The NCAA Division II Membership Committee announced UC Merced has been accepted into the provisional membership process. Thanks to the NCAA's new expedited provisional membership process, the Bobcats will begin playing a CCAA schedule in 2025-26 and become fully eligible for the NCAA Championships in 2026-27.
 
UC Merced was approved for admission into the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) by the 12 institutions' presidents and officially submitted their application to the NCAA in February 2024.
 
The expedited provisional membership process will allow institutions to be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason competition after only two years instead of three. UC Merced will be joined in the expedited process by Jamestown and Texas-Dallas.
 
Click here to see the complete NCAA release | Click here to see the release about UC Merced joining the CCAA
 
The Division II membership will total 293 schools in 2024-25.