Andrew Football Finds New Home in AAC
Cuthbert, Ga - On June 5, 2026, Andrew College was approved to join the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). The move was approved by the AAC Council of Presidents during their annual meeting.
Andrew joins Faulkner University (Ala.) as the conference's newest football affiliate members.
"We are so excited to add both Faulkner University and Andrew College to the AAC football family," said AAC Commissioner Bill Popp. "Both fit the mission of the AAC and help us continue to grow football in a positive way and help to create a very competitive environment for all of our teams."
With the additions of Andrew and Faulkner, the AAC will sponsor nine football-playing institutions beginning in 2027. Those programs include Bluefield University (Va.), Kentucky Christian University, University of Pikeville (Ky.), Point University (Ga.), Reinhardt University (Ga.), University of Rio Grande (Ohio), Union Commonwealth University (Ky.), Andrew College and Faulkner University.
The AAC began sponsoring football as a championship sport in 2022. Since its inaugural season, Reinhardt has won or shared all four conference championships, including a shared title with Pikeville in 2024.
The announcement marks another significant step for Andrew College Athletics as it transitions to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) on July 1, 2026.
About the AAC:
The Appalachian Athletic Conference, previously known as the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC), was an NAIA conference that was organized in the 1940s and later dissolved during the early 1980s as institutions within the eastern part of the region seceded to form the Tennessee Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC). The conference name was eventually changed to the Appalachian Athletic Conference (2001) with the addition of Bluefield University, Montreat College, Alice Lloyd College and Union Commonwealth University.
In 2019, the AAC became the largest NAIA-affiliated conference with 16 full-time members across seven southeastern states. The AAC currently has 14 full members: Bluefield (Va.), Brenau (Ga.), Bryan (Tenn.), Columbia (S.C.), Columbia International (S.C.), Johnson (Tenn.), Milligan (Tenn.), Montreat (N.C.), Pikeville (Ky.), Reinhardt (Ga.), Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.),
Tennessee Wesleyan, Truett McConnell (Ga.), and Union Commonwealth (Ky.).
The AAC also has 14 affiliate members: Carolina University (N.C.) Cumberlands (Ky.), Georgetown (Ky.), Keiser (Fla.), Kentucky Christian, Life (Ga.), Point (Ga.), Rio Grande (Ohio), SCAD Savannah (Ga.), St. Thomas (Fla.), Tennessee Southern, Warner (Fla.), Webber International (Fla.) and West Virginia Tech.
The AAC sponsors 24 championship sports, including Men's and Women's Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Swimming and Diving, Indoor Track and Field, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track and Field, Golf and Tennis, along with Football, Baseball, Softball and Men's Wrestling.
Andrew College is a National Junior College Athletic Association Division I school located in Cuthbert, Georgia. The Fighting Tigers sponsor 16 sports and compete in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Andrew College will move to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, effective July 1, 2026.