SAN MARCOS, Calif. – 2015-16 marks a historic year for the Cal State San Marcos Department of Athletics. After 16 years in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Cougars will start their inaugural season of NCAA Division II competition this week.

In addition, 2015-16 marks the first season in which the Cougars will compete in a traditional conference. CSUSM's new conference, the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), is the premier league in NCAA Division II. Its teams have combined for 153 DII national championships – the most of any conference in the country. 

The CCAA
Cal State San Marcos	Stanislaus State
Cal Poly Pomona	Chico State
Cal State Dominguez Hills	Humboldt State
Cal State East Bay	San Francisco State
Cal State L.A.	Sonoma State
Cal State Monterey Bay	UC San Diego
Cal State San Bernardino

With a new conference come new rivalries for the Cougars. Gone are the small private schools that previously made up the majority of CSUSM's regular season schedule.

Instead, the Cougars will be challenged in the 13-team CCAA by 11 other California State University schools and UC San Diego.  The CSU schools include: Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State East Bay, Cal State L.A., Cal State San Bernardino, Stanislaus State, Chico State, Cal State Monterey Bay, Humboldt State, San Francisco State and Sonoma State.

The Cougars' closest geographical rival will be UC San Diego, which is located southwest of CSUSM in La Jolla. CSUSM and UCSD will face-off in 13 different sports this season, the lone outsider being women's golf. The Tritons have combined for 30 national championships and 138 individual national championships in their storied history.

To the north lies Cal Poly Pomona, which is arguably coming off one of its most successful seasons ever. The Broncos' baseball team made it all the way to the national semifinals and the men's soccer team is coming off a 17-win season. In addition, the CPP women's basketball team made it to the national quarterfinals. Men's basketball won a national championship in 2010.

The Cougar soccer teams will be challenged by Cal State L.A., which has been picked to win the conference following both preseason coaches' polls. The Golden Eagle men's team enters the year ranked No. 6 in the NSCAA poll after advancing to the Elite Eight in 2014. The women's team is ranked No. 18.

A few schools from Northern California will provide solid competition for CSUSM, as well. Chico State is formidable in many of the individual sports, most notably cross country. The Wildcat men and women are ranked No. 4 and No. 8, respectively. In addition, the men's golf team finished 2014-15 ranked No. 4.

Sonoma State women's volleyball enters the year ranked No. 12 in the country, fresh off an Elite Eight appearance. SSU's women's golf team was also the top-ranked team in the West Region.

Cal State Monterey Bay, the smallest institution in the CCAA in terms of total enrollment, is strong in softball and men's golf. The softball team finished 2015 ranked No. 14 in the nation, while men's golf ranked No. 6.

The Cougars' CCAA schedule officially starts the week of Sept. 14-20. Women's volleyball hosts Humboldt State, UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino. The men's and women's soccer teams host doubleheaders against Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona.

For a complete schedule of all of CSUSM's fall programs, visit CSUSMCougars.com.