The **Missouri Valley Conference (MVC)**, founded in 1907, is the fourth-oldest collegiate athletic conference in the United States and a major NCAA Division I conference primarily comprising schools from the Midwest and parts of the South, including Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas[3][6]. Originally established as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA), it included charter members such as the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, and Washington University in St. Louis[3]. Over time, the MVC evolved through key shifts: in 1928, the larger schools formed what became the Big Eight Conference, while the MVC retained a collection of smaller institutions, maintaining its administrative structure[3]. The MVC has a storied history marked by its early role in collegiate football, sponsoring the sport until 1985, after which football operations transitioned to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, a separate football-only conference within the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)[1]. The MVC today sponsors 18 sports, split between men’s and women’s programs, and continues to uphold a strong athletic tradition with a focus on competitive excellence and student-athlete development[3][5]. In recent years, the MVC has demonstrated competitive success and academic distinction. For example, Illinois State won the 2024-25 MVC All-Sports Championship, highlighting the depth and quality across sports programs, while Belmont secured its 13th consecutive All-Academic Award in the same season, underscoring the conference’s commitment to academic achievement among athletes[5]. The MVC maintains its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, and is currently led by Commissioner Jeff Jackson since 2021[3][6]. Notably, the MVC has contributed significantly to collegiate basketball history, producing numerous NCAA tournament wins and notable players, making it a respected conference in the business of college sports marketing and athletics management[4][5]. Its blend of tradition, competitive spiri