our football program at Washington University is excited about the future and our new conference home. We look forward to establishing new rivalries and playing in new locations. I truly appreciate the leadership at our university for their help in making this new conference home a reality."
 
The NCAC anticipates football schedules for the fall of 2026 to be shared in the coming weeks.