A&M-C Move To Southland, NCAA D1 Came About Quickly

Texas A&M-Commerce Athletic Director Tim McMurray says the talks that led to A&M-Commerce being invited to join the Southland Conference and move up to NCAA Division 1 started in the late spring, but picked up momentum in the late summer, after Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin announced plans to leave the Southland for the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Representatives of the Southland visited Commerce last week, and the decision to invite Lion athletics to join the league came on Friday, September 24. A&M-Commerce will join the Southland in time for fall 2022 sports. The Lions will compete in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football, but at the highest level of competition in other NCAA sports.