MACON, Ga.- Middle Georgia State University (MGA) has successfully completed the first year of its transition to NCAA Division II and has been approved to advance to Provisional Year 2, marking another significant milestone in the University's journey toward full NCAA membership.

NCAA Division II officials announced the approval on July 10.

"The first year of the transition challenged us to build a strong foundation, and our coaches, staff, student-athletes, and University leadership embraced every expectation placed on us," said Michael Brown, MGA's athletics director. "Advancing to Provisional Year 2 reflects the commitment across our institution to operating at the NCAA Division II level. We're proud of what we've accomplished and look forward to continuing to strengthen our compliance efforts while building on the competitive success our teams experienced during the first year."

The NCAA accepted MGA into the Division II membership process in 2025. During the first year of the four-year transition, the University fulfilled a series of institutional benchmarks designed to ensure compliance with NCAA standards and preparation for full membership.

Among those requirements was participation in mandatory NCAA meetings, including the NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C., where MGA was represented by Brown, as well as Dr. Christopher Blake, MGA's president; Kaasha Thayer, assistant athletics director for compliance; and Rebecca Edwards, faculty athletics representative.

University representatives also attended the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar in Atlanta and hosted an NCAA membership committee site visit in February to evaluate the institution's progress. In June, MGA submitted its comprehensive "Year One Report" documenting its advancement in areas including governance, compliance, policies, and procedures.

The Knights made an immediate impact in the Peach Belt Conference during their inaugural NCAA Division II season. Seven teams qualified for Peach Belt Conference tournaments, while numerous student-athletes earned All-Conference honors and Player of the Week recognition throughout the year.

The women's tennis team enjoyed a particularly historic season, becoming the first MGA program to earn a national ranking while in NCAA provisional membership. The Knights also secured the University's first Peach Belt Conference tournament victory with a first-round win over Georgia College & State University.

During Provisional Year 2, MGA will continue operating under NCAA Division II rules while maintaining compliance with all membership requirements. University representatives will again participate in required NCAA meetings and seminars, and the institution will host another NCAA site visit in spring 2027 to assess its continued progress.

The NCAA Division II membership process spans three years:

2025-26: Provisional Year 1 – Completed.

2026-27: Provisional Year 2 – Continued competition in the Peach Belt Conference and NCAA Division II, with eligibility for conference championships but not NCAA postseason competition.

2027-28: Provisional Year 3 – Continued competition with the same eligibility status.

2028-29: Full NCAA Division II membership, including eligibility for NCAA postseason competition.

MGA competes in the Peach Belt Conference in baseball, men and women's basketball, men and women's soccer, men and women's tennis, softball, women's volleyball, women's cross country, and women's track (distance events). The University, which has campuses in Macon, Cochran, Dublin, Eastman, and Warner Robins, began pursuing NCAA Division II membership in 2022 following a comprehensive feasibility study and received approval from the University System of Georgia Board of Regents in 2023.

Learn more about MGA's NCAA Division II transition at https://www.mga.edu/Athletics-transition/?path=general