Texas A&M-Texarkana Release
NCAA Release
The Lone Star Conference announced it will welcome Texas A&M University-Texarkana to league membership on July 1, 2027, following acceptance of the University to the NCAA Division II reclassification process.
Transitioning from athletic affiliation with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), A&M-Texarkana was approved by the Division II Membership Committee to begin its first year of the three-year provisional membership period on September 1, 2026. The University will be on track to attain full Division II membership with the start of the 2029-30 academic year.
During the 2026-27 academic year, the Eagles will compete in the NAIA. All A&M-Texarkana teams except football will begin competing in the LSC in their respective 2027-28 sport seasons. Football is slated to begin LSC play in the 2028 season.
"We are thrilled that we have been accepted into NCAA Division II athletics," said A&M-Texarkana President Dr. Ross Alexander. "Today's announcement is another example of the ascendancy of A&M-Texarkana. Membership in NCAA Division II will allow us to continue to recruit high-quality student-athletes, will allow them to compete at a higher level, and elevate the game day experience for the student body and the entire community."
Texas A&M University-Texarkana was established in 1971 as East Texas State University at Texarkana, initially serving as an upper-level center for junior, senior and graduate-level coursework, before transitioning to a four-year university in 2009. It became part of the Texas A&M University System in 1996, marking a significant transition and expansion in its academic offerings and student population. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled with over 50 academic degree programs offered.
"Today [July 10] marks an historic milestone for our university and is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of so many people," said TAMUT Director of Athletics Ryan Wall. "This is only the beginning. We are building something special at A&M-Texarkana and look forward to competing at the NCAA Division II level while continuing to provide an outstanding experience for our student-athletes and representing our university and community with pride."
A&M-Texarkana presently has 19 intercollegiate sports that are sponsored by the Lone Star Conference: 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 indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball. Football is the newest Eagles sport and will play its first season in 2027.
The addition of A&M-Texarkana continues conference expansion as 12 institutions joining the LSC over the last 10 years.
"The Lone Star Conference membership is thrilled to welcome Texas A&M University-Texarkana to NCAA Division II," said LSC Commissioner Jay Poerner. "A&M-Texarkana is an institution on the rise with leadership that is fully committed to the academic and athletic success of its student-athletes, and will be a great addition to the LSC, further strengthening the conference and positioning the league for long-term success."
Founded April 25, 1931, the current Lone Star Conference membership includes 18 institutions in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. The LSC opens its 95th year of competition in August and is coming off a successful 2025-26 year highlighted by NCAA Division II national championships in men's soccer, women's golf and women's outdoor track and field. In addition, all 16 active-member Division II institutions were ranked in the final standings of the 2025-26 Learfield Directors Cup while numerous student-athletes earned national and regional academic and athletic honors.
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.