Border Conference
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The Border Conference, officially known as the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, was an NCAA-affiliated college athletic conference founded in 1931 that disbanded following the 1961–62 school year. Centered in the southwestern United States, the conference included nine member institutions located in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
History
Chronological timeline
- 1931 – The Border Conference (also known as the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association) was founded. Charter members included the University of Arizona, Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff (now Northern Arizona University), Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe (now Arizona State University), the University of New Mexico and New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts (now New Mexico State University), beginning the 1931–32 academic year.
- 1932 – Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) joined the Border in the 1932–33 academic year.
- 1935 – The College of Mines and Metallurgy of the University of Texas (now the University of Texas at El Paso) joined the Border in the 1935–36 academic year.
- 1941 – Hardin–Simmons University and West Texas State Teachers College (now West Texas A&M University) joined the Border in the 1941–42 academic year.
- 1952 – New Mexico left the Border to join the Skyline Conference (a.k.a. the Mountain States Conference) after the 1951–52 academic year.
- 1953 – Northern Arizona left the Border to join the New Mexico Conference after the 1952–53 academic year.
- 1957 – Texas Tech left the Border to join the Southwest Conference after the 1956–57 academic year.
- 1957 - Border Conference considers expanding into California with Fresno State, University of the Pacific, San Diego State University, and San Jose State University considered.
- 1959 - Border Conference considers expanding by adding Abilene Christian University and Trinity University.
- 1960 - Border Conference considers expanding again by adding Abilene Christian University, University of New Mexico, University of North Texas, Trinity University, University of Tulsa, and Wichita State University.
- 1962 – The Border ceased operations as an athletic conference after the 1962–63 academic year; as many schools left to find new conference homes, beginning the 1963–64 academic year: Arizona and Arizona State to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC); while Hardin–Simmons, New Mexico State, UTEP and West Texas A&M began to compete as Independents.
Member schools
Final members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Subsequent conference(s) | Current conference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona | Tucson, Arizona | 1885 | Public | 43,625 | Wildcats | 1931 | 1962 | Western (WAC) (1962-78) Pacific-12 (Pac-12) (1978-2024) | Big 12 2024- |
| Arizona State University | Tempe, Arizona | 1885 | Public | 71,946 | Sun Devils | 1931 | 1962 | Western (WAC) (1962-78) Pacific-12 (Pac-12) (1978-2024) | Big 12 2024- |
| Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene, Texas | 1891 | Baptist | 2,333 | Cowboys & Cowgirls | 1941 | 1962 | various | American Southwest (1996) |
| New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, New Mexico | 1888 | Public | 21,694 | Aggies | 1931 | 1962 | various | Conference USA (C-USA) (2023) |
| University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, Texas | 1914 | Public | 25,151 | Miners | 1935 | 1962 | University Division Independent (1962–67) Western (WAC) (1967-2005) | Conference USA (C-USA) (2005-) (Mountain West in 2026) |
| West Texas A&M University | Canyon, Texas | 1910 | Public | 10,169 | Buffaloes | 1941 | 1962 | various | Lone Star (LSC) (1986-91; 1993-) |
Notes
Previous members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Subsequent conference(s) | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, Arizona | 1899 | Public | 22,791 | Lumberjacks | 1931 | 1953 | New Mexico/Frontier (1953–62) NAIA Independent (1962–70) | Big Sky (1970–present) |
| University of New Mexico | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 1889 | Public | 25,441 | Lobos | 1931 | 1951 | Skyline (1951–62) Western (WAC) (1962–99) | Mountain West (MWC) (1999–present) |
| Texas Tech University | Lubbock, Texas | 1923 | Public | 40,666 | Red Raiders | 1932 | 1957 | Southwest (SWC) (1957–96) | Big 12 (1996–present) |
Notes
Membership timeline
Full members Full members (non-football) Independent Other Conference Other Conference Big 12 Conference
Current conference affiliations of former members
The nine former football-playing members of the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association are currently affiliated with the following nine conferences:
Football champions
Texas Tech holds the most conference championships at seven. Arizona State won six conference championships followed by Arizona (three), Hardin–Simmons (two) and both West Texas State and the Texas State School of Mines hold one each. From 1932 to 1934 and 1943 to 1945 no champion was named. There were only two seasons where the title was split and two co-champions were named; 1938, New Mexico and New Mexico A&M and in 1942 Hardin–Simmons and Texas Tech. The winner of the conference title generally received an invitation to serve as the host team for the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.