Northern California Athletic Conference

Northern California Athletic Conference
Formerly	Far Western Conference (1925–1982)
Conference	NCAA
Founded	1925; 101 years ago
Folded	1998; 28 years ago
Division	Division II
No. of teams	16 (total)
Region	West Coast

The Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) was an NCAA Division II college athletic association that sponsored American football that was founded in 1925. It disbanded in 1998 after the majority of its member schools were forced to drop football.

History

The NCAC was founded as the Far Western Conference (FWC) in 1925 by its charter member schools: Fresno State, Saint Mary's, University of California, Davis, Nevada, San Jose State and College of the 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 UC Davis. The conference looked to four nominees in Humboldt State (joined in 1940), San Francisco State, Santa Barbara State College (later University of California, Santa Barbara) and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Shortly after World War II, the remaining members, with the exception of UC Davis, Chico State and Humboldt State, would leave for other conferences, to be replaced over the years by San Francisco State (joined in 1946), Southern Oregon (1947), Sacramento State (1953), Hayward State (1961) and Sonoma State (1966). During the 1990s, each of the universities associated with the California State system chose to disband their football teams in order to comply with Title IX, with the exception of Humboldt State, which added two women's sports to achieve compliance, Sacramento State, and Cal Poly.

Chronological timeline

1925 – The Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) was founded as the Far Western Conference (FWC). Charter members included the Northern Branch of the College of Agriculture (later the University of California, Davis), Fresno State Normal School (later California State University, Fresno), the University of Nevada (later the University of Nevada, Reno), the University of the Pacific and Saint Mary's College of California, beginning the 1925–26 academic year.
1927:
- Saint Mary's (Cal.) left the FWC after the 1926–27 academic year.
- St. Ignatius College (later the University of San Francisco) joined the FWC in the 1927–28 academic year.
1928 – Chico State Teachers College (later California State University, Chico) joined the FWC in the 1928–29 academic year.
1929:
- St. Ignatius (later San Francisco) left the FWC after the 1928–29 academic year.
San Jose State Teachers College (later San Jose State University) joined the FWC in the 1929–30 academic year.
1935 – San Jose State left the FWC after the 1934–35 academic year.
1940:
- Fresno State and Nevada left the FWC after the 1939–40 academic year.
- Humboldt State College (later California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt) joined the FWC in the 1940–41 academic year.
1942 – Pacific left the FWC after the 1941–42 academic year.
1946 – San Francisco State College (later San Francisco State University) joined the FWC in the 1946–47 academic year.
1947 – Southern Oregon College (later Southern Oregon University) joined the FWC in the 19247–48 academic year.
1951 – San Francisco State left the FWC after the 1950–51 academic year.
1953:
- Southern Oregon left the FWC after the 1952–53 academic year.
- Sacramento State College (later California State University, Sacramento) joined the FWC (with Nevada and San Francisco State rejoining) in the 1953–54 academic year.
1964 – California State College, Hayward (later California State University, East Bay) joined the FWC in the 1964–65 academic year.
1966 – Sonoma State College (later Sonoma State University) joined the FWC in the 1966–67 academic year.
1969 – Nevada left the FWC for a second time after the 1968–69 academic year.
1974 – Sonoma State left the FWC after the 1973–74 academic year.
1975 – Stanislaus State College (later California State University, Stanislaus) joined the FWC in the 1975–76 academic year.
1982:
- The FWC was rebranded as the Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC), beginning the 1982–83 academic year.
- Sonoma State joined the NCAC in the 1982–83 academic year.
1985 – Sacramento State left the NCAC after the 1984–85 academic year.
1988 – The College of Notre Dame of California (later Notre Dame de Namur University) joined the NCAC in the 1988–89 academic year.
1998 – The NCAC ceased operations as an athletic conference after the 1997–98 academic year; as many schools left to join their respective new home primary conferences, beginning the 1998–99 academic year:
- Cal State Chico, Humboldt State, San Francisco State, Sonoma State, Stanislaus State and UC Davis the join the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)
- Cal State Hayward and Notre Dame de Namur to join the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)

