By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Presidents Council has released an official Position Statement on the future of college athletics.

The paper underscores the value and importance of creating sustainable models for Division II, recognizing the opportunities of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) while also acknowledging that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to college athletics. It calls for policies that reflect the realities of non-Division I institutions, and even within Division I, for those outside the Power Four. Without such differentiation, institutions risk being caught in the legal fallout and reactive culture that are largely specific to the highest levels of Division I and do not reflect the needs or priorities of Division II.

“Power 4 athletics has its own path, and student-athletes and families who choose that model should absolutely pursue the opportunities it provides. But Division II is different, and that difference still works,” said RMAC Interim Commissioner Lexie Vernon. “It is time to double down on the Division II philosophy and mission. We cannot allow policies or legal outcomes that are specific to Division I to erode what makes Division II successful. Our model remains a place where academics, athletics, and personal growth complement one another, and it deserves to be preserved.”

“As a former Division II college athlete and current president, I can attest to the lifelong positive impact of being a DII student-athlete. In fact, I feel it is a near ideal collegiate athletics experience,” said Dr. David Tandberg, President of Adams State University and Chair of the RMAC Presidents Council. “I agree with the RMAC Position Statement, which will help preserve the DII student-athlete experience, focusing on developing a well-rounded individual who is prepared to accomplish future personal and professional goals after completing their degree.”
Through this Position Statement, the RMAC Presidents Council emphasizes its commitment to ensuring that the conference and Division II are represented in every level of dialogue within the NCAA and with local, state, and federal policymakers.

To read the full RMAC Presidents Council Position Statement, please visit the link above.

About the RMAC

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.

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