Conference USA

An NCAA collegiate conference formed in 1995, located in mostly the southeastern portion of the United States. Initially a merger between two smaller conferences which did not sponsor football at the time, C-USA added its 12th member in 1996 to even out the membership. Though members have left in the ensuing years, most notably to the expansion of the Big East prior to the 2005 season, Conference USA responded admirably by extending invitations to schools from the mid-major WAC and MAC conferences. As of 2010, C-USA has 12 universities in its fold, is recognized nationally in athletics as well as academics, and has more football bowl tie-ins than any other mid-major conference. C-USA East: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers University of Central Florida (UCF) Golden Knights East Carolina University (ECU) Pirates Marshall University Thundering Herd Memphis Tigers Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles C-USA West: University of Houston Cougars Rice University Owls Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Miners Tulane Green Wave Tulsa Golden Hurricane