Stephen F. Austin Leaving WAC

Stephen F. Austin is leaving the Western Athletic Conference to return to the Southland Conference beginning with the 2024-25 academic year. The football team will leave the United Athletic Conference to rejoin the Southland with the SLC expected to play a 7-game conference schedule in 2024.

SFA became a member of the FCS – then called Division I-AA – in 1984 and joined the short-lived Gulf Star Conference. The GSC lasted three seasons from 1984-85 through 1986-87 with a majority of members joining the Southland Conference in 1987. SFA made 7 of its 8 playoff appearances as a member of the Southland including the 1989 National Championship game. The Lumberjacks lost that game to Georgia Southern 37-34 and reached the semifinals again in 1995.