The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced Thursday several changes to its basketball competition format, as well as a football rule change, both of which were voted on during the conference’s spring meetings.
Starting with the upcoming 2024-25 basketball season, SWAC women’s basketball games will be played on Thursdays and Saturdays. Men’s games will remain on Saturdays and Mondays. Previously, all conference games were played as doubleheaders.
The SWAC basketball tournaments will be expanded. The upcoming 2025 basketball tournaments will include 10 men’s and 10 women’s teams, an increase from the eight-team format previously used. The 2026 tournament will include all 12 men’s and women’s teams, removing the need to qualify for the tournament during the regular season.
In football, the SWAC office will provide sideline tablets beginning with the upcoming 2024 season. Teams will be allowed to use the tablets to view in-game video, and the tablets may be used on the sideline, in the locker room and in the coaches’ booths. The tablets will have access to the game broadcast feed and camera angles from the sideline and end zone.
All team personnel will be allowed to use the tablets, but they may not be connected to other devices, project larger images or provide analytical data.
These and other legislations were voted on by the SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors.