Arkansas Wrestle (All images via lrtrojans.com)
LITTLE ROCK — The Little Rock Department of Athletics is thrilled to announce its official entry into the United Athletic Conference (UAC), marking a bold and exciting new chapter in the program’s history. This strategic move places Trojan Athletics on an even higher level in the landscape of intercollegiate competition, signaling a powerful step forward in the department’s continued rise to national prominence. Joining the UAC reflects Little Rock’s unwavering commitment to excellence, growth, and championship-caliber competition across all sports.
The move was officially announced today by UA Little Rock Chancellor Dr. Christina Drale and Director of Athletics Frank M. Cuervo, following unanimous approval by the University of Arkansas System’s Board of Trustees. The Trojans will begin their membership in the United Athletic Conference on July 1, 2026.
“Becoming part of the United Athletic Conference is a tremendous opportunity,” said Drale. “This affiliation will elevate the visibility of Trojan Athletics and position us well in a growth-oriented organization. The UAC gives our student-athletes the chance to compete at a high level while proudly representing Little Rock on a national stage.”
Little Rock Director of Athletics Frank M. Cuervo also conveyed excitement and enthusiasm for the future of the Trojans as members of the UAC.
“Joining the United Athletic Conference marks an exciting new chapter for Trojan Athletics,” said Cuervo. “The UAC’s vision for growth and stability aligns perfectly with our mission to build champions in the classroom, in the community and in competition. This move reflects our unwavering commitment to positioning Little Rock as a leader in intercollegiate athletics during a time of great change and opportunity. As the landscape continues to evolve, we are energized by the possibilities ahead and confident that this partnership will help us elevate our programs, strengthen our national profile, and build a bright future for our student-athletes, fans, the Little Rock community and all of Trojan Nation.”
Fans, supporters, Trojan Athletic Fund (TAF) members, season ticket holders, and members of both the UALR campus and the greater Little Rock community are invited to join us for “Trojans United”, a free event celebrating Little Rock’s historic transition to the United Athletic Conference. This Press Conference and Celebration will take place in the rotunda, inside the main entrance of the Jack Stephens Center, on Wednesday, October 15. Doors open at 9 a.m., with the program beginning at 9:30 a.m. Parking will be available in lot 13 outside the game day entrance to the Stephens Center. Attendees will hear remarks from UA Little Rock Chancellor Dr. Christina Drale, consortium Executive Director Jeff Bacon, Little Rock Director of Athletics Frank M. Cuervo, and other distinguished guests as we mark this pivotal moment in Trojan Athletics history.
Effective July 1, 2026, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) will rebrand as the United Athletic Conference (UAC). In a groundbreaking move within intercollegiate athletics, the newly branded UAC will join forces with the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) to create a paradigm-shifting, first-of-its-kind strategic consortium. This innovative alliance enables both conferences to maintain their independent structures and NCAA postseason automatic qualification status, while collaborating to drive operational efficiencies, enhance and diversify revenue streams, develop coordinated scheduling strategies, and share resources to strengthen the overall effectiveness and sustainability of the enterprise.
“The addition of Little Rock bolsters an already impressive lineup of institutions within the new United Athletic Conference,” said consortium Executive Director Jeff Bacon. “Little Rock’s impressive academic and athletic track record, its leadership’s commitment to all sports including men’s and women’s basketball, and the expansion of our presence into Little Rock bring significant value to our membership as we build a new model for Division I athletics—one designed to minimize expenses, maximize revenues, and deliver quality competition to all members.”
Thirteen of Little Rock’s 15 sport programs will compete as members of the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The Trojan’s Women’s Swimming & Diving program will compete as an affiliate member of the ASUN, while the nationally ranked wrestling program will maintain its affiliation with the Pac-12 Conference.
Members of the 2026-27 United Athletic Conference (UAC) will include:
- Abilene Christian University (Abilene, Texas)
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.)
- Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, Tenn.)
- University of Central Arkansas (Conway, Ark.)
- Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond, Ky.)
- University of North Alabama (Florence, Ala.)
- Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Texas)
- The University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, Texas)
- University of West Georgia (Carrollton, Ga.)
“We are excited to welcome Little Rock to the United Athletic Conference.”, said UAC Board Chair and Abilene Christian University President, Dr. Phil Schubert. “This milestone strengthens our strategic alliance and advances our mission of uniting like-minded institutions with bold vision across our geographic footprint. This addition comes at a time when the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics presents both challenges and opportunities, and it represents a strategic step forward for our member institutions and student-athletes. We are confident that Little Rock’s tradition of excellence will help shape the future of the UAC and exemplify the values, ambition, and resilience of our universities.”
The Trojans will reunite with several familiar opponents in the United Athletic Conference (UAC), including in-state rival Central Arkansas and former Sun Belt Conference member UT Arlington. Separated by just 34 miles, Little Rock and Central Arkansas currently face off annually in the Governor’s I-40 Showdown, presented by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield—a spirited rivalry that will now carry over into conference competition. Meanwhile, Little Rock and UT Arlington previously competed for 10 seasons as conference foes in the Sun Belt, renewing a history of competitive matchups within the new UAC framework.
Since joining the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 2022, Little Rock has demonstrated outstanding competitive success, highlighted by winning the 2024 OVC Commissioner’s Cup and finishing as runner-up in 2025. This prestigious award honors overall excellence across all sports. Over the past two seasons, the Trojans have captured 11 conference championships, while also earning numerous Coach of the Year accolades and All-Conference selections. Among the program’s most notable achievements is the emergence of the first All-Americans in school history, with four All-America honors earned by Trojan wrestlers at the 2024 and 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Little Rock’s competitive success has been matched by exceptional academic achievement. During the 2024–25 academic year, Trojan student-athletes posted a cumulative GPA of 3.43, with all 15 sport programs recording team GPAs of 3.0 or higher. Academic excellence is a well-established tradition at Little Rock, as Trojan student-athletes have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or above for an impressive 24 consecutive semesters—spanning more than 12 years. Additionally, 63 Trojans earned placement on their respective Dean’s Lists, while 60 additional student-athletes received the prestigious Chancellor’s List recognition.
Before joining the Ohio Valley Conference, the Trojans competed for 31 years in the Sun Belt Conference, following their initial Division I affiliation in the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC), which ultimately became the ASUN Conference.
The Trojans will end their four-year tenure as members of the OVC on June 30, 2026. Director of Athletics Frank M. Cuervo expressed appreciation for the Trojans time as members of the one of the longest running conferences in college athletics.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche and the league’s entire leadership team for their professionalism and collaborative spirit throughout our time in the conference,” said Cuervo. “I also wish to recognize the dedication of our peer institutions within the OVC and thank my colleagues for their continued cooperation. We look forward to maintaining strong relationships with the conference membership and collaborating on non-conference scheduling opportunities in the future. We will always look back fondly on our tenure in the Ohio Valley Conference and wish the league and its member institutions continued success.”
