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July 14, 2026
TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M University-Texarkana is moving up to the big leagues of college athletics.
The university announced it has been accepted into NCAA Division II, marking its move from the NAIA. Official word came Thursday morning, July 9, with a phone call from NCAA representatives to President Dr. Ross Alexander and Director of Athletics Ryan Wall.
"We are thrilled to formally announce that we have been accepted into NCAA Division II athletics," Alexander said. "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."
The Eagles have already secured an invitation to join the Lone Star Conference, one of the premier conferences in Division II. Wall called the approval a historic milestone. "This is only the beginning," he said. "We are building something special at A&M-Texarkana, and our future is incredibly bright."
The full transition takes multiple years — schools must meet stringent compliance, facilities, budget, and financial-aid requirements — but the NCAA offers an expedited two-year process for institutions already meeting its standards, which TAMUT officials are working to secure. Provisional membership is set to begin in fall 2026.
The move caps a rapid rise for A&M-Texarkana athletics, which now fields 22 sports and more than 400 student-athletes. The university is also launching a football program, with players arriving on campus this fall ahead of an inaugural 2027 season, and has broken ground on new facilities including RRCU Stadium and the RRCU Athletics Complex.