The Athletic teams of Western Illinois University have been a part of the Missouri Valley Conference for almost 40 years, but that run has come to an end...

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According to our friends at KHQA, Western Illinois University has decided that it will no longer be a part of the Missouri Valley Conference, and instead is moving into the Ohio Valley Conference. In an article from KHQA...

"Western Illinois University Director of Athletics Paul A. Bubb announced today (Friday, May 12) that the Leathernecks are becoming the newest members of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) for all of the University's Division I Athletics programs...WIU will depart the Summit League for all sports beginning this fall, and will leave the Missouri Valley Football Conference prior to the Fall 2024 football season. The Fall 2023 Leatherneck football schedule will be played in the MVFC as previously scheduled."

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So who are the new division rivals for the Leathernecks? According to the Ohio Valley Conference website, the schools that Western Illinois University will not battle against for conference supremacy are Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Morehead State, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, University of Southern Indiana, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech, and the University of Tennessee at Martin aka UT Tech.

This is a big move for the Leathernecks, you clearly don't just leave a place you have been for almost 40 years for no reason at all. The travel should be easier, and also for the big sports of Basketball and Football, the hope will be to be able to me more competitive in recruiting.

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