Why the Lone Star Conference Matters in NIL
The Lone Star Conference has become a unique NIL environment for important reasons:
Texas Talent Pipeline: The LSC operates in the most talent-rich high school football region in the country. With 18 member institutions spanning Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, the conference has unparalleled access to elite athletes.
Lone Star NIL Ambassadors Program: The nation’s first independent statewide NIL initiative selects high-achieving athletes to promote the LSC brand and Texas businesses, emphasizing professional development and community service.
Institutional Diversity: The conference blends large public research universities like UT Dallas (29,886 students) with mission-driven private institutions like Lubbock Christian and Dallas Baptist, creating diverse NIL approaches.
Technology Infrastructure: LSC schools partner with industry leaders including Influxer, Teamworks, and Opendorse to provide compliant NIL marketplaces connecting athletes with local businesses and fans.
Academic Excellence: The LSC posted its highest Academic Success Rate in 2023-24, with women’s golf at 89%, women’s tennis at 86%, and 238 student-athletes earning the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award.
Strategic Expansion: UT Dallas joined in 2025 (transitioning from Division III), and Sul Ross State returned in 2024, demonstrating the conference’s growth into major metropolitan markets.
The result: Lone Star athletes have engaged Texas communities, and NIL support connects the Southwest directly with its student-athletes.
The Lone Star Conference represents Division II excellence across the American Southwest. From West Texas A&M’s football tradition to Angelo State’s championship baseball, Lone Star athletics combine Texas pride with national ambition. Here’s how Lone Star fans can support their conference’s athletes through platforms like RallyFuel.
Lone Star NIL by School
NIL activity spans Lone Star programs:
Angelo State: Rams & Rambelles in San Angelo with devoted West Texas fanbase. Angelo NIL Exchange (Teamworks Influencer) connects athletes with local businesses. Influxer partnership for merchandise. 2023 DII College World Series champions in baseball.
Cameron: Aggies with Oklahoma community support in Lawton. Growing NIL infrastructure with regional business partnerships.
Dallas Baptist: Patriots in the Dallas metro market. Influxer partnership for merchandise across sports including stunt and bass fishing. Baseball NIL Club with $480 monthly subscription goal.
Eastern New Mexico: Greyhounds with New Mexico community support. 11-1 overall record and 4-0 conference start in 2025-26 men’s basketball. Dominant rushing attack in football (3,437 yards in 2025).
Lubbock Christian: Chaparrals & Lady Chaps with Churches of Christ mission. Men’s Basketball NIL Club with $240 monthly goal. Dylan Walker (record-breaking three-point shooter) leverages high social media engagement for NIL.
Midwestern State: Mustangs in Wichita Falls with devoted North Texas fanbase. Strong football tradition with air-raid passing attack.
Oklahoma Christian: Eagles & Lady Eagles with Churches of Christ mission in Oklahoma City. 7-4 overall record in 2025-26 men’s basketball with strong home court (5-1).
St. Edward’s: Hilltoppers with Catholic university mission in Austin. 90% overall Academic Success Rate for sixth consecutive year. 13-2 overall in 2025-26 men’s basketball.
St. Mary’s: Rattlers with Catholic university mission in San Antonio. 84% overall ASR with 100% in softball and tennis. 10-2 overall and perfect 9-0 home record in 2025-26 men’s basketball.
Sul Ross State: Lobos with Big Bend community support in Alpine. Returned to LSC in 2024 after tenure in Division III.
Texas A&M International: Dustdevils with Laredo border community support. Growing program with TAMUS system resources.
Texas A&M-Kingsville: Javelinas with devoted South Texas fanbase. Strong football tradition with 37.7 points per game in 2025. Charter member since 1954.
Texas Woman’s University: Pioneers with Denton-area fanbase. Largest enrollment among LSC schools (15,361). Strong women’s athletics tradition.
UT Dallas: Comets with Dallas metro market access (29,886 students). Joined LSC in 2025 transitioning from Division III. First season in DII competition.
UT Permian Basin: Falcons with West Texas oil country support in Odessa. 14-game 2025 football season with 37.1 points per game and dominant defense (19.1 allowed).
UT Tyler: Patriots with East Texas fanbase. Athletic Solutions partnership provides individualized online stores with 150+ apparel styles. Spirit Team NIL Club with $200 monthly goal.
West Texas A&M: Buffaloes with devoted Canyon/Amarillo fanbase. West Texas A&M NIL Exchange with mandatory financial literacy workshops. Athlete’s Thread and Influxer partnerships. 74 student-athletes earned D2 ADA Achievement Award. Air-raid football (4,289 passing yards in 2025).
Western New Mexico: Mustangs with New Mexico community support in Silver City. 100% ASR in men’s golf. 9-2 overall in 2025-26 men’s basketball.
RallyFuel hosts verified athletes from Lone Star schools for direct fan support.