Member schools

Final members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current conference
California State University, Hayward (Cal State Hayward)	Hayward, California	1957	Public	10,892	Pioneers	1961	1998	California (CCAA)
California State University, Chico (Chico State)	Chico, California	1887	Public	14,581	Wildcats	1928	1998	California (CCAA)
Humboldt State University (Humboldt State)	Arcata, California	1913	Public	6,045	Lumberjacks	1940	1998	California (CCAA)
College of Notre Dame	Belmont, California	1851	Catholic (SNDdeN)	200 (as of 2023)	Argonauts	1988	1998	N/A
San Francisco State University (San Francisco State)	San Francisco, California	1899	Public	22,357	Gators	1946	1951	California (CCAA)
San Francisco State University (San Francisco State)	San Francisco, California	1899	Public	22,357	Gators	1953	1998	California (CCAA)
Sonoma State University	Rohnert Park, California	1960	Public	6,566	Cossacks	1966	1974	N/A
Sonoma State University	Rohnert Park, California	1960	Public	6,566	Cossacks	1982	1998	N/A
California State University, Stanislaus (Stanislaus State)	Turlock, California	1957	Public	9,295	Warriors	1975	1998	California (CCAA)
University of California, Davis (UC Davis)	Davis, California	1905	Public	40,772	Aggies	1925	1998	Big West (BWC) (Mountain West (MW) in 2026)

Notes

↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
↑ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
↑ Currently known as California State University, East Bay since 2005.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Part of the California State University System.
↑ Formerly known as Chico State College until 1972.
↑ Currently known as California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt since early 2022.
↑ Currently known as Notre Dame de Namur University since 2001.
↑ Notre Dame de Namur discontinued its athletics program at the end of the 2022–23 school year.
↑ Formerly known as California State University, San Francisco until 1974.
↑ Currently known as the Sonoma State Seawolves.
↑ Sonoma State discontinued its athletics program at the end of the 2024–25 school year.
↑ Part of the University of California System.
1 2 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.

Other members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current conference
Fresno State Normal School	Fresno, California	1911	Public	25,341	Bulldogs	1925	1940	Mountain West (MW) (Pac-12 in 2026)
University of Nevada	Reno, Nevada	1874	Public	21,034	Wolf Pack	1925	1940	Mountain West (MW)
University of Nevada	Reno, Nevada	1874	Public	21,034	Wolf Pack	1953	1969	Mountain West (MW)
University of the Pacific	Stockton, California	1911	United Methodist	6,652	Tigers	1925	1942	West Coast (WCC)
California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State, Sac State)	Sacramento, California	1947	Public	31,943	Hornets	1953	1985	Big Sky (BSC) (Big West (BWC) in 2026)
St. Ignatius College	San Francisco, California	1855	Catholic (Jesuit)	10,017	Dons	1927	1929	West Coast (WCC)
Saint Mary's College of California	Moraga, California	1863	Catholic (FSC)	2,775	Gaels	1925	1927	West Coast (WCC)
San Jose State Teachers College	San Jose, California	1857	Public	33,025	Spartans	1929	1935	Mountain West (MW)
Southern Oregon College of Education	Ashland, Oregon	1872	Public	5,371	Raiders	1947	1953	Cascade (CCC)

Notes

↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
↑ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
↑ Later known as Fresno State College from 1949 to 1972; currently known as California State University, Fresno since 1972.
1 2 3 Part of the California State University System.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
↑ Also known as the University of Nevada, Reno since 1969.
↑ Part of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
↑ Formerly known as Sacramento State College until 1972.
↑ Currently known as the University of San Francisco since 1930.
↑ Later known as San Jose State College from 1935 to 1972; then as California State University, San Jose from 1972 to 1974; currently known as San Jose State University since 1974.
↑ Later became known as Southern Oregon College from 1956 to 1975; then as Southern Oregon State College from 1975 to 1997; currently known as Southern Oregon University since 1997.
↑ Currently an NAIA athletic conference.

Membership timeline

Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football)

Conference champions

Football

1925: Saint Mary's
1926: Saint Mary's
1927: Saint Mary's
1928: Saint Mary's
1929: Cal Aggies
1930: Fresno State
1931: No champion
1932: Nevada & San Jose State
1933: Nevada
1934: San Jose State & Fresno State
1935: Fresno State
1936: Pacific (CA)
1937: Fresno State
1938: Pacific (CA)
1939: Nevada
1940: Pacific (CA)
1941: Pacific (CA)
1942: Pacific (CA)
1943: No champion
1944: No champion
1945: No champion
1946: No champion
1947: Cal Aggies & Southern Oregon
1948: Southern Oregon

1949: Cal Aggies
1950: San Francisco State
1951: Cal Aggies
1952: Humboldt State
1953: Chico State
1954: San Francisco State
1955: No champion
1956: Cal Aggies, San Francisco State, & Humboldt State
1957: San Francisco State
1958: San Francisco State
1959: San Francisco State
1960: Humboldt State
1961: Humboldt State & San Francisco State
1962: San Francisco State
1963: UC Davis, Humboldt State, & San Francisco State
1964: Sacramento State
1965: San Francisco State
1966: Sacramento State
1967: San Francisco State
1968: Humboldt State
1969: Cal State Hayward
1970: Cal State Hayward & Chico State
1971: UC Davis & Chico State
1972: UC Davis

