What happens to USC men’s soccer with Conference USA future in doubt? A few scenarios
The South Carolina men’s soccer team could soon be searching for a new conference.
With the Southeastern Conference not sponsoring men’s soccer as a league sport, the Gamecock men have competed in Conference USA since 2005. However, Conference USA in recent weeks has lost the majority of its member schools to other leagues in a wave of conference realignment. Six C-USA schools intend to leave for the American Athletic Conference, while three others have bolted for the Sun Belt, leaving C-USA with just five current members.
The sudden realignment leaves first-year head coach Tony Annan and the Gamecocks in an interesting position, and they’re not alone. Fellow SEC school Kentucky also competes in C-USA for men’s soccer, as does Sun Belt school Coastal Carolina.
Out of 19 USC sports, the men’s soccer program and the beach volleyball team are the only sports that compete outside of the SEC. With the C-USA exodus taking place in recent days and weeks, there’s no indication yet what direction Annan and the Gamecocks could choose to go.
“University of South Carolina athletics officials are monitoring the changing landscape of conference alignments as it relates to our men’s soccer program,” a USC spokesperson told The State via email. “We will make decisions on conference affiliation at the appropriate time in the best interest of our program.”
South Carolina wraps up the 2021 season at 7 p.m. Friday at home against Old Dominion.
Based on the current landscape, the Gamecocks would appear to have a few options for the future:
- Stay in Conference USA: With only five members left standing, C-USA’s future is up in the air at best. There have been reports that the conference is looking to add members, with Liberty and New Mexico State floated around as possibilities. But will that be enough for the conference to stay together? And even so, would the Gamecocks want to remain in the conference in its watered-down state?
- Become independent: The Gamecocks have actually been independent for the majority of the program’s history, since the team was founded by former head coach Mark Berson in 1978. Other than a brief stint in the Metro Conference in 1993-94, Berson and the Gamecocks maintained their independence up until joining C-USA in 2005.
- Join the Sun Belt (or another conference): After adding C-USA school Marshall as a league member over the weekend, Sun Belt commissioner confirmed Monday that the league will bring men’s soccer back as a sponsored sport. Marshall is the defending national champion in men’s soccer. That move provides a convenient escape plan for Coastal Carolina, and it’s possible that South Carolina and Kentucky could follow suit. The Sun Belt likely makes the most geographical sense, but conferences like the Mid-American Conference or the AAC could serve as potential options, as well.
- Form a new conference: Of all the options, this would appear to be the most unlikely scenario. But as a last resort, South Carolina could potentially team up with Kentucky and other soccer independents to form a new league strictly for men’s soccer.
This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 4:17 PM.
