Lone Star Conference


The Lone Star Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level. Member institutions are located in the South Central states, with schools in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, with two members in the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon and Washington competing as affiliates for football only.
The Lone Star Conference operates from the same headquarters complex in the Dallas suburb of Richardson as the American Southwest Conference.
WWW lonestarconference.org

History

The conference was formed in 1931 when five schools withdrew from the old Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Charter members included East Texas State, North Texas State, [Sam University of Houston|Houston State University|Sam Houston State], Southwest Texas State, and Stephen F. Austin. With East Texas A&M starting its transition to Division I in July 2022, none of the five charter members remain in Division II or in the conference – all have moved up to Division I.

Chronological timeline

Below is a timeline of the conference's history.
  • 1931 - The conference was formed on April 25, 1931, at a meeting in Denton, Texas, when five schools withdrew from the old Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Charter members included East Texas State University, North Texas State University, Sam Houston State College, Southwestern State College and Stephen F. Austin State College. The conference constitution required member schools to sponsor football, basketball, track & field and tennis. The 1931-32 basketball season was the first sport to be competed within the conference. At the first annual conference business meeting on December 12, 1931, Trinity University was admitted to the LSC, effective for the 1932-33 academic year.
  • 1933 - Trinity announced that the school was withdrawing from the LSC to return to the Texas Conference, but would still compete in the LSC until the 1933-34 academic year.
  • 1934 - At the annual LSC business meeting in December, conference presidents considered Texas A&I University, Sul Ross State Teachers College and West Texas State Teachers College for admittance, but full membership was not granted at that time.
  • 1938 - The Lone Star Conference joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
  • 1940 - The LSC Faculty Athletics Representatives voted, upon recommendation of the LSC Directors of Athletics, to add golf as a conference sport with the first championship scheduled for May 17, 1941.
  • 1941 - At the annual meeting on December 13, 1941, six days after the beginning of World War II, LSC members went on record as favoring "continuing a full sports program as long as it does not interfere with the nation's all-out war effort".
  • 1942 - At the December 12, 1942, conference meeting, the LSC faculty athletics representatives approved football and basketball as conference sports during the war as long as transportation was available. All spring sports, excluding track, were discontinued.
  • 1945 - On November 9, 1945, and with the end of World War II, a called meeting of conference directors of athletics and faculty athletics representatives was held in Waco, Texas. Basketball, tennis, track, golf, and football were planned as conference sports for the 1946-47 academic year. An invitation for conference membership was extended to the University of Houston and Southwestern University of Georgetown, Texas. Houston expressed a desire to schedule tentative basketball and football schedules, pending action to its board of regents. In addition, Trinity University and Howard Payne College were also discussed as possible new members.
  • 1945 - On December 8, 1945, the University of Houston was officially admitted to the LSC.
  • 1946 - On April 23, 1946, at a conference spring meeting, Trinity was admitted to the LSC, effective in the 1946-47 academic year; therefore, rejoining the conference after a 12-year hiatus.
  • 1946 - On December 7, 1946, at a conference winter meeting, a vote was taken to add baseball to the list of LSC sports, effective in the 1947 spring season.
  • 1947 - On May 16, 1947, Texas A&I University applied for admission to the LSC, but was never admitted due to some geographic concerns.
  • 1948 - On December 10–11, 1948, at a winter meeting, Hardin College was admitted to the LSC by unanimous vote.
  • 1949 - North Texas State University, the University of Houston, Trinity University, and Hardin College withdrew from the LSC, effective June 1, 1949, to form the Gulf Coast Conference.
  • 1950 - Sul Ross State and Lamar State College of Technology were admitted to the LSC.
  • 1953 - On December 12, 1953, Texas A&I University was admitted to the LSC and began competition in the 1954 fall season of the 1954-55 academic year.
  • 1956 - McMurry College applied for LSC membership, but was voted down.
  • 1956 - Howard Payne College was admitted to the LSC, effective the 1956-57 academic year.
