The GSC Football in 2025 / Changes Coming

[Eagle74]

Could be the start of a merger. 'Atlantic Gulf Conference' .

[UNALions]

Could be the start of a merger. 'Atlantic Gulf Conference' .

Doubtful. As of now, the GSC has 12 full members. But, it seems this scheduling agreement answers your OP. I guess they do have room on the schedule for GSC teams after all.

[Finchwidget]

GSC, Conference Carolinas Announce Scheduling Partnership

BIRMINGHAM, Ala./GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Gulf South Conference and Conference Carolinas mutually announce a two-year football scheduling partnership. The agreement coordinates a total of 18 non-conference football games to be played during the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Per the agreement, teams from Conference Carolinas will host five events in 2025, while GSC teams will be at home five times in 2026.

Looks like this gives each GSC team 2 extra guaranteed games. If UWAalum's sources are correct and the GSC goes to a double round-robin format, then that's an 8-game league schedule plus the 2 guaranteed games with the CC, with an extra game left over for any other non-conference options a team may want to pursue. Double round-robin certainly isn't an ideal format to be playing, but seems like the GSC has any potential scheduling woes figured out, at least in the short term.

I am sort of curious how they decided which CC teams would participate though. Shorter was a GSC member for years and only plays one GSC member next year, yet Chowan, who's probably the farthest CC member from the GSC footprint, plays three GSC teams in 2025. Erskine isn't even on there at all for either 2025 or 2026.

[Eagle74]

Doubtful. As of now, the GSC has 12 full members.

Yep, but how many football playing members do you believe will be in the GSC by the end of 2026?

[BisonBones]

If the GSC can't find new football teams after this two year agreement, should the GSC just drop football? There's a good chance there will just be 4 football teams in the conference by then.


I mean, it seems odd to have affiliate members in football, but CC could use a few more football teams and I wouldn't complain about the Mississippi schools joining the GAC; forming East and West Divisions and breaking up the silo schedule.

[CalifOKRA]

If the GSC can't find new football teams after this two year agreement, should the GSC just drop football? There's a good chance there will just be 4 football teams in the conference by then.


I mean, it seems odd to have affiliate members in football, but CC could use a few more football teams and I wouldn't complain about the Mississippi schools joining the GAC; forming East and West Divisions and breaking up the silo schedule.

I think Delta State joining the GAC as a full member, if invited, is the school's best bet. If I were the AD, I would be contacting the GAC to gauge interest.
Leave the drowning GSC. I would hate to see Delta drop football.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if Delta State University closes sometime this decade.

[Rational Observer]

I think Delta State joining the GAC as a full member, if invited, is the school's best bet. If I were the AD, I would be contacting the GAC to gauge interest.
Leave the drowning GSC. I would hate to see Delta drop football.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if Delta State University closes sometime this decade.

I wouldn’t blame DSU, or really any of the GSC football schools, for making a move if viable for them.

Is there still talk of MS closing state schools?

[Eagle74]

As a long time fan of the GSC, I would really hate to see it's demize. If a potential long term Football merger or true Alliance is made, I believe it would be the best option, especially for those who have no desire to move up, non-financial means to move up, or dealing with enrollment situations are concerned.

[UWAalum]

https://gscsports.org/news/2024/10/7...rtnership.aspx

[UNALions]

https://gscsports.org/news/2024/10/7...rtnership.aspx

I think these games help shore up scheduling for these next two years and gives the GSC front office a little more time to figure this out for a long term solution. As long as teams can schedule 8 D2 games and at least 9 total, that’s all that’s needed to be playoff eligible. Of course, if any other teams reclassify, things get much harder for the few remaining teams.


2025 Games
Week 2: West Alabama at Chowan
Week 3: Barton at West Alabama; Valdosta State at Chowan
Week 4: Mississippi College at Barton; West Florida at North Greenville
Week 5: Delta State at Barton
Week 6: Chowan at West Florida
Week 7: Ferrum at Delta State
Week 10: UNC Pembroke at Mississippi College

2026 Games
Week 4: West Alabama at Barton; West Florida at Chowan
Week 5: Chowan at West Alabama; Shorter at Delta State
Week 6: Barton at Mississippi College
Week 7: Delta State at Ferrum
Week 8: Shorter at Valdosta State
Week 9: Mississippi College at UNC Pembroke
Week 10: North Greenville at West Florida

[Rational Observer]

VSU has announced a game with The Citadel in 2025. Presumably, they have return games with Neberry and Fayetteville State.

[Argonut]

The GSC future schedules for 2025-26 shows all the teams being proactive in filling out their schedules. All of them have signed contracts for a lot of OOC games already. The OOC games are not named on this future schedule and I listed the total number of games followed by GSC, OOC and open dates below.

2025 Schedule

DSU: 10 total, 4 GSC, 6 OOC. 2 open
MC: 10 total, 4 GSC, 6 OOC, 2 open
VSU: 10 total, 4 GSC, 6 OOC, 2open
UWA: 7 total, 4 GSC, 3 OOC, 5 open
UWF: 9 total, 4 GSC, 5 OOC, 3 open

2026 Schedule

DSU: 8 total, 4GSC, 4 OOC, 4 open
MC: 9 total, 4 GSC, 5 OOC, 3 open
VSU: 7 total, 4 GSC, 3 OOC, 5 open
UWA: 7 total, 4 GSC, 3 OOC, 5 open
UWF: 10 total, 4 GSC, 6 OOC, 2 open

[Rational Observer]

The GSC future schedules for 2025-26 shows all the teams being proactive in filling out their schedules. All of them have signed contracts for a lot of OOC games already. The OOC games are not named on this future schedule and I listed the total number of games followed by GSC, OOC and open dates below.

2025 Schedule

DSU: 10 total, 4 GSC, 6 OOC. 2 open
MC: 10 total, 4 GSC, 6 OOC, 2 open
VSU: 10 total, 4 GSC, 6 OOC, 2open
UWA: 7 total, 4 GSC, 3 OOC, 5 open
UWF: 9 total, 4 GSC, 5 OOC, 3 open

2026 Schedule

DSU: 8 total, 4GSC, 4 OOC, 4 open
MC: 9 total, 4 GSC, 5 OOC, 3 open
VSU: 7 total, 4 GSC, 3 OOC, 5 open
UWA: 7 total, 4 GSC, 3 OOC, 5 open
UWF: 10 total, 4 GSC, 6 OOC, 2 open

Do you have lists of the OOC games already contracted?

[Argonut]

The GSC future schedule does not identify the OOC schools, it just denotes a scheduled game has a contract.

[boyblue]

Suggesting that they be compelled to move is even more asinine.

State schools are not autonomous. If the move would save the state, what is the problem? Holding on to vestiges of the reconstruction era is asinine.