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College Conference · NCAA Division I

Summit League

The Summit League — the Upper Midwest and Plains conference, home of the Dakotas' rise in Division I.
✓ Last reviewed: August 2026
Founded1982 · renamed 2007
HeadquartersSioux Falls, South Dakota

What is the Summit League?

The Summit League is a Division I, non-football conference of the Upper Midwest and Plains.[1][2]

Members and sports

Members include South Dakota State, South Dakota, Denver, Oral Roberts, Omaha, Kansas City and St. Thomas; North Dakota State departs for the Mountain West in 2026. The league sponsors swimming & diving among its championships.[1][3]

Since when does it exist?

Founded in 1982 (as the Association of Mid-Continent Universities); the Summit League name dates to 2007; based in Sioux Falls.[1]

Why does the Summit League matter?

The league's members have become a Division I success story — Dakota schools winning national FCS titles and March games — giving Summit championships growing national weight.[1][3]

References

  1. Summit League — official site. Accessed August 2026.
  2. NCAA — About the NCAA. Accessed August 2026.
  3. SI — Mountain West adds for 2026. Accessed August 2026.