  • 1958 - Conference members approved a motion that the LSC must follow NCAA rules for football instead of NAIA rules.
  • 1959 - On May 12, 1959, the LSC Faculty Athletics Representatives rejected a motion that the LSC should be expanded to a nine-school league with the votes 6-2.
  • 1960 - The conference members voted to accept an invitation by the new Great Southwest Bowl committee to have the LSC football champion as the host team each year for the game in Grand Prairie, Texas, in late December. Texas A&I defeated Arkansas Tech University 45-10 in the first such game on December 31, 1960. Bowl Chairman Cecil Owens said, "We hope the game will be a fine supplement to the Cotton Bowl".
  • 1962 - On December 7, 1962, at the annual conference meeting in Dallas, the LSC Faculty Athletics Representatives rejected a motion to allow LSC members optional membership in the NAIA or the NCAA, and rejected a motion that the decision of acceptance or refusal of postseason, playoff, or championship events resided within the individual schools. A motion that LSC did not pledge its champions to the NAIA playoffs was also defeated.
  • 1963 - On May 11, 1963, at the annual conference meeting in Brownwood, Texas, Lamar Tech withdrew from the LSC, effective September 1, 1965.
  • 1964 - On May 9, 1964, McMurry College was admitted to the LSC with first participation scheduled for spring sports in the 1965 spring season of the 1964-65 academic year, followed by basketball in the 1965-66 academic year, and eventually football in the 1966 fall season of the 1966-67 academic year.
  • 1964 - Also in 1964, San Angelo College attempted to apply to the LSC, but was told that LSC membership is limited to schools which had recognized four-year collegiate standing. San Angelo College's president Dr. B.M. Cavness told the LSC faculty athletics representatives that his school would assume such status in September 1965. He was advised to reapply in December 1965.
  • 1965 - At the annual fall meeting in Dallas, the LSC faculty athletics representatives voted in a secret ballot not to expand membership in the LSC.
  • 1968 - After achieving the status requirements since the first attempt, Angelo State College was finally admitted to the LSC. Tarleton State College was also admitted to the LSC.
  • 1972 - McMurry left the LSC.
  • 1973 - Abilene Christian College was admitted to the LSC.
  • 1975 - Tarleton State withdrew from the LSC.
  • 1976 - Sul Ross State withdrew from the LSC.
  • 1982 - The Lone Star Conference became an NCAA Division II athletic conference, thus leaving the NAIA.
  • 1983 - Southwest Texas State, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin left the LSC.
  • 1984 - The LSC Council of Presidents extended an invitation for LSC membership to West Texas State University, and the WTSU Board of Regents accepted the invitation to begin LSC competition in the 1986–87 academic year. Eastern New Mexico University was automatically admitted to the LSC.
  • 1986 - The LSC Council of Presidents unanimously approved the membership of Central State University to establish the concept of a regional conference. Eventually, the school officially became a member of the LSC on July 1, 1987, effective beginning competition within the conference in the 1987–88 academic year.
  • 1987 - Howard Payne withdrew from the LSC, effective after the 1986–87 academic year.
  • 1988 - The LSC Council of Presidents approved the admittance of Texas Woman's University to the LSC; effective in the 1989-90 academic year. Cameron University was automatically admitted to the LSC.
  • 1989 - The LSC entered into consulting agreement with the Southwest Conference, allowing the SWC to advise the LSC in eligibility cases, aid in arbitration of protests, and provide interpretations of NCAA rules, as well as administer the National Letter of Intent program. At the time, Shirley Morton of Angelo State University served as secretary/treasurer and Garner Roberts of Abilene Christian University served as news director of the LSC.
  • 1989 - West Texas State dropped football and withdrew from the LSC, effective at the end of the 1989-90 academic year.
  • 1990 - On November 30, 1990, the LSC Council of Presidents requested an LSC expansion committee to be formed to contact institutions in Oklahoma and Arkansas regarding conference membership.
  • 1991 - On April 28, 1991, the LSC Directors of Athletics considered a new football schedule recommendation from football coaches for the 1992 season if a replacement for West Texas State was not found.
  • 1991 - On April 30, 1991, the LSC expansion committee was appointed to include Jerry Vandergriff of Angelo State, John "Skip" Wagnon of Central Oklahoma, Cecil Eager of Abilene Christian, and Dr. Margaret Harbison of East Texas State.
