The Tri-State Conference was an intercollegiate athletic conference associated with National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) the that existed from 1960 to 1981 and one of two conferences to share this name. The league had members in the Midwestern states of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota.Tri-State Conference (NE-IA-SD) , College Football Data Warehouse, retrieved October 30, 2015.
The Tri-State Conference began operations in 1960 with seven members: Concordia College (now known as Concordia University Nebraska) in Seward, Nebraska, Dana College (closed in 2010) in Blair, Nebraska, Midland College (now known as Midland University) in Fremont, Nebraska, Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, Sioux Falls College (now known as the University of Sioux Falls) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Westmar University (closed in 1997) in Le Mars, Iowa, and Yankton College (closed in 1984) in Yankton, South Dakota. In 1971, the three Nebraska schools (Concordia, Dana, and Midland) withdrew; they joined the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now known as the Great Plains Athletic Conference) in 1969 and had been members of both conferences. The same year, 1971, Bethel College (now known as Bethel University) in Arden Hills, Minnesota and Concordia University in Saint Paul, Minnesota joined the Tri-State Conference. Concordia of St. Paul left in 1975 as did Bethel in 1977. Dordt College (now known as Dordt University) joined in 1976. Sioux Falls left in 1977 to join the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference.
Football champions
1960 – 1961 – 1962 – and 1963 – 1964 – 1965 – and 1966 – and 1967 – 1968 – Westmar 1969 – 1970 –
1971 – 1972 – 1973 – Northwestern (IA) 1974 – 1975 – , , and 1976 – 1977 – 1978 – 1979 – 1980 –
Yearly football standings
See also List of defunct college football conferences
References