The Centennial Conference has announced the addition of Carnegie Mellon University as an associate member for football. The Tartans will begin competition in the Centennial in the 2025 football season.

The addition of Carnegie Mellon will expand the Centennial's football membership to eight teams. The Tartans will compete alongside the seven CC full-time members that sponsor football - Dickinson College, Franklin & Marshall College, Gettysburg College, Johns Hopkins University, McDaniel College, Muhlenberg College and Ursinus College.

"We are excited to welcome Carnegie Mellon to the Centennial Conference as an associate member," said Portia Hoeg, Centennial Conference Executive Director. "Not only does Carnegie Mellon align with the high academic status of our league, but the Tartans' storied history in football complements the Centennial's tradition of excellence. "As a perennial leader among Division III conferences, the Centennial's already strong football profile will only be enhanced with the addition of Carnegie Mellon."

The Carnegie Mellon football program began in 1906 and has amassed 580 wins and 61 All-Americans throughout its history. The Tartans have competed in the Presidents' Athletic Conference since 2014, capturing conference championships and NCAA postseason appearances in 2021 and 2022. Over the past decade the Tartans own a 71-30 (.703) overall record, including eight seasons with a winning record.

In one of its recent postseason appearances, Carnegie Mellon faced Muhlenberg in the 2017 ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl in Newark, Delaware. The Mules won that game, 32-6, in the first meeting between the two institutions since 1997 and only the fourth all-time.

"Joining the Centennial Conference will have an impact on the competitiveness of our football program while providing student-athletes with enriching travel experiences and opportunities to compete against some of the nation's top teams," said Josh Centor, Carnegie Mellon University's Associate Vice President for Community Engagement and Director of Athletics.

"This represents a significant and exciting opportunity for our football program," said Carnegie Mellon head coach Ryan Larsen. "Competing against such high-caliber teams will elevate our program and provide our players with an exceptional experience."

Throughout its history the Centennial has produced 152 All-Americans and 80 Academic All-Americans. The Conference boasts 26 NCAA playoff wins with four Final Four appearances (one by Muhlenberg in 2019) and seven trips to the quarterfinal round, including five quarterfinal and two semifinal berths since 2018.

The 2025 campaign will mark a return to an eight-member football format for the Centennial. The Conference originated as an eight-team football coalition in 1983 and featured eight teams through the 2000 season, prior to full-time member Swarthmore College dropping the sport. Carnegie Mellon will become the fourth associate football member in CC history, with previous associate members including Juniata College (2007-22), Moravian University (2007-22) and Susquehanna University (2010-22).