1973: UC Davis & Chico State
1974: UC Davis
1975: UC Davis
1976: UC Davis
1977: UC Davis
1978: UC Davis
1979: UC Davis
1980: UC Davis
1981: Cal State Hayward & 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 State
1992: UC Davis
1993: Chico State
1994: Chico State, Humboldt State, & Sonoma State
1995: Humboldt State
1996: Chico State

Baseball

1948: Chico State
1949: Chico State
1950: Chico State
1951: UC Davis
1952: Chico State
1953: Chico State & Sacramento State
1954: Chico State & Sacramento State
1955: Sacramento State
1956: Sacramento State
1957: Sacramento State
1958: Sacramento State
1959: Sacramento State & Chico State
1960: Sacramento State
1961: Sacramento State & San Francisco State
1962: San Francisco State
1963: San Francisco State
1964: Sacramento State
1965: Sacramento State
1968: Sacramento State
1969: Sacramento State & San Francisco State
1970: Sacramento State
1971: Sacramento State
1972: Cal State Hayward
1973: UC Davis
1974: Sacramento State & UC Davis
1975: Sacramento State
1976: UC Davis
1977: Cal State Hayward
1978: Chico State
1979: UC Davis
1983: San Francisco State & Chico State
1984: UC Davis
1985: Sacramento State (Final season in league), Chico State, & UC Davis
1986: San Francisco State
1987: Chico State
1989: San Francisco State
1990: Sonoma State UC Davis
1991: Sonoma State
1992: Sonoma State
1993: UC Davis
1994: UC Davis
1995: San Francisco State
1996: Chico State
1997: Chico State
1998: Sonoma State & Chico State

Total Baseball Championships

Sacramento State - 18
Chico State - 14
UC Davis - 9
San Francisco State - 8
Sonoma State - 4
Cal State Hayward - 2

Women's volleyball

1982: Sacramento State
1983: Sacramento State
1984: Sacramento State
1995: Sonoma State
1997: Sonoma State

Softball

References

1 2 Kroichick, Ron (January 23, 2008). "A place where college sports are a grassroots movement". SFGate. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
1 2 "Conference Championships: Northern California Athletic Conference". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
↑ "Nevada to Quit Far Western Loop". Eugene Register-Guard. Jan 7, 1940. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
↑ "Nevada Quits But List Grid Game With COP". Lodi News-Sentinel. Jan 8, 1940. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2011.

[5] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[6] Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.

[7] Currently known as California State University, East Bay since 2005.

[CalState-8] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Part of the California State University System.

[9] Formerly known as Chico State College until 1972.

[10] Currently known as California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt since early 2022.

[11] Currently known as Notre Dame de Namur University since 2001.

[12] Notre Dame de Namur discontinued its athletics program at the end of the 2022–23 school year.

[13] Formerly known as California State University, San Francisco until 1974.

[14] Currently known as the Sonoma State Seawolves.

[15] Sonoma State discontinued its athletics program at the end of the 2024–25 school year.

[Cal-16] Part of the University of California System.

[D1-17] 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.

[18] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[19] Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.

[20] Later known as Fresno State College from 1949 to 1972; currently known as California State University, Fresno since 1972.

[CalState-21] 1 2 3 Part of the California State University System.

[D1-22] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.

[23] Also known as the University of Nevada, Reno since 1969.

[NSHE-24] Part of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

[25] Formerly known as Sacramento State College until 1972.

[26] Currently known as the University of San Francisco since 1930.

[27] Later known as San Jose State College from 1935 to 1972; then as California State University, San Jose from 1972 to 1974; currently known as San Jose State University since 1974.

[28] Later became known as Southern Oregon College from 1956 to 1975; then as Southern Oregon State College from 1975 to 1997; currently known as Southern Oregon University since 1997.

[NAIA-29] Currently an NAIA athletic conference.

[grassroots-1] 1 2 Kroichick, Ron (January 23, 2008). "A place where college sports are a grassroots movement". SFGate. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2020.

[cfdw-2] 1 2 "Conference Championships: Northern California Athletic Conference". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2010.

[3] "Nevada to Quit Far Western Loop". Eugene Register-Guard. Jan 7, 1940. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2011.

[4] "Nevada Quits But List Grid Game With COP". Lodi News-Sentinel. Jan 8, 1940. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2011.