NO TO MERGERS: Why the SWAC and MEAC Should Stay Separate—and Get Smarter Together 🚫🏈

Every few months, someone floats the same tired idea: merge the SWAC and MEAC.

It sounds good in theory. Unity. Strength in numbers. One big HBCU super-conference.

In reality?

It's a logistical nightmare, a financial step backward, and a cultural misread of what actually makes HBCU athletics work.

NO TO MERGERS. SWAC and MEAC are stronger separate. These rivalries. These road trips. DISASTROUS. Real distances. Real grind. Stay separate. Move together. Build HBCU excellence. (Graphic: SheLovesThee Podcast)

1. Travel Would Be INSANE—And Programs Would Pay the Price

Let's stop pretending geography doesn't matter.

A "simple" conference game like:

Texas Southern → Delaware State = ~1,350 miles

Jackson State → Delaware State = ~1,050 miles

Now make those home-and-home series.

That's:

• Charter flights or brutal bus rides

• Hotel blocks for football AND bands

• Meals, per diem, equipment transport

Now multiply that across multiple sports.

This isn't growth… this is budget destruction.

2. Non-Revenue Sports Would Get CUT. Period.

Football might survive the travel.

Everything else? Not so lucky.

• Volleyball

• Track & Field

• Softball

• Tennis

These programs already operate on tight margins.

Prairie View A&M eliminated both Men's and Women's Tennis programs in 2025 as part of "strategic athletic restructuring." This is what happens when budgets get squeezed. Source: PV Panthers

Add cross-country conference schedules and you're forcing schools into tough decisions:

• Cut trips

• Cut schedules

• Or flat-out **cut programs**

A merger doesn't "elevate all sports."

It endangers the ones that don't make money.

3. We've Already Seen This Movie… And It Flopped

Look at what happened with the OVC/Big South football merger.

It wasn't some magical fix. It was a reaction to instability, not a blueprint for success.

Mergers in FCS don't create powerhouses—they create:

• Confusion

• Identity loss

• Uneven competition

Why repeat a model that hasn't proven to elevate anyone?

4. You're Walking Away From GUARANTEED Money

Let's talk dollars—not feelings.

The Celebration Bowl pays out roughly:

• **$1.5 million to EACH conference**

That's real, guaranteed revenue tied directly to the MEAC vs SWAC structure.

Merge the conferences and what happens?

• That structure is gone

• That payout model is at risk

• That national spotlight game loses its purpose

And that's not even mentioning NCAA Tournament units, where the SWAC has generated around $10.8 million over time.

One conference = one auto bid.

You're literally choosing less access and less money.

Howard Bison basketball celebrating at the NBA HBCU Classic. The MEAC's basketball strength is a key differentiator. (Photo: The Dig / Howard Athletics)

5. You'd Destroy Your OWN Biggest Brands

Two of the most valuable HBCU events:

• **MEAC/SWAC Challenge**

• **Celebration Bowl**

These aren't just games. They're:

• National TV inventory

• Recruiting tools

• Cultural showcases

A merger kills the premise.

You don't build value by eliminating your best products.

6. The Trajectories DON'T ALIGN—They CROSS

This is the part nobody wants to say out loud.

• The **SWAC** is built around football dominance, classics, and attendance

• The **MEAC** leans into basketball and East Coast markets

They're not moving in the same direction—they're crossing paths strategically.

And that's exactly why the relationship works:

• Different strengths

• Different regions

• Shared moments (Challenge + Celebration Bowl)

You don't merge lines that are already maximizing impact at the intersection.

Jackson State quarterback in action. The SWAC's football dominance and classic game culture is unmatched. (Photo: Jackson State Athletics)

7. Let's Kill the Narrative: The SWAC Isn't "Saving" the MEAC

That narrative is lazy.

The MEAC still has:

• Valuable media markets (DC, Virginia, Carolinas)

• Strong basketball relevance

• Historic brands

The SWAC has:

• Elite attendance numbers

• Football-driven revenue

• Cultural dominance in classics

This isn't a rescue mission.

It's two conferences that are better off collaborating—not consolidating.

8. Both Conferences Are Already MAKING MONEY

Facts matter:

SWAC = #1 in FCS conference revenue

MEAC = Top 3 in FCS conference revenue

HBCU Conferences Are Winning. The Revenue Is REAL. 2025 FCS Conference Revenue vs Expenses. SWAC leads at $25.6M, Big Sky at $16.9M, MEAC at $14.1M. Different Conferences. Shared Values. Unified Impact. (Graphic: SheLovesThee Podcast)

So why merge?

You don't combine two revenue-generating entities just to:

• Increase costs

• Reduce bids

• Eliminate inventory

That's not strategy—that's regression.

Southern University fans showing out. THIS is the culture that makes HBCU athletics special. (Photo: Southern University)

So What SHOULD Happen? (The Smart Play)

1. Expand Basketball Events

• MEAC/SWAC challenges

• Early-season tournaments

• Neutral-site showcases

2. Add More Cross-Conference Football Games

• Build new classics

• Rotate host cities (Atlanta, Houston, DC, Vegas)

• Create TV-friendly matchups

3. Package Media Rights Together

• Sell HBCU football as premium inventory

• Bundle games across conferences

• Control the narrative and revenue

How the MEAC Can Grow WITHOUT a Merger

Real questions that matter:

• Will the MEAC land a major streaming deal (HBCU GO or similar)?

• Will they lean into basketball as a flagship product?

• Are schools open to local media rights flexibility?

• Will they add football members to stabilize scheduling and revenue?

Because growth doesn't require surrender.

Final Word

A merger sounds good in a tweet.

But in reality:

• Travel costs explode

• Non-revenue sports suffer

• Revenue opportunities shrink

• Identity gets diluted

The smarter move?

Stay separate. Move together. Build smarter.

Because HBCU football doesn't need consolidation—it needs coordination.

And if it don't make dollars…

…it definitely don't make sense.