  • 1991 - On June 1, 1991, at the LSC Council of Presidents meeting, Angelo State president Dr. Drew Vincent said, "there is a survival issue in the conference that has nothing to do with finances which was that the conference needed to be enlarged. East Central University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Northeastern State University might be interested in joining, as well as Tarleton State University and Midwestern State University.
  • 1991 - On November 25, 1991, the LSC Directors of Athletics requested Central Oklahoma's Skip Wagnon to invite representatives from Henderson State University, the University of Central Arkansas, Fort Hays State University and Midwestern State University to a meeting on January 7, 1992, during the NCAA convention.
  • 1992 - On November 24, 1992, the LSC faculty athletics representatives voted unanimously to recommend the Council of Presidents that an invitation should be extended to West Texas State University, to rejoin the conference.
  • 1993 - On January 14, 1993, the LSC Council of Presidents voted unanimously to extend an invitation to West Texas State University, having the school to begin LSC competition for football in the 1996 fall season of the 1996-97 academic year, and to begin LSC competition for all other sports, effective in the 1994-95 academic year.
  • 1993 - On June 19, 1993, the LSC Council of Presidents accepted the withdraw of Cameron University from the LSC, effective in the 1993 fall season of the 1993–94 academic year, following Cameron's decision to discontinue football.
  • 1994 - On January 9, 1994, the LSC Council of Presidents voted unanimously to extend an invitation to Tarleton State University to join the LSC and compete in all sports except football for the 1994-95 academic year, if possible.
  • 1994 - On May 2, 1994, the LSC Faculty Athletics Representatives announced that the Southwest Conference could no longer provide services to the Lone Star Conference, and recommended a conference office be established and a commissioner be hired.
  • 1994 - On June 11, 1994, the Council of Presidents voted unanimously to establish an LSC office and to hire a commissioner.
  • 1994 - On September 5, 1994, Fred Jacoby was named the first full-time commissioner of the Lone Star Conference with the charge to expand the conference, to assist the new members in NAIA to NCAA transition, and to train a person for commissioner in establishing a conference office.
  • 1994 - On October 10, 1994, Baptist University president Ben Elrod said that his university would join Harding University in applying for LSC membership.
  • 1995 - On January 5, 1995, on a conference call of the LSC Council of Presidents, Midwestern State University was admitted to the LSC in a unanimous vote of 8–0, effective September 1, 1995, therefore rejoining the conference. Only six members competed in football.
  • 1995 - On January 8, 1995, at a joint meeting of the LSC Council of Presidents and the LSC Directors of Athletics at the NCAA convention in San Diego, a thorough discussion of conference expansion was held with the potential of developing two divisions of eight members each. The catalyst had been the fragmentation of NAIA Division I with member institutions moving to NCAA Division II. Discussion centered on universities in Oklahoma and Arkansas that had applied to NCAA Division II and the rationale for expansion. The consensus was that the LSC presidents should host a meeting of Oklahoma presidents to share information on expansion and to study the feasibility of developing a regional conference. A meeting would be set up in the next 60 days.
  • 1995 - On August 29, 1995, on a conference call of the executive committee of the LSC Council of Presidents, a recommendation was approved to "take a proactive position regarding expansion with the development of a regional conference with two divisions".
  • 1995 - On September 28, 1995, the executive committee of the LSC Council of Presidents met with the presidents of Northeastern State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the University of Central Arkansas, Harding University and Ouachita Baptist University. Focus of discussion was that with expansion, a strategic long-range decision would be made to stabilize LSC membership, while providing flexibility for conference athletics programs in scheduling, postseason playoff competition, gender-equity guidelines, marketing potential, media coverage, NCAA legislative strength, enhancing the image of the conference, and economy of scale for the conference administration and services. Further, the downside to the proposed expansion/realignment was minimal.
  • 1995 - On October 11, 1995, on a conference call of the LSC Council of Presidents, a recommendation was unanimously approved to extend invitations to Northeastern State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the University of Central Arkansas, Harding University and Ouachita Baptist University for LSC membership. On November 14, 1995, all institutions listed above accepted membership in the LSC, effective in the 1996-97 academic year.
