NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bradley University is about to get a new conference opponent.
The Missouri Valley Conference announced Tuesday Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee has accepted an invitation to join the conference in the fall of 2022.
“This is a great day for the Missouri Valley Conference,” said Jeff Jackson, MVC Commissioner, at a news conference. “It’s not often that you have an opportunity to add to your membership one of the premier athletic departments in the United States, and we’ve been able to accomplish that with the addition of Belmont University.”
Belmont could end up being a formidable foe to Bradley in several sports. The MVC says the men’s basketball team is one of only four to win 19 or more games in 16 consecutive seasons, and the women’s team has won five conference titles in the past six years.
“We believe that it will cause us to raise our game in all of our sports to be partners with some extraordinary universities in furthering the cause of education and formation, we know it will be a challenge for us on the athletic field and on the courts as we move forward, and we couldn’t be more proud and excited to be taking this next step,” said Dr. Greg Jones, Belmont University president. “I am thrilled to be a part of the Missouri Valley Conference and we look forward to that with great anticipation.”
Belmont will be leaving the Ohio Valley Conference.
