CLINTON, Miss. (WJTV) – The president of Mississippi College spoke to WJTV 12 News about what’s next for the institution after a big announcement.

As the college approaches its bicentennial in 2026, they will shift the direction of the school with a name change and by ending their football program.

“We are going to change our name to Mississippi Christian University. It’s a big bold change that we believe is strategic and allows us to take our place on the national stage. So, our vision is academic excellence and a commitment to the cause of Christ. We will continue to do that and do it well. What it allows us to do is focus more of our resources on that core vision of this institution,” said Dr. Blake Thompson, president of Mississippi College.

The announcement shocked many, and students shared mixed emotions about the changes.

“It definitely is going to change that like atmospheres on Saturdays and stuff, because it was like one of the main things to do, like tailgating and then going to a football game,” said one student.

“I knew that MC was known for its Christian atmosphere. I think if they wanted to make MCU a thing because they wanted to show more of our Christian appearance out there, I think that’s up to them,” said another student.

Thompson said provisions and resources are being made available to the football staff and team members during the transition period. He said the current landscape of athletics and NIL deals did not align with the school.

“We made a decision that we were not going to pay players, and we were going to take those valuable limited resources to really focus on our vision and take our place on a national stage,” he said.