  • 1996 - On March 6, 1996, Cameron was readmitted to the LSC, after a two-year hiatus.
  • 1996 - Southwestern Oklahoma State University and East Central University were admitted to the LSC. With 17 members, the Lone Star Conference began competition with a north - south divisional alignment.
  • 2000 - Harding University and Ouachita Baptist University withdrew from the LSC to join the Gulf South Conference.
  • 2010 - The University of the Incarnate Word was admitted to the LSC.
  • 2011 - East Central, Southeastern Oklahoma State and Southwestern Oklahoma State left the LSC to join with a few Arkansas schools to form the American Conference ; while Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State left to join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, although that latter pair of schools had to compete as full Division II Independents before beginning MIAA conference play competition during the 2012–13 school year.
  • 2013 - Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian left the LSC to join the Southland Conference of the NCAA Division I ranks. Abilene Christian was formerly a member of that conference from 1963-64 to 1972-73. At the same time, men's soccer was dropped as a conference sport.
  • 2012 - Harding returned to the conference as an affiliate member for track & field from the 2013 to the 2015 spring seasons.
  • 2013 - McMurry returned to the conference as an affiliate member for track & field during the 2014 spring season, and for football only during the 2014 fall season.
  • 2016 - The University of Texas Permian Basin and Western New Mexico University were admitted to the LSC.
  • 2016 - Oklahoma Panhandle State University was admitted to the LSC as an affiliate member for football only during the 2016 fall season.
  • 2016 - Lubbock Christian University was admitted in the LSC as an affiliate member for track & field for the 2017 spring season.
  • 2018 - Dallas Baptist University was admitted in the LSC as an affiliate member for track & field for the 2019 spring season.
  • 2019 - Seven members of the Heartland Conference were admitted as full, non-football members to the LSC: the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Oklahoma Christian University, St. Edward's University, St. Mary's University and Texas A&M International University, with affiliate members Dallas Baptist and Lubbock Christian to upgrade as full members. Arkansas-Fort Smith is now the LSC's first member in Arkansas since Harding and Ouachita Baptist departed in 2000. Additionally, the University of Texas at Tyler joined the LSC as it began its transition from NCAA Division III. At the same time as the new members joined, men's soccer was reinstated as an LSC sport.
  • September 2019 - Tarleton announced it would move to the Division I Western Athletic Conference effective in July 2020 for all sports except football, which initially played as an FCS independent. The WAC would eventually reinstate its football league at the FCS level in 2021 with Tarleton as a member.
  • September 30, 2021 – The Southland Conference announced that Texas A&M-Commerce would start a transition to Division I in July 2022, joining the Southland at that time.
  • November 18, 2021 - The LSC announced that the three remaining football members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference-Central Washington University, Simon Fraser University, and Western Oregon University—would become LSC football-only members effective in 2022.
  • January 31, 2023 - Sul Ross State announces its intent to transition from NCAA Division III to Division II and rejoin the Lone Star Conference after 48 years in 2024.
  • 2023 - The LSC announces it would be parting with Simon Fraser as an affiliate member following the 2023 football season. Shortly thereafter, Simon Fraser announces it would no longer sponsor varsity football as a sport, effective immediately.
  • June 26, 2023 - Arkansas–Fort Smith announced it would leave the Lone Star Conference to join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 2024.
  • July 13, 2023 - Sul Ross State was approved for reclassification to Division II and announced they would officially join the conference on July 1, 2024.
  • July 18, 2023 - The LSC announces it is adding STUNT as an official league sport, beginning in the spring of 2024. STUNT is a female sport that focuses on the skills and technical elements of cheer, including partner stunts, team routines, pyramids, basket tosses and more.
  • July 20, 2023 - The University of Texas at Dallas announces it plans to transition from NCAA Division III to Division II in 2024 and join the Lone Star Conference in 2025.
  • September 4, 2025 - Texas A&M University-Texarkana announced it had accepted an invitation to join the Lone Star Conference and would transition from the NAIA to Division II by 2027.

