UT Dallas News Release
The Lone Star Conference announced it will welcome the University of Texas at Dallas to league membership on July 1, 2025, following acceptance of the University to the NCAA Division II reclassification process.
Transitioning from NCAA Division III, UT Dallas will begin the first year of an expedited two-year Division II provisional membership period on September 1 and will be on track toward full Division II membership with the 2026-27 academic year.
During the 2024-25 academic year, the Comets play a final Division III year in a scheduling alliance with the American Southwest Conference. All UTD teams will begin competing in the LSC beginning with their respective 2025-26 sport seasons.
"Changing NCAA athletics classification reflects our continued rise in size and stature as a university," said UT Dallas President Dr. Richard C. Benson, Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership. "We're thrilled to be accepted into the Lone Star Conference, one of the most highly regarded Division II athletic conferences in the country."
UT Dallas was founded in 1961 and approved as a University of Texas System institution in August 1969 now enrolling more than 31,000 students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional certifications. The University is recognized as an R1 institution — a Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education denoting the top tier of doctoral institutions with very high research activity.
"This is a historic day in the history of UT Dallas and UTD Athletics and we are delighted to be joining the esteemed ranks of NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference," said Angela Marin, UTD Director of Athletics. "Being accepted into the expedited process means we can compete for NCAA championships sooner than expected which is a great benefit to our coaches and student-athletes."
UTD sponsors 15 intercollegiate teams: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's outdoor track and field, and volleyball. The intercollegiate athletics program affiliated with the NCAA and Division III in 1998 and celebrated its 25th athletics anniversary during the 2022-23 year.
"Our membership is excited to welcome UT Dallas to NCAA Division II and we look forward to the history of academic and athletic successes it brings to the Lone Star Conference," said LSC Commissioner Jay Poerner. "In addition, acceptance in the new two-year expedited membership process speaks well of UT Dallas and its readiness for the move to Division II."
Founded April 25, 1931, Lone Star Conference membership includes 17 institutions in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. The LSC opens its 93rd year of competition in late August coming off a successful 2023-24 year with an NCAA Division II national championship in softball and national runner-up finishes in volleyball, men's indoor track and field, women's basketball, women's golf, and baseball. In addition, 14 institutions were ranked in the LEARFIELD Directors Cup final standings and numerous student-athletes earned national and regional academic and athletic honors.
The addition of UT Dallas continues recent conference expansion as 11 institutions have joined the LSC in the last eight years. Seventeen institutions in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico will compete under the Lone Star Conference banner in the 2024-25 academic year. UT Dallas and LSC member Sul Ross State, who advanced to year two of its transition to Division II, are each on track to active Division II status with the 2026-27 academic year.
The Lone Star Conference provides championships in 19 sports (nine men and 10 women). Men's championships include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. Women's titles are determined in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, STUNT, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, tennis and volleyball.