VALDOSTA — Valdosta State will have one more hole to fill on its 2025 football schedule. Mississippi College is dropping football.

The change goes beyond football, according to multiple sources. Mississippi College’s name is changing to Mississippi Christian College. The new name will take effect in 2026.

No other sport at the college will be discontinued, per a press release from Mississippi College published Monday.

“The strategic realignment of athletics includes the discontinuation of the intercollegiate football program, which will allow the institution to further its commitment to excellence in intercollegiate Division II play across its remaining 17 sports and pursue needed facility upgrades,” stated the press release.

Mississippi College’s athletics site has football starting in 1907. Football was stopped during World War II but resumed in 1946. It had continued since.

The team finished 2-8 in 2024. The Blazers won over them 35-10 on Oct. 19. They were 1-6 in Gulf South play, that win being over Erskine.

Mississippi College dropping football is among a plethora of changes in Gulf South football membership. West Georgia moved to Division I this year. Chowan, Erskine and North Greenville, affiliate Gulf South members, leave for Conference Carolinas in 2025.

“We are disheartened following [Monday’s] announcement by Mississippi College and recognize the difficult position this creates for the conference and our football playing members,” said the Gulf South in its own statement, also released Monday. “The Gulf South Conference has a long history of success on the gridiron, and we are committed to preserving that tradition. Our strength as a football conference will once again be on display with two of our teams competing in this year’s NCAA Division II Championship. “

Mississippi College has been in the Gulf South since 2014.

Only four Gulf South schools remain with football programs. Besides Valdosta State are Delta State, West Alabama and West Florida.