BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Six institutions have joined the Mid-South Conference as affiliate members, MSC Commissioner Chris Wells announced today.

Andrew (Ga.), Defiance (Ohio), New College of Florida, Northwestern Ohio, Saint Francis (Ind.), and Wilberforce (Ohio) were all unanimously approved for affiliate membership by the MSC Council of Presidents on Tuesday.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew, Defiance, New College of Florida, Northwestern Ohio, Saint Francis, and Wilberforce to the Mid-South Conference as affiliate members,” Wells said. “The addition of these institutions allows us to establish flag football as a conference-sponsored sport while further strengthening what we believe is the premier women’s wrestling conference in the NAIA.

“Each of these institutions brings a strong commitment to academic excellence and competitive success, qualities that will further enhance the Mid-South Conference,” Wells added. “We are pleased to welcome their student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans to the Mid-South Conference and look forward to their contributions to our conference.”

Andrew, Defiance, and New College of Florida join the Mid-South in women's wrestling. The additions give the conference 14 women's wrestling members -- the largest in the NAIA.

Andrew is one of six institutions beginning their first year in the NAIA in 2026-27. Defiance and New College of Florida begin their first year of sponsoring women's wrestling as a championship sport.

The three schools join full members Campbellsville (Ky.), Cumberlands (Ky.), Georgetown (Ky.), and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), and affiliate members Brewton-Parker (Ga.), Indiana Tech, Life (Ga.), Midway (Ky.), Montreat (Tenn.), Rio Grande (Ohio), and Rochester Christian (Mich.) as women's wrestling participants.

Defiance is joined by Northwestern Ohio, Saint Francis, and Wilberforce as affiliate members in the Mid-South Conference's newest sport, flag football. Defiance, Northwestern Ohio, and Wilberforce are scheduled to compete for the first time in 2026-27, while Saint Francis is coming off a 15-6 record in 2025-26, including being nationally ranked and reaching the NAIA Flag Football National Invitational last season.

The four schools are joined by full-time members Campbellsville, Cumberland (Tenn.), Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), and Lindsey Wilson, and fellow affiliate members Indiana Wesleyan and Midway to make up the 10-team conference.

The additions bring the Mid-South Conference's membership to 18 affiliate members, along with seven full-time members.