12 Schools•Division I•Est. 1920
The SWAC was founded in 1920, when eight men representing six Texas colleges met in Houston and agreed to form a league of their own. The charter members were Bishop, Paul Quinn, Prairie View A&M, Samuel Huston, Texas College and Wiley. Prairie View A&M has never left. A century later the conference is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and spans twelve historically Black universities across six states, sponsoring eighteen sports, eight for men and ten for women.
Football carries the flag. The SWAC competes in the Football Championship Subdivision and has consistently led that level of college football in attendance. Rather than enter the FCS playoffs, its champion meets the MEAC champion in the Celebration Bowl, the recognized title game of Black college football.
The professional pipeline ranks among the richest in American sport. Walter Payton came from Jackson State, Jerry Rice and Deacon Jones from Mississippi Valley State, Michael Strahan from Texas Southern, Mel Blount from Southern, John Stallworth from Alabama A&M, Ken Houston from Prairie View A&M, and Willie Davis, Willie Brown and Buck Buchanan from Grambling State, where Eddie Robinson coached for more than half a century. Lou Brock of Southern reached Cooperstown. Willis Reed of Grambling State and Zelmo Beaty of Prairie View A&M reached Springfield.
The Olympic tradition runs just as deep. Bob Hayes of Florida A&M won the 100 meters in Tokyo. Jim Hines of Texas Southern won it in Mexico City, where Willie Davenport of Southern took the high hurdles and Mildrette Netter of Alcorn State ran on the winning relay. Rod Milburn of Southern won hurdles gold in Munich, Fred Newhouse of Prairie View A&M won relay gold in Montreal, and Jearl Miles Clark of Alabama A&M competed in four Games.
Rivalries give the calendar its shape. Southern and Grambling State meet in the Bayou Classic, Alabama A&M and Alabama State in the Magic City Classic. The bands are half the draw.
Official Website
The SWAC was founded in 1920, when eight men representing six Texas colleges met in Houston and agreed to form a league of their own. The charter members were Bishop, Paul Quinn, Prairie View A&M, Samuel Huston, Texas College and Wiley. Prairie View A&M has never left. A century later the conference is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and spans twelve historically Black universities across six states, sponsoring eighteen sports, eight for men and ten for women.
Football carries the flag. The SWAC competes in the Football Championship Subdivision and has consistently led that level of college football in attendance. Rather than enter the FCS playoffs, its champion meets the MEAC champion in the Celebration Bowl, the recognized title game of Black college football.
The professional pipeline ranks among the richest in American sport. Walter Payton came from Jackson State, Jerry Rice and Deacon Jones from Mississippi Valley State, Michael Strahan from Texas Southern, Mel Blount from Southern, John Stallworth from Alabama A&M, Ken Houston from Prairie View A&M, and Willie Davis, Willie Brown and Buck Buchanan from Grambling State, where Eddie Robinson coached for more than half a century. Lou Brock of Southern reached Cooperstown. Willis Reed of Grambling State and Zelmo Beaty of Prairie View A&M reached Springfield.
The Olympic tradition runs just as deep. Bob Hayes of Florida A&M won the 100 meters in Tokyo. Jim Hines of Texas Southern won it in Mexico City, where Willie Davenport of Southern took the high hurdles and Mildrette Netter of Alcorn State ran on the winning relay. Rod Milburn of Southern won hurdles gold in Munich, Fred Newhouse of Prairie View A&M won relay gold in Montreal, and Jearl Miles Clark of Alabama A&M competed in four Games.
Rivalries give the calendar its shape. Southern and Grambling State meet in the Bayou Classic, Alabama A&M and Alabama State in the Magic City Classic. The bands are half the draw.
Official Website