Big Changes for Golden Eagles: Tennessee Tech Joins the Southern Conference

gillian-reese
Gillian Reese August 28, 2025

Tennessee Tech is making a major move. The university’s athletics program will be leaving the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and officially joining the Southern Conference on July 1, 2026. This is a huge shift, as the Golden Eagles have been part of the OVC since 1949.

What This Means for Tennessee Tech Athletics

According to Athletic Director Casey Fox, this change is all about the future. “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,” Fox said.

The move will place Tennessee Tech in an 11-team conference, with new rivals like East Tennessee State and Chattanooga. Fourteen of the university’s 15 sports will be part of the Southern Conference, with the exception of beach volleyball.

A Strong Start in a New League

Tennessee Tech is already on a roll, coming off a 7-5 season where they were the preseason pick to win their current conference title. The football team is ranked No. 22 in the Football Championship Series’ Top 25. Southern Conference Commissioner Michael Cross said the Golden Eagles’ success on the field and in the classroom makes them a perfect fit for their new home.

While the OVC is sad to see them go, the league’s commissioner, Beth DeBauche, said they will continue to pursue new members and adapt to the ever-changing world of college athletics.

Categories: News, updates and more

Report

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

  • See blocked member's posts
  • Mention this member in posts
  • Invite this member to groups
  • Message this member
  • Add this member as a connection

Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to a BluChip admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

Report

You have already reported this .
Close

Contact Look-Ups

Unlock verified email and LinkedIn info for your target contacts so you can reach out directly. Each time you unlock a person’s contact information (email, LinkedIn, and more), it counts as a contact look-up. Your plan includes a set number of credits to use toward these look-ups.