Oklahoma’s sports landscape continues to change

If there is one constant in collegiate sports in Oklahoma in the 2010’s, it is that nothing is constant.

The Sooner Athletic Conference announced Monday that Oklahoma Panhandle State would be joining the league. OPSU is making the transition from NCAA Division II back to the NAIA following the 2016-2017 athletic season.

This is just one of many conference and national affiliation changes made throughout the state.

Five schools have made the move from NAIA to NCAA D-II membership (Northwestern, Oklahoma Baptist, Oklahoma Christian, Rogers State and Southern Nazarene), while OPSU is traveling the other direction.

Here’s a look at how things have changed for the four-year schools throughout the state in just six years:

*The Big 12 actually had 12 members in 2010.
**OBU is set to complete its three-year transition to full NCAA membership for the 2016-2017 season.
***OPSU is moving to the NAIA and the Sooner Athletic Conference beginning with the 2017-2018 season.
****ORU was in the Southland Conference from 2012-2014, but returned to the Summit League in the fall of 2014.
*****SCU began 2010 competing solely in the NCCAA, but became a full member of the NAIA in the fall.