The United Athletic Conference (UAC) today proudly unveiled its new brand identity, "
Forge Ahead.", a powerful message that reflects the conference's commitment to shaping the future of collegiate athletics through confidence, ambition, and forward-thinking progress.
The Forge Ahead. brand campaign will begin rolling out immediately and will be featured throughout the upcoming academic year.
More than a slogan, Forge Ahead. embodies the spirit of the institutions, student-athletes, coaches, and communities that define the UAC. The new identity celebrates the conference's unique position at the intersection of tradition and transformation ahead of the official launch of the rebrand from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) on July 1.
"Forge Ahead represents who we are and where we're going," said Unisun Sports CEO, Jeff Bacon. "Our member institutions have never been content to follow established paths. They build, innovate, and create. This identity reflects the grit of our student-athletes, the leadership of our campuses, and our collective commitment to advancing collegiate athletics."
The brand was developed through a comprehensive process involving campus leaders and key stakeholders, in conjunction with Bosack & Co. The resulting identity positions the UAC as a conference that embraces challenges, pursues excellence, and continuously pushes forward.
At its core, Forge Ahead. is not simply a brand slogan. It is a declaration: We aren't resting on history; We are shaping what comes next.
About the United Athletic Conference
Beginning July 1, 2026, the WAC will rebrand as the United Athletic Conference (UAC), a competitive NCAA Division I conference sponsoring sixteen (16) sports and championships with nine (9) full member institutions including Abilene Christian University (Abilene, Texas), the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.), Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, Tenn.), the University of Central Arkansas (Conway, Ark.), Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond, Ky.), the University of North Alabama (Florence, Ala.), Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Texas), the University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, Texas), and the University of West Georgia (Carrollton, Ga.) with the University of West Florida (Pensacola, Fla.) as an affiliate member in football.