Member schools

Current members

The LSC currently has 18 full members. All but five are public schools. Reclassifying members in yellow.
InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedColors
Angelo State UniversitySan Angelo, Texas1928Public11,542[Angelo State Angelo State Rams and Rambelles|Rams and Rambelles|Rams] &
Rambelles		1968
Cameron UniversityLawton, Oklahoma1908Public3,559Aggies1988;
1996
Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas, Texas1898Baptist4,157Patriots2019
Eastern New Mexico UniversityPortales, New Mexico1934Public5,737Greyhounds1984
Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbock, Texas1957Churches
of Christ		1,595Chaparrals &
Lady Chaps		2019
Midwestern State UniversityWichita Falls, Texas1922Public5,324Mustangs1948;
1995
Oklahoma Christian UniversityOklahoma City, Oklahoma1950Churches
of Christ		2,153Eagles &
Lady Eagles		2019
Austin, Texas1885Catholic
3,309Hilltoppers2019
San Antonio, Texas1852Catholic
3,457Rattlers2019
Sul Ross State UniversityAlpine, Texas1917Public2,576Lobos1950;
2024
Laredo, Texas1969Public8,532Dustdevils2019
Kingsville, Texas1925Public6,862Javelinas1954
Texas Woman's UniversityDenton, Texas1901Public15,361Pioneers1989
Richardson, Texas1961Public29,886Comets2025
Odessa, Texas1973Public7,372Falcons2016
Tyler, Texas1971Public10,183Patriots2019
West Texas A&M UniversityCanyon, Texas1910Public9,037Buffaloes1986;
1994
Western New Mexico UniversitySilver City, New Mexico1893Public3,531Mustangs2016

;Notes:

Future members

;Notes:

Affiliate members

The LSC currently has two affiliate members, both of which are public schools.
InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedColorsLSC
sport		Primary
conference
Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, Washington1891Public8,509Wildcats2022footballGreat Northwest (GNAC)
Western Oregon UniversityMonmouth, Oregon1856Public3,823Wolves2022footballGreat Northwest (GNAC)

Former members

The LSC had 20 former full members, 13 of which were public schools.
InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftCurrent
conference
Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene, Texas1906Churches
of Christ		5,334Wildcats19732013Western (WAC)
9,366Cardinals20102013Southland (SLC)
Lamar UniversityBeaumont, Texas1923Public16,191Cardinals19501965Southland (SLC)
McMurry UniversityAbilene, Texas1923United
Methodist		1,430War Hawks19641972Southern Collegiate (SCAC)
(American Southwest (ASC)
Denton, Texas1890Public42,372Mean Green19311949American
Northeastern State UniversityTahlequah, Oklahoma1909Public8,276RiverHawks19952011Mid-America (MIAA)
Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphia, Arkansas1886Baptist1,569Tigers19952000Great American (GAC)
Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, Texas1879Public21,679Bearkats19311984Conference USA (CUSA)
Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityDurant, Oklahoma1909Public3,889Savage Storm19952011Great American (GAC)
Southwestern Oklahoma State UniversityWeatherford, Oklahoma1901Public5,154Bulldogs19962011Great American (GAC)
Stephen F. Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, Texas1921Public11,946Lumberjacks &
Ladyjacks		19311984Southland (SLC)
Tarleton State UniversityStephenville, Texas1899Public13,996Texans19681976Western (WAC)
(United (UAC)
Tarleton State UniversityStephenville, Texas1899Public13,996Texans19942020Western (WAC)
(United (UAC)
Commerce, Texas1889Public12,013Lions19312022Southland (SLC)
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, Texas1899Public38,231Bobcats19311984Sun Belt (SBC)
(Pac-12
Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, Texas1869Nonsectarian2,487Tigers19321934Southern (SAA)
Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, Texas1869Nonsectarian2,487Tigers19461949Southern (SAA)

;Notes:

Former affiliate members

The LSC had two former affiliate members, both of which were also public schools:
;Notes:

