Only five years ago, at its Media Day, the Lone Star Conference (LSC) was described as the “Southeastern Conference of NCAA Division II.” While some might have argued that another conference was the best in DII, the LSC presented a strong case for its superiority. East Texas A&M won the national title in 2017, and the LSC was known for being one of the deepest leagues in the country, consistently featuring four to five playoff-caliber programs each year.

Fast forward to 2025, and it’s hard to envision anyone comparing the LSC to the SEC without getting a snicker or side-eye in return. The departure of ET and Tarleton to FCS dealt a significant blow to the conference, and the impact of losing two consistently competitive programs in every sport is still felt today across many sports.

However, the LSC can reclaim its powerhouse status in DII by adding East Texas Baptist, Hardin-Simmons, and Mary Hardin-Baylor from the American Southwest Conference (ASC). The LSC and ASC were once considered the leading conferences in their divisions and even shared office space. Their relationship changed when former ASC commissioner Amy Carlton “stepped away” from her position and eventually joined the LSC office.

With the dissolution of the ASC on the horizon, the LSC stands to benefit. However, adding ETBU, UMHB, and HSU will only address part of the issue for the LSC, whose football footprint spans 2,193 miles from Kingsville, Texas, to Ellensburg, Washington. Other realignment adjustments are necessary for the conference, which includes 19 full-time members and two associate members.

Let’s say LSC Commissioner Jay Poerner has asked me to develop a conference realignment plan. While he has no reason to seek my advice on any topic, let alone conference realignment, I have some ideas to share.

Since the addition of the former Heartland Conference schools in 2019, the LSC has shifted to a basketball-focused conference. Eleven of the 19 full-time members do not sponsor football, which hampers football success since the non-football schools hold the majority during conference voting. Adding ETBU, HSU, and UMHB would expand the LSC to 22 members, balancing the number of schools that do and do not sponsor football.

While the LSC proudly claims to be the largest DII conference, some adjustments are necessary to regain prominence on the gridiron. I propose removing the Oklahoma schools, Cameron and Oklahoma Christian. These moves immediately shift the balance of power toward the football-centric schools since neither participates in football. It also addresses any concerns stemming from the Oklahoma legislature’s ongoing intent to establish a DII conference composed entirely of schools within the state. Oklahoma institutions, particularly Cameron, have been pivotal in LSC history. However, they align more with the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) footprint. It would be an advantageous landing spot if the Oklahoma legislature fails to reach an agreement on forming a single-state conference.

Speaking of Cameron, the Aggies would be more appealing to conferences if they reinstate their football program. Although a substantial initial investment would be necessary, the financial impact would be softened by the university's existing football stadium, which local high school teams use during the season.

Next comes a tough decision. It’s time to remove Central Washington and Western Oregon as associate members. This move isn’t made lightly, as it would likely lead to WOU discontinuing its football program. However, traveling to the Pacific Northwest every year isn’t sustainable for any of the schools. Additionally, there’s the extra stress placed on the student-athletes subjected to such excessive travel. These teams typically fly commercial, and you can imagine the headache that arises from trying to get the traveling party of a college football team through airport security at a public terminal.

With these moves, the LSC would consist of 18 full-time members, 11 of whom would sponsor football. This arrangement would give the schools that sponsor football greater influence in conference decision-making. Why does this matter? Success in athletics, particularly in football, brings national attention to a school and conference. Achieving success in football also attracts more donors, and the ensuing notoriety provides free publicity for schools constantly seeking to increase enrollment.

The reality is that schools that don’t sponsor football are less likely to vote for measures benefiting football programs, resulting in a decline in the on-field product. Since the LSC and McKinney ISD started hosting the DII football national championship game in 2018, no program from the conference has posed a legitimate threat to reach the game since Tarleton in 2018. It’s no coincidence that the conference’s football profile deteriorated when Tarleton and ET departed. This shift transferred power in the conference to the non-football universities. 

Having 11 football teams in the conference would prioritize every game and require coaches and administrators to identify just one non-conference football opponent. I envision a pathway to 12 football teams in the future, but that’s a topic for another day. 

Adding ETBU, HSU, and UMHB would greatly benefit the LSC across all sports. Oklahoma Christian has a strong softball program, but ETBU secured the DIII national title last season. At the very least, the three former ASC schools already possess the infrastructure and funding necessary to compete for conference championships following their transition period. UT Tyler completed its transition in 2022 and has since seen its softball program claim a national title. Several other programs, including women’s basketball and men’s tennis, have also achieved success in regional and national tournaments.

In basketball, the East Division would include Dallas Baptist (men only), East Texas Baptist, Mary Hardin-Baylor, St. Mary’s, St. Edward’s, Texas A&M International, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Texas Woman’s (women only), UT Dallas and UT Tyler. The West Division would consist of Angelo State, Eastern New Mexico, Hardin-Simmons, Lubbock Christian, Midwestern State, Sul Ross State, UTPB, West Texas A&M, and Western New Mexico.

Ultimately, these actions would enhance the LSC for the future, at least until the FCS conferences decide to expand by adding teams from the conference again.