American Athletic Conference is dropping the 'Athletic' and adding a mascot

After the past few years of conference realignment and expansion, some leagues are barely recognizable. The American Athletic Conference is taking matters into its own hands to stand out among its Group of Five counterparts, rebranding as the “American Conference” and adding a mascot, Soar the Eagle, which will debut at the league’s media days in Charlotte, North Carolina, later this week.

The American Conference, or just “American” for short, dropped the “Athletic” from its name to eliminate confusion with the similarly named Atlantic Coast Conference/ACC. Its new mascot will be the first live and animated mascot for a collegiate conference. The American Conference says Soar’s “very identity reflects our DNA of innovation, grit, and service. His name, ‘Soar,’ evokes upward flight and aspiration, aligning perfectly with the rally call, ‘Built to Rise.’”

The American Conference is formerly the Big East, which was founded in 1979 with Providence, St. John’s, Georgetown, Syracuse, UConn, Holy Cross, Rutgers, and Boston College. When the College Football Playoff was introduced in 2013, the American Athletic Conference was formed, with the basketball and football schools parting ways. In 2013, the league had 10 members; now, it has 14 FBS members — Charlotte, East Carolina, FAU, Memphis, North Texas, Rice, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, USF, and UTSA — along with football-only members Army and Navy. Wichita State is a non-football member.

Every detail has meaning.

See how each logo tells our story and defines the American.#BuiltToRise pic.twitter.com/6IKZoyAfei

— The American (@American_Conf) July 21, 2025

The American is one of the most successful non-power conferences in the College Football Playoff’s history, with seven New Year’s Six bowl or CFP berths. Last season, the American sent eight teams to bowls and won the Bowl Challenge Cup with a 6-2 postseason record. It was one of only five leagues — along with the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC — to have three teams finish with at least 10 wins last year.

“The American has built a brand that differentiates us in a crowded collegiate landscape by establishing and elevating what makes us distinctive,” American commissioner Tim Pernetti said in a statement. “This modernization is rooted in who we are and where we’re headed. It prioritizes clarity, momentum, and the competitive advantage driving every part of our conference forward.”

Soar will be used as a community ambassador, leading reading programs for kids and appearing at volunteer days and charity fundraisers. It would also be featured in video games, jersey patches, merchandise, and mascot-themed sponsor campaigns.

Are conference mascots now a thing? If so, what would the SEC’s be?

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