Membership timeline


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TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5
Colors =
id:line value:black
id:bg value:white
id:Full value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports
id:FullxF value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football
id:AssocF value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only
id:AssocOS value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only
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bar:1 color:Full from:1931 till:1949 text:North Texas
bar:2 color:Full from:1931 till:1984 text:Sam Houston State
bar:3 color:Full from:1931 till:1984 text:Stephen F. Austin
bar:4 color:Full from:1931 till:2022 text:East Texas A&M
bar:5 color:Full from:1931 till:1984 text:Texas State
bar:6 color:Full from:1932 till:1934 text:Trinity (Texas)
bar:6 color:Full from:1946 till:1949 text:
bar:7 color:Full from:1945 till:1949 text:Houston
bar:8 color:FullxF from:1948 till:1949 text:Midwestern State
bar:8 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1997 text:
bar:8 color:Full from:1997 till:end
bar:9 color:Full from:1950 till:1963 text:Lamar
bar:9 color:FullxF from:1963 till:1965
bar:10 color:Full from:1950 till:1976 text:Sul Ross State
bar:10 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:
bar:11 color:FullxF from:1954 till:1955 text:Texas A&M–Kingsville
bar:11 color:Full from:1955 till:end
bar:12 color:FullxF from:1956 till:1957 text:Howard Payne
bar:12 color:Full from:1957 till:1987
bar:13 color:AssocOS from:1964 till:1965 text:McMurry
bar:13 color:FullxF from:1965 till:1966 text:
bar:13 color:Full from:1966 till:1972
bar:13 color:AssocOS from:2013 till:2014 text:
bar:13 color:AssocF from:2014 till:2015
bar:14 color:Full from:1968 till:end text:Angelo State
bar:15 color:FullxF from:1968 till:1970 text:Tarleton State
bar:15 color:Full from:1970 till:1976
bar:15 color:FullxF from:1994 till:1995 text:
bar:15 color:Full from:1995 till:2020
bar:16 color:Full from:1973 till:2013 text:Abilene Christian
bar:17 color:Full from:1984 till:end text:Eastern New Mexico
bar:18 color:Full from:1986 till:1990 text:West Texas A&M
bar:18 color:FullxF from:1989 till:1991
bar:18 color:FullxF from:1994 till:1995
bar:18 color:Full from:1995 till:end
bar:19 color:Full from:1987 till:2011 text:Central Oklahoma
bar:20 color:Full from:1988 till:1993 text:Cameron
bar:20 color:FullxF from:1993 till:1994
bar:20 color:FullxF from:1996 till:end
bar:21 color:FullxF from:1989 till:end text:Texas Woman's
bar:22 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1997 text:East Central
bar:22 color:Full from:1997 till:2011
bar:23 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1997 text:Harding
bar:23 color:Full from:1997 till:2000
bar:23 color:AssocOS from:2012 till:2015 text:
bar:24 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1997 text:Northeastern State
bar:24 color:Full from:1997 till:2011
bar:25 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1997 text:Ouachita Baptist
bar:25 color:Full from:1997 till:2000
bar:26 color:FullxF from:1995 till:1997 text:Southeastern Oklahoma
bar:26 color:Full from:1997 till:2011
bar:27 color:FullxF from:1996 till:1997 text:Southwestern Oklahoma
bar:27 color:Full from:1997 till:2011
bar:28 color:Full from:2010 till:2013 text:Incarnate Word
bar:29 shift: color:AssocF from:2016 till:2017 text:Oklahoma Panhandle State
bar:30 shift: color:Full from:2016 till:end text:Texas–Permian Basin
bar:31 shift: color:Full from:2016 till:end text:Western New Mexico
bar:32 color:AssocOS from:2016 till:2019 text:
bar:32 shift: color:FullxF from:2019 till:end text:Lubbock Christian
bar:33 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:2019 text:
bar:33 shift: color:FullxF from:2019 till:end text:Dallas Baptist
bar:34 shift: color:FullxF from:2019 till:2024 text:Arkansas–Fort Smith
bar:35 shift: color:FullxF from:2019 till:end text:Oklahoma Christian
bar:36 shift: color:FullxF from:2019 till:end text:St. Edward's
bar:37 shift: color:FullxF from:2019 till:end text:St. Mary's
bar:38 shift: color:FullxF from:2019 till:end text:Texas A&M International
bar:39 shift: color:FullxF from:2019 till:end text:Texas–Tyler
bar:40 shift: color:AssocF from:2022 till:end text:Central Washington
bar:41 shift: color:AssocF from:2022 till:2023 text:Simon Fraser
bar:42 shift: color:AssocF from:2022 till:end text:Western Oregon
bar:43 shift: color:FullxF from:2025 till:end text:Texas–Dallas
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Sponsored sports

SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball
Basketball
Cross country
Football
Golf
Soccer
Softball
STUNT
Tennis
Track and field indoor
Track and field outdoor
Volleyball

