We are the Champions.
We are proud that our OVC teams have made numerous NCAA appearances and FCS appearances over our 75 years, a source of pride to each of our member institutions.
Read below for more information about our Football and Men’s and Women’s basketball success, and click here for a detailed breakdown of our OVC champions through the years.
Football
Throughout OVC history, 15 teams have won or shared the league's football title. The list is led by former member Eastern Kentucky, winner of 21 outright or shared football crowns. Former member Middle Tennessee is next with 11 titles, followed by Tennessee Tech with 10, former member Jacksonville State with nine and Murray State and former member Western Kentucky with eight apiece. Eastern Illinois has seven crowns while Morehead State, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State, UT Martin and former members Austin Peay, Evansville and East Tennessee State have captured two apiece. Youngstown State won one title during its tenure in the league.
Basketball
In 1955, the OVC became only the second six-member league nationally to earn an automatic bid to the prestigious NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, which, at that time, was limited to only 24 participants. The conference quickly proved worthy of that stature, as Morehead State defeated Marshall and Wayne State in the 1956 tournament.
Fifteen years later, Western Kentucky became the first OVC team to reach the Final Four. The Hilltoppers defeated Jacksonville, Kentucky and Ohio State before losing to Villanova in double overtime in the national semifinals.
Since that time, the OVC has recorded some of the biggest upsets in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Perhaps the most famous moment came in 1987, when Austin Peay came from fourth place in the regular season to win the OVC Tournament and earn the league's automatic bid. The Governors drew powerful Illinois, and were such big underdogs that ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale promised to stand on his head if APSU won the game. After a 68-67 victory over the Illini, and a narrow 90-87 overtime loss to eventual Final Four participant Providence in the second round, Vitale made good on his promise in a visit to Clarksville two months later.
The 2014-15 season saw five OVC men’s basketball teams earn postseason bids, the most in league history, and a year later (2015-16) that number was eclipsed with six teams making national postseason tournaments.
In 2018, the OVC served as host for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It marked the fourth time the OVC served as hosts of the event (2000, 2005, 2012).
Through its 75 years, 13 teams have won or shared the league's regular season men's basketball title. Murray State heads the list with a conference-record 28 outright or shared basketball crowns. Other past champions include Western Kentucky (19), Morehead State (9), Austin Peay (8), Tennessee Tech (7), Belmont (7), Eastern Kentucky (6), Middle Tennessee (5), Tennessee State (2), East Tennessee State (2), Southeast Missouri State (1), UT Martin (1) and Akron (1).
The OVC also has the honor of being the only conference to boast the nation's leaders in scoring, rebounding and assists all in one season. That feat was accomplished in 1991-92 by Morehead State's Brett Roberts (28.1 ppg), Murray State's Popeye Jones (14.4 rpg) and Tennessee Tech's Van Usher (8.8 apg).
Women’s Basketball
Tennessee Tech has won or shared 18 regular-season women’s basketball championships in addition to nine OVC Tournament crowns; both are tops in OVC history. UT Martin added its name to the list of champions by capturing its first OVC Tournament title in 2011 and also winning championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The Skyhawks became just the fourth team in OVC history (and first since Austin Peay from 2000-03) to win four-straight tournament titles, while Belmont joined that club after winning its fourth-straight title in 2019 (2016-19).
The league also had another historic moment in November 2008 when the NCAA awarded Nashville the 2014 NCAA Women’s Division I Final Four. The OVC served as the host of the prestigious event, one of the biggest sporting events the city of Nashville has ever hosted. The event was held April 6 and 8 at Bridgestone Arena and was played in front of sold-out crowds for both the semifinals and championship as UConn topped Notre Dame in a battle of undefeated teams to win its ninth national title.