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.
Association | NCAA |
---|---|
Founded | 1931 |
Ceased | 1962 |
Division | University Division |
No. of teams | 6 (final) 9 (total) |
Region | Southwestern United States |
Locations | |
Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Subsequent conference(s) |
Current conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Arizona University[a] | Flagstaff, Arizona | 1899 | Public | 22,791 | Lumberjacks | 1931[b] | 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[c] | Lubbock, Texas | 1923 | Public | 40,666 | Red Raiders | 1932 | 1957[d] | Southwest (SWC) (1957–96) |
Big 12 (1996–present) |
Full members
Full members (non-football)
Independent
Other Conference
Other Conference
Big 12 Conference
The nine former football-playing members of the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association are currently affiliated with the following nine conferences (all NCAA Division I FBS unless indicated):
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.[1]