Men's sponsored sports by school

SportTeam Total
Cross CountryAbilene Christian 2
FootballTexas State A&M Commerce 3
Indoor Track and FieldAbilene Christian 13
BasketballNortheastern State 1
GolfTexas State Abilene Christian 2
BaseballSoutheastern Oklahoma State, Angelo State 2
Outdoor Track and FieldAbilene Christian, Texas A&M-Kingsville 20

Women's sponsored sports by school

SportTeam Total
VolleyballWest Texas A&M 4
Indoor Track and FieldAbilene Christian
West Texas A&M 		13
BasketballLubbock Christian 2
GolfDallas Baptist 1
SoftballAngelo State
West Texas A&M 		3
Outdoor Track and FieldAbilene Christian,
West Texas A&M 		12

Other sponsored sports by school

;Notes:
In addition to the above:
  • Arkansas–Fort Smith counts its male and female cheerleaders, plus its all-female dance team, as varsity athletes.
  • Cameron counts its female cheerleaders and all-female dance team as varsity athletes under the collective name of "spirit team".
  • Eastern New Mexico counts its female cheerleaders and all-female dance team as varsity athletes under the collective name of "spirit squad". The school also fields a coeducational rodeo team.
  • Lubbock Christian counts its female cheerleaders as varsity athletes.
  • Oklahoma Christian fields a varsity team in the non-NCAA sport of men's bowling.
  • St. Edward's counts its male and female cheerleaders as varsity athletes.
  • UT Tyler counts its cheerleaders and dance team as varsity athletes under the collective name of "spirit squad".
Only schools that explicitly list cheerleading and dance teams as men's, women's, or coed sports are counted in this listing. Some schools feature links to said teams on their athletics websites, but place them in a specific menu for "spirit teams" or a similar term.

Champions

This is a list of conference champions since 1997.

Men

Note: denotes the Heartland Conference. In 2012–2013, the LSC stopped sponsoring Men's soccer. In 2016, 4 schools joined the Heartland as affiliate members for Men's soccer. When the Heartland folded, most schools became non-football members of the LSC.

