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| Millsaps athletics photo |
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference announced that Millsaps will return to the conference beginning with the 2027-28 academic year after the SCAC Presidents Council approved the college’s formal application for membership.
The school, one of seven institutions to split from the SCAC to form the Southern Athletic Association in 2012, is now the second school to return, following Hendrix, which did so this past season.
"Joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference is a natural fit for Millsaps and an important step in advancing our institutional priorities,” said Millsaps College president Frank Neville. “This transition reflects our commitment to providing an exceptional student-athlete experience while supporting the goals of our strategic vision. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to building an even stronger tradition of competitive excellence in Millsaps athletics."
Millsaps currently has 19 varsity programs and reported 358 student-athletes in its 2024-25 filing with the U.S. Department of Education, meaning that of its 543 full-time undergraduates, almost two-thirds play at least one varsity sport. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis and track and field. Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, flag football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field and volleyball.
The move solidifies the SCAC's automatic bid in football starting in 2027, one which was claimed for 2026 on the strength of a one-game-only single-sport member in Gallaudet.
“As current chair of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, I am delighted to welcome Millsaps College into a league defined by academic excellence, spirited competition, and shared values,” said Centenary College president Christopher Holoman. “Millsaps brings a strong tradition and a commitment to the student-athlete experience that will enrich our conference community from day one. We look forward to the championships ahead and to the strengthened bonds this partnership will create across the SCAC.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Millsaps back to its original Division III conference home,” said SCAC Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry. “Millsaps has a proud history within the SCAC, and I have no doubt the institution will once again be an outstanding fit. Having previously worked with several of the college’s current administrators and coaches, I know firsthand the values they bring, and I am confident they will once again thrive with the collaborative culture that defines the SCAC.”
The Majors have captured 22 conference championships as members of the CAC/SCAC and 10 titles in the Southern Athletic Association. The school finished last among eight members in the 2025-26 Southern Athletic Association Commissioner's Cup.
“The SCAC has long been an important part of Millsaps athletics history, and we are excited to renew this longstanding relationship beginning in the fall of 2027,” said Millsaps College athletic director Justin LeBlanc. “Rejoining the SCAC represents an exciting opportunity for the future of Millsaps College and our athletic department as we continue to provide an outstanding academic and athletic experience for our student-athletes.”
With the addition of Millsaps, the SCAC will consist of 11 full members beginning in 2027-28.
"Adding another full member is something that makes sense for us on several levels," added Hanberry. "We've successfully operated with as many as 12 institutions before, so I believe our presidents would be receptive to expanding again, provided any prospective member is the right geographic and cultural fit for the conference."
Millsaps becomes the third institution to enjoy a second tenure in the conference, joining Hendrix and Rose-Hulman. Hendrix returned in 2025 after competing in the SCAC from 1992-2012. Rose-Hulman competed from 1974-89 before returning in 1998 and remaining through 2005-06.