They participate in the NCAA's Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).

In 2014, the Bearcats as well as the Lincoln Blue Tigers began competing in the GLVC as a football member-only team.

[2] On May 31, 2018, Southwest Baptist announced it would be withdrawing its membership from the MIAA to join the Great Lakes Valley Conference full-time, effective July 1, 2019.

Clardy is the 9th head football coach in Southwest Baptist University history.

The SBU Bearcats football team earned an NCAA National Playoff appearance in 2016 after winning the conference title.