The Big South-OVC Football Association was established to stabilize and combine the football resources of two NCAA Division I FCS conferences. This partnership allows member schools to compete for a single automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship.
To maintain competitive numbers, the conference has added University of Southern Indiana (USI) , Lindenwood , Little Rock , and Western Illinois . 3. Media and Broadcasting (2025-2026 Season)
Several legacy programs have recently left the OVC, including Murray State , Eastern Kentucky , Belmont , and Jacksonville State .