BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Mid-South Conference has been named a 2025-26 NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Conference, according to NAIA officials. The MSC is one of 19 conferences to be recognized.

To be recognized as a five-star conference, conferences must have an established Champions of Character Conference Committee, have a conduct in competition oversight committee composed of a minimum of three members, and at least 60-percent of member institutions must receive the NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Award.

All seven full-time conference members received honors for the NAIA Champions of Character.

Bethel (Tenn.), Cumberland (Tenn.), Cumberlands (Ky.), Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), Georgetown (Ky.), and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) received gold standings, while Campbellsville (Ky.) received silver honors.

According to the NAIA, institutions are measured on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character and earn points in character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Institutions earned points based on exceptional student-athlete grade-point averages and by having minimal to no ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.

Points are assigned to the Core Report by the institution's athletics directors or their designee. The total number of points at the end of the academic year constitutes the level of each institution. Five-Star Gold-level institution earns between 90-100 points, a Five-Star Silver-level institution earns between 75-89 points, and a Five-Star Bronze-level institution earns between 60-74 points.