Northern California Athletic Conference
Encyclopedia
The Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC), a former NCAA
-affiliated Division II college athletic association that sponsored American football
, was formed in 1925. It disbanded in 1996 after the majority of its member schools were forced to drop football.
, Saint Mary’s
, UC Davis
, Nevada
, San Jose State
, and Pacific.
Nevada's departure from the conference in 1940 left the conference with only four members; Chico State, Fresno State, College of the Pacific, and the California Aggies. The conference looked to four nominees in Humboldt State, San Francisco State, Santa Barbara State, and California Poly of San Luis Obispo.
Shortly after World War II
, all of these charter members, with the exception of UC Davis, would leave for other conferences, to be replaced by San Francisco State
, Sacramento State
, Hayward State
, Southern Oregon
, Sonoma State
and Chico State
. During the 1990s, each of the universities associated with the California State system was forced to disband their football teams with the exception of Humboldt, and the conference was disbanded.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
-affiliated Division II college athletic association that sponsored American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, was formed in 1925. It disbanded in 1996 after the majority of its member schools were forced to drop football.
History
The NCAC was founded as the Far Western Conference in 1925 by its charter member schools: Fresno StateCalifornia State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
, Saint Mary’s
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
, UC Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
, Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
, San Jose State
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
, and Pacific.
Nevada's departure from the conference in 1940 left the conference with only four members; Chico State, Fresno State, College of the Pacific, and the California Aggies. The conference looked to four nominees in Humboldt State, San Francisco State, Santa Barbara State, and California Poly of San Luis Obispo.
Shortly after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, all of these charter members, with the exception of UC Davis, would leave for other conferences, to be replaced by San Francisco State
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
, Sacramento State
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
, Hayward State
California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay is a public university located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The university, as part of the 23-campus California State University system, offers over 100 areas of study...
, Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon University
is a public liberal arts college located in Ashland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1926, it was formerly known as Southern Oregon College and Southern Oregon State College . SOU offers criminology, natural sciences, including environmental science, Shakespearean studies and theatre arts programs...
, Sonoma State
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
and Chico State
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
. During the 1990s, each of the universities associated with the California State system was forced to disband their football teams with the exception of Humboldt, and the conference was disbanded.
Members
- Fresno State BulldogsFresno State Bulldogs footballThe Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
- Saint Mary’s GaelsSaint Mary's College of CaliforniaSaint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
- UC Davis AggiesUniversity of California, DavisThe University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
- Nevada Wolf PackNevada Wolf Pack footballThe Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
- San Jose StateSan José State Spartans FootballThe San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
- Pacific Tigers
- San Francisco State GatorsSan Francisco State Gators footballThe San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State University from the 1931 through 1995 seasons. The Gators originally competed as a member of the Far West Conference from 1931 until the conference changed its name to become the Northern California Athletic Conference,...
- Sacramento State HornetsCalifornia State University, SacramentoCalifornia State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
- Hayward State PioneersCalifornia State University, East BayCalifornia State University, East Bay is a public university located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The university, as part of the 23-campus California State University system, offers over 100 areas of study...
- Southern Oregon RaidersSouthern Oregon Raiders footballThe Southern Oregon University Raiders football team is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and is not associated with any conference. Southern Oregon's first football team was fielded in 1927...
- Chico State WildcatsCalifornia State University, ChicoCalifornia State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
- Sonoma State Cossacks (now Seawolves)Sonoma State UniversitySonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
Football
- 1925 Saint Mary’sSaint Mary's College of CaliforniaSaint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
- 1926 Saint Mary’s
- 1927 Saint Mary’s
- 1928 Saint Mary’s
- 1929: UC DavisUniversity of California, DavisThe University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
- 1930: Fresno StateFresno State Bulldogs footballThe Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
- 1931: No Champion
- 1932: San Jose StateSan José State Spartans FootballThe San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
& NevadaNevada Wolf Pack footballThe Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA... - 1933: Nevada
- 1934: San Jose State & Fresno State
- 1935: Fresno State
- 1936: Pacific
- 1937: Fresno State
- 1938: Pacific
- 1939: Nevada
- 1940: Pacific
- 1941: Pacific
- 1942: Pacific
- 1943: No Champion
- 1944: No Champion
- 1945: No Champion
- 1946: No Champion
- 1947: UC Davis & Southern Oregon
- 1948: Southern Oregon
- 1949: UC Davis
- 1950: San Francisco State
- 1951: UC Davis
- 1952: UC Davis
- 1953: UC Davis
- 1954: San Francisco StateSan Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
- 1955: No Champion
- 1956: San Francisco State & UC Davis
- 1957: San Francisco State
- 1958: San Francisco State
- 1959: San Francisco State
- 1960: Humboldt State
- 1961: Humboldt State
- 1962: San Francisco State
- 1963: California Davis
- 1964: Sacramento State
- 1965: San Francisco State
- 1966: Sacramento State
- 1967: San Francisco State
- 1968: Humboldt State
- 1969: Hayward State
- 1970: Hayward State &
- 1971: UC Davis
- 1972: UC Davis
- 1973: UC Davis
- 1974: UC Davis
- 1975: UC Davis
- 1976: UC Davis
- 1977: UC Davis
- 1978: UC Davis
- 1979: UC Davis
- 1980: UC Davis
- 1981: UC Davis
- 1982: UC Davis
- 1983: UC Davis
- 1984: UC Davis
- 1985: UC Davis
- 1986: UC Davis
- 1987: UC Davis
- 1988: UC Davis
- 1989: UC Davis
- 1990: UC Davis
- 1991: Sonoma StateSonoma State UniversitySonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
- 1992: UC Davis
- 1993: Chico StateCalifornia State University, ChicoCalifornia State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
- 1994: Humboldt State, Chico State & Sonoma State
- 1995: Humboldt State
- 1996: Chico State