The Atlantic 10 Conference is a basketball-focused league with a complex, shifting history

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Despite its name, the Atlantic 10 Conference currently hosts 14 full-time members across the United States. Founded in 1975 as a basketball-only league, it has navigated decades of realignment, football conference departures, and evolving media deals, all while maintaining a unique identity rooted in both private and state-funded institutions.

The Atlantic 10 (A-10) originated in 1975 as the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League, officially beginning play in 1976. Though it was popularly known as the Eastern 8 due to its initial membership, the conference adopted its current name in 1982 following a series of membership changes. Today, the league is headquartered in Washington, D.C., having relocated from Newport News, Virginia, in 2023. Its membership is diverse, comprising 14 full-time schools, half of which are private, Catholic institutions, spread across the East Coast and Midwest.

The conference's history with football is particularly notable. From 1997 to 2006, the A-10 operated a football conference after absorbing the Yankee Conference. This era ended when the league's football programs transitioned to the Colonial Athletic Association (now the Coastal Athletic Association) to form a new, legally separate football entity. This shift was largely driven by NCAA rule changes and the strategic realignment of member schools, such as Northeastern University's 2005 move, which provided the CAA with the necessary membership to sponsor its own football league.

Beyond its structural evolution, the A-10 is defined by intense, long-standing rivalries. These include the Capital City Classic between Richmond and VCU, the Arch-Baron Cup contested by Saint Louis and Dayton, and the Revolutionary Rivalry between George Washington and George Mason. The conference continues to adapt its media presence, recently securing a five-year deal with ESPN, CBS, and NBC that runs through the 2028–29 season to expand basketball coverage and revenue. As of the 2024–25 season, the league sponsors championship competition in 10 men's sports and 13 women's sports, including the addition of women's golf.

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