Update on Texas A&M-Texarkana’s potential move to NCAA Division II

Last week, I wrote about a story in the Texarkana Gazette about A&M-Texarkana potentially starting a football program and its desire to move to NCAA Division II. Sources have since confirmed the Eagles' plan to add a football program. However, other sources indicate the school does not have a timetable for the program's beginning.

Sources also confirmed that TAMUT hopes to transition to DII and is considering three conferences. According to sources, the administration prefers to join the Great American Conference (GAC) to limit travel costs. Some sources believe TAMUT’s second choice for a DII conference home is the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), which includes Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma schools. This leaves the Lone Star Conference (LSC) as the third choice for the Eagles. 

Because of travel, the LSC is likely last in TAMUT's preferred pecking order. The Eagles' trip to Western New Mexico would be two hours longer than their longest trip in the MIAA. However, TAMUT needs to be invited to one of those conferences, which has not happened to my knowledge. 

While it is unknown whether the GAC has plans to expand its conference footprint, the conference should consider adding TAMUT. The 12-member GAC could soon face an uncertain future if the Oklahoma legislature follows through on its desire to force every Oklahoma DII institution into one conference within the state, cutting the GAC’s membership in half. Adding A&M-Texarkana would allow the conference to continue operating independently, depending on when the Eagles start a football program.

Still, TAMUT needs an invitation from a conference before it can transition to DII. If the Oklahoma legislature doesn’t follow through on its plans and the MIAA isn’t interested in expanding, TAMUT would likely be left with the LSC. The LSC would welcome the Eagles' strengthening the conference’s footprint in Texas, and TAMUT would likely not need to worry about traveling to Western Oregon or Central Washington for conference football games by the time its program was ready to compete, considering the LSC’s agreement with those Northwest schools expires following the 2027 season.

Is Mary Hardin-Baylor's MBB scheduling a sign it is moving out of Division III?

Sources indicate that Mary Hardin-Baylor's men’s basketball nonconference contracts with other DIII schools contain interesting language that might indicate the university’s future in the NCAA. According to sources, every DIII foe requests UMHB to include a stipulation that the game can be canceled if the Crusaders are no longer in DIII, and UMHB has agreed to add that stipulation.

Is this a sign that UMHB will soon depart DIII? Possibly. It also could be an admission by the UMHB administration that their future in athletics remains unknown. Or, it could indicate the administration is confident they’ll remain DIII beyond next year. As one source wrote when discussing this topic, “Take that for what it’s worth.”

Houston Christian’s recent hire could be good news for Texas NAIA schools

Houston Christian head coach Jason Bachtel announced earlier this week that Mike Nesbitt would be HCU’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. This news drew the attention of every NAIA football coach in Texas. Nesbitt departs the Ottawa (Ariz.) program he built in 2017. He finishes with a 51-14 overall record, two Sooner Athletic Conference titles, three NAIA playoff appearances, and an NCCAA Victory Bowl championship with the Spirit.

Nesbitt’s departure leaves a void in the SAC that Nelson, Texas College, Texas Wesleyan, and Wayland Baptist hope to fill. The Rams have already replaced OUAZ as the kings of the SAC, and the Spirit could face a stark fall in the conference, with Nelson, WBU, and Texas College continuing to improve each season.

The move will unquestionably improve the Huskies in 2025 and allow Bachtel to focus on his duties as head coach after serving in dual roles last season. The combination of Bachtel and Nesbitt could be bad news for the Southland Conference. Nesbitt and Bachtel are known for producing explosive offenses, with the former having spent time at Howard Payne, Blinn, West Texas A&M, Stephen F. Austin, and Houston and a head coach stint with the Buffs before heading to OUAZ.