Southern Conference athletic directors established the honor roll prior to the 1988-89 athletic year as a way to recognize the leagues outstanding student-athletes. The Honor Roll consists of student-athletes at member institutions, and those from associate members participating in Conference-sponsored sports, who achieve a 3.0 minimum grade point average (GPA) for the academic year while being a member of the final squad list during their sport's traditional season. Recipients must have been eligible to compete throughout the entire academic year.

The Southern Conference Executive Committee established the Commissioner's Medals during the 2004-05 academic year. A subset of the honor roll, the award recognizes those student athletes who participated in varsity sports at member institutions and posted a 3.8 grade point average or higher, were eligible the entire academic year and were members of the final squad lists. The GPA standard was raised from 3.5 prior to the 2015-16 academic year.

Year	Honor Roll	Commissioner's Medal	4.0 GPA
2022-23	2,469	704	223
2021-22	2,441	712	264
2020-21	2,741	786	264
2019-20	2,646	710	229
2018-19	2,247	517	167
2017-18	2,208	526	179
2016-17	2,100	469	148
2015-16	1,984	399*	146
2014-15	1,867	919	122
2013-14	1,916	873	81
2012-13	2,023	915	89
2011-12	1,966	887	90
2010-11	1,985	871	80
2009-10	1,921	858	69
2008-09	1,809	771	61
2007-08	1,618	669	63
2006-07	1,503	610	58
2005-06	1,436	579	57
2004-05	1,491	623	52
2003-04	1,479		48
2002-03	1,395		54
2001-02	1,443		42
2000-01	1,360		39
1999-00	1,239
1998-99	1,269
1997-98	1,052		21
1996-97	928		33
1995-96	818
1994-95	723
1993-94	748		13
1992-93	714
1991-92	507		16
1990-91	457		17
1989-90	393		8
1988-89	364

* GPA standard raised from 3.5 to 3.8