Division championships

From 1997 to 2011, and 2020–present, the LSC has been divided into divisions. From 1997 to 2011, the split was north–south. Beginning in the 2019–2020 academic year, the LSC was split into three nameless divisions among the non-football sports: West Texas and New Mexico in the western division; South Texas, Central Texas, and DFW in the central division; East Texas, North Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas in the eastern division. The divisional split was temporarily discontinued for the 2021–2022 season; but divisions were reintroduced for basketball for the 2022–23 season under the names East and West.
YearFootballVolleyballMen's
Basketball		Women'
Basketball		BaseballSoftball
1997–98Central Oklahoma
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Texas A&M–Kingsville 		Texas Women's
West Texas A&M 		N/AN/AN/ASoutheastern Oklahoma State
Abilene Christian
Texas A&M–Kingsville
1998–99Central Oklahoma
Texas A&M–Kingsville 		Cameron
West Texas A&M 		Central Oklahoma
West Texas A&M
Texas A&M–Commerce		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Abilene Christian 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Abilene Christian 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Tarleton State
1999–00Southeastern Oklahoma State
Eastern New Mexico
Angelo State 		Cameron
West Texas A&M 		Northeastern State
West Texas A&M 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
East Central
Abilene Christian
West Texas A&M 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Tarleton State 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
East Central
Tarleton State
2000–01Northeastern State
Eastern New Mexico
Angelo State 		Cameron
West Texas A&M 		Northeastern State
Midwestern State
West Texas A&M 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Texas A&M–Kingsville 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Abilene Christian 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Tarleton State
2001–02Midwestern State
Tarleton State
Texas A&M–Kingsville 		Central Oklahoma
West Texas A&M 		Northeastern State
Angelo State 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Midwestern State
Texas A&M–Kingsville
Angelo State 		Central Oklahoma
Abilene Christian 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Eastern New Mexico
2002–03Tarleton State
Texas A&M–Kingsville
Abilene Christian 		Central Oklahoma
West Texas A&M 		Northeastern State
Tarleton State 		Cameron
Angelo State 		Central Oklahoma
Abilene Christian 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Texas Women's
2003–04Tarleton State
Texas A&M–Kingsville 		Central Oklahoma
Cameron
Texas Women's
West Texas A&M 		Northeastern State
Tarleton State
Eastern New Mexico 		Northeastern State
Angelo State 		Central Oklahoma
Tarleton State 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Angelo State
Tarleton State
2004–05Southeastern Oklahoma State
Central Oklahoma
Texas A&M–Kingsville
Midwestern State 		Cameron
Abilene Christian 		Tarleton State
Eastern New Mexico 		Northeastern State
West Texas A&M 		East Central
Southeastern Oklahoma State
Abilene Christian
Texas A&M–Kingsville 		Midwestern State
Angelo State
2005–06Southeastern Oklahoma State
West Texas A&M 		Central Oklahoma
Abilene Christian 		Central Oklahoma
Texas A&M–Commerce 		Northeastern State
Angelo State 		Central Oklahoma
Abilene Christian 		Central Oklahoma
Angelo State
2006–07Southeastern Oklahoma State
West Texas A&M
Tarleton State 		Cameron
West Texas A&M 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Central Oklahoma
Tarleton State 		Southwestern Oklahoma State
West Texas A&M 		Central Oklahoma
Cameron
Angelo State 		Southeastern Oklahoma State
Midwestern State
Abilene Christian
2007–08Southwestern Oklahoma State
Texas A&M–Commerce
Southeastern Oklahoma State
Central Oklahoma
Northeastern State
West Texas A&M 		N/ASoutheastern Oklahoma State
Midwestern State
West Texas A&M 		Texas A&M–Commerce
West Texas A&M 		Central Oklahoma
Abilene Christian 		Midwestern State
Angelo State
2008–09Central Oklahoma
Abilene Christian 		N/ACentral Oklahoma
West Texas A&M 		Central Oklahoma
Northeastern State
West Texas A&M 		N/ASoutheastern Oklahoma State
Angelo State
Tarleton State
2009–10Texas A&M–Commerce
Tarleton State
West Texas A&M
Texas A&M–Kingsville
Midwestern State 		N/ACentral Oklahoma
Midwestern State 		Central Oklahoma
West Texas A&M 		N/ASoutheastern Oklahoma State
Abilene Christian
2010–11Northeastern State
East Central
Abilene Christian		N/ACentral Oklahoma
Midwestern State 		Northeastern State
West Texas A&M 		N/AMidwestern State
West Texas A&M
2011–12N/AN/ACentral Oklahoma
Tarleton State 		Northeastern State
Tarleton State 		N/AMidwestern State
Angelo State
Incarnate Word
2019–20N/AAngelo State
St. Edward's
Texas A&M–Commerce
Arkansas–Fort Smith		West Texas A&M
St. Edward's
Texas A&M Commerce		West Texas A&M
Texas A&M–Commerce
Tarleton St.
St. Mary's		N/AN/A
2020–21N/AUT Tyler
Arkansas–Fort Smith
Texas A&M–Kingsville
Angelo State		Dallas Baptist
Texas A&M–Kingsville
Lubbock Christian		Texas A&M–Commerce
Texas A&M International
Lubbock Christian		N/AN/A
2021–22N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
2022–23N/AN/ATexas A&M Kingsville
St. Edward's
West Texas A&M		Texas Women's
Angelo State
Lubbock Christian		N/AN/A
2022–23N/AN/ADBU
West Texas A&M		-N/AN/A

2014-2015
In the 2014 season, a conference playoff was added due to the small number of football programs in the conference. At the end of the season, the teams were guaranteed two more conference games in the Lone Star Conference playoffs, the teams were split into two separate brackets, the championship bracket and the non-championship bracket. This format ended after the 2015 season due to the addition of Western New Mexico, UT Permian Basin, and Oklahoma Panhandle State.
YearRegular-season championPlayoff champion
2014Texas A&M–Commerce
Angelo State
2015Texas A&M–Commerce
Midwestern State

Notable athletes

Abilene Christian University
Angelo State University
Cameron University
University of Central Oklahoma
East Texas A&M University
Eastern New Mexico University
Midwestern State University
Tarleton State University
Texas A&M University–Kingsville
Texas Woman's University
West Texas A&M University