Lone Star NIL Beyond Football
The Lone Star Conference excels in NIL across multiple sports:
Football: West Texas A&M and UT Permian Basin lead with air-raid offenses (4,000+ passing yards each). Central Washington (affiliate member) went 9-0 in conference play in 2025. Eastern New Mexico features dominant rushing attack.
Men’s Basketball: Eastern New Mexico and Dallas Baptist both started 4-0 in conference play in 2025-26. Lubbock Christian (13-2), St. Edward’s (13-2), and West Texas A&M (11-3) field competitive programs.
Baseball: Angelo State won the 2023 DII College World Series. Dallas Baptist maintains strong NIL Club support with $480 monthly goal.
Women’s Golf: LSC posted 89% Academic Success Rate—highest in conference. Jordan Karrh (DBU) is a two-time All-American leveraging her finance background for personal brand management.
Women’s Basketball: Conference programs compete for NCAA Tournament bids with dedicated regional followings.
Bass Fishing & Stunt: Dallas Baptist athletes in non-traditional sports leverage Influxer for merchandise NIL opportunities.
Fan-powered platforms like RallyFuel enable support across all Lone Star sports—not just football.
How Lone Star Fans Can Support Athletes
Lone Star fans can fuel current roster athletes through RallyFuel in a few simple steps:
- Create an account on RallyFuel.com or the mobile app
- Select your Lone Star school affiliation
- Browse verified athletes currently on your program’s roster
- Fuel athletes across any sport
- Track your support through your fan dashboard
How It Works: When you purchase Fan Fuel, you’re purchasing Conditional NIL Engagement Rights (CNERs). If conditions are met, RallyFuel or its affiliate offers an NIL Agreement to the athlete. If conditions aren’t met—for example, if an athlete transfers—you receive an automatic refund.
Conditional Protection: RallyFuel’s conditional model protects Fan Fuel with automatic refunds if athletes transfer or conditions aren’t met. Lone Star fans can support players without financial risk.
Important: Fan support through RallyFuel is voluntary and conditional. Fuel purchases are not charitable donations. RallyFuel is not a guarantor that any athlete will accept an NIL Agreement. Purchasing Fan Fuel does not guarantee athletic performance, playing time, or any specific outcome.
Lone Star Battleground Competition
RallyFuel’s Battleground tracks Lone Star rankings:
How It Works:
- Every Fan Fuel contribution adds to your school’s total
- Real-time updates as transactions occur
- Lone Star schools ranked against each other and nationally
- Championship counts display alongside NIL totals
Conference Competition:
- See how your school compares to Lone Star rivals
- West Texas A&M vs. Angelo State rivalries extend to Battleground
- Texas A&M-Kingsville vs. UT Permian Basin football continues year-round
- Track your personal contribution to school totals
Battleground measures fan engagement for current roster athletes—showing which Lone Star fan bases are most active in supporting their programs.
The Transfer Portal and NIL
The transfer portal has intensified NIL activity across the Lone Star Conference:
For Athletes: Players entering the portal evaluate multiple factors including NIL opportunity. Athletes make independent decisions—NIL is one consideration among academics, playing time, coaching, location, and other factors.
For Fans: RallyFuel’s conditional model allows fans to support athletes in the transfer portal. If an athlete selects a different school during the conditional period, fans receive automatic refunds.
Conditional Protection:
- Automatic refunds if athlete selects different school
- Automatic refunds if conditional period expires
- No financial risk to fans
Important: Fan support does not guarantee any athlete will transfer to a specific program. RallyFuel is not a guarantor that any athlete will accept an NIL Agreement or join a specific school. Athletes make independent decisions based on many factors.
Ready to Support Lone Star Athletes?
Explore verified Lone Star athletes on RallyFuel, see how your school ranks on Battleground, and start fueling today.
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can Lone Star fans support athletes through NIL?
Lone Star fans can fuel athletes directly through RallyFuel by creating an account, selecting their school affiliation, and browsing verified athletes. The conditional model provides automatic refunds if athletes transfer or conditions aren’t met.
Which Lone Star schools are on RallyFuel?
Athletes from Lone Star schools are available for fan support on RallyFuel, including West Texas A&M, Angelo State, Texas A&M-Kingsville, UT Permian Basin, UT Tyler, Dallas Baptist, Midwestern State, Eastern New Mexico, Lubbock Christian, St. Edward’s, St. Mary’s, Oklahoma Christian, Cameron, Texas A&M International, Texas Woman’s, Western New Mexico, Sul Ross State, and UT Dallas.
Why is NIL important for Lone Star athletes?
NIL creates opportunity for Division II athletes in one of the nation’s most talent-rich regions. With the Lone Star NIL Ambassadors Program and institutional marketplaces at schools like Angelo State and West Texas A&M, fan support through platforms like RallyFuel allows Texas and Southwest communities to directly support their student-athletes.
Can I support Lone Star athletes in sports other than football?
Yes. RallyFuel hosts verified Lone Star athletes across all sports—basketball, baseball, golf, and more. The LSC excels in non-revenue sports with strong academic success rates, and fan support extends to all Lone Star athletes.
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