Conference USA was formed in 1995 by merging teams from two conferences - the Great Midwest Conference and the Metro Conference - that did not sponsor Division I football. Ironically, football, as a conference sport, was instituted in 1996.

The twelve charter members were Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Houston, Louisville, Marquette, Memphis, Saint Louis, Southern Miss, Tulane, Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) and South Florida (USF). All, but Houston, began athletic participation in 1995. Houston joined competition in the fall of 1996 after fulfilling an obligation to complete its membership with the Southwest Conference. However, three teams were left out of the merger: Dayton, Virginia Commonwealth, and Virginia Tech.

Marquette would continue to compete in this conference until 2005-06, when it joined the Big East. Joining Marquette's departure that season were fellow conference members Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, and USF. Meanwhile, Charlotte and St. Louis left for the Atlantic 10; Texas Christian joined the Mountain West; and Army, a football-only C-USA member, selected to become independent again in football.

Mike Slive, the Great Midwest Conference's only commissioner, is currently serving the same position for the SEC.

• 1991-92: Cincinnati and DePaul
• 1992-93: Cincinnati
• 1993-94: Marquette
• 1994-95: Memphis

• 1992: Chicago Stadium; Chicago, Illinois
• 1993: The Pyramid; Memphis, Tennessee
• 1994: Shoemaker Center; Cincinnati, Ohio
• 1995: Bradley Center; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Cincinnati won all four Great Midwest Conference Tournament championships.