The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland started off the 2025 SWAC Media Day, making it known that the 12 SWAC members have opted to accept the House Settlement. This is a game-changer for the conference because it provides each SWAC member the opportunity to build their sports programs through NIL Deals that can be offered by the universities they attend.
Dr. McClelland made it clear that the resources HBCU institutions have today are greater than they were six years ago, and the conference wasn’t going to miss out on this opportunity. The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) corporate partners are PepsiCo, General Motors, and JPMorgan Chase. Chase Morgan Kisha Porch discussed their SWAC partnership, which focuses on financial literacy and professional development. This partnership is major to the conference members, paying their student-athletes NIL directly. The student-athletes benefit from this deal because they will be taught how to invest their money and be taught financial literacy.
The commissioner continued to provide fans with more to be excited about, saying the SWAC new streaming platform, SWACTV, will go live on August 1st, 2025. The SWACTV will stream live events for all 18 conference-sponsored sports. The commissioner was transparent about the conference, financially gaining more economic power for their 12 conference members. According to the commissioner, SWAC TV will provide the members with additional financial backing for Name, Image, and Likeness to keep their programs moving forward. The question concerning additional members looking to join the SWAC conference, and Commissioner Dr. McClelland stated the SWAC is keeping options open for the next 12 months, viewing the NCAA conferences’ changes to fit what they are looking to accomplish.
The commissioner was asked if the SWAC can three-peat in the Celebration Bowl this year, he respectfully declined to answer the question, because he doesn’t want to give the Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and bulletin material for them to have when they meet the SWAC Champion later this year in Atlanta to decide who will be the 2025 HBCU Celebration Bowl National Champion.