Red River Athletic Conference

"RRAC" redirects here. For other uses, see RRAC (disambiguation).

The Red River Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference's 13 member institutions are located in Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas.

Red River Athletic Conference

Association	NAIA
Founded	1998; 27 years ago (1998)
Commissioner	Tony Stigliano
Sports fielded	15 men's: 7 women's: 8
No. of teams	13 (11 in 2026)
Headquarters	Waco, Texas
Region	South Central United States
Official website	www.redriverconference.com
Locations

History

Red River Athletic Conference

250km
155miles

North American

Xavier (La.)

Louisiana Christian

Texas A&M–San Antonio

Texas A&M–Texarkana

UNT-Dallas

Texas A&M–Victoria

LSUA

LSUS

OLLU

Texas College

Southwest

Jarvis Christian

   

Location of RRAC members: current, current (non-basketball), departing

The Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) began competition in fall 1998 with 16 charter members.^[1] The conference at present counts 14 members, one of the most recent additions being Texas A&M University–Texarkana in 2016.^[2] In 2019, St. Thomas Houston announced its departure from the conference to join the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) of the NCAA Division III as a provisional member.^[3] In March 2020, Texas A&M University–San Antonio was approved for membership into the NAIA and it was simultaneously announced that the Jaguars would begin competition in the conference starting in the 2020–21 academic year,^[4] followed by Xavier University of Louisiana and Louisiana Christian University (formerly Louisiana College) in September and October respectively.^[5][6] Xavier and Louisiana Christian officially joined the RRAC for the 2021–22 academic year.

On January 20, 2022, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) invited founding Red River member Wiley College (now Wiley University) to become the GCAC's first Texas institution, effective later in July.^[7]

On July 6, 2023, North American University was accepted as the RRAC's 14th conference member for the 2023–24 school year.^[8]

On July 1, 2025, the RRAC announced the addition of the University of North Texas at Dallas as a full conference member. UNTD was previously a full member of the Sooner Athletic Conference.^[9]

Chronological timeline

• 1998 – The Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) was founded. Charter members included Bacone College, Houston Baptist University (now Houston Christian University), Huston–Tillotson University, Jarvis Christian College (now Jarvis Christian University), Langston University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Northwood University–Texas, Paul Quinn College, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, the University of the Southwest, Southwestern Adventist University, Southwestern Assemblies of God University (now Nelson University), the University of Texas Permian Basin, Texas College and Wiley College (now Wiley University), beginning the 1998–99 academic year.
• 2000 – USAO left the RRAC to join the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) after the 1999–2000 academic year.
• 2001:
  • Northwestern Oklahoma State left the RRAC to join the Sooner after the 2000–01 academic year.
  • Texas Wesleyan University joined the RRAC in the 2001–02 academic year.
• 2002:
  • Southwestern Adventist left the RRAC and the NAIA to become an Independent within the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) after the 2001–02 academic year.
  • Texas A&M International University joined the RRAC in the 2002–03 academic year.
• 2006:
  • Texas–Permian Basin (UTPB) and Texas A&M–International (TAMIU) left the RRAC and the NAIA to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Heartland Conference after the 2005–06 academic year.
  • The University of Texas at Brownsville (Texas–Brownsville or UT Brownsville or UTB) joined the RRAC in the 2006–07 academic year.
• 2007 – Houston Baptist (now Houston Christian) left the RRAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA D-I Independent (which would later join the Great West Conference, beginning the 2008–09 school year) after the 2006–07 academic year.
• 2008 – Our Lady of the Lake University joined the RRAC in the 2008–09 academic year.
• 2010 – Louisiana State University–Shreveport (Louisiana State–Shreveport or LSU Shreveport) joined the RRAC in the 2010–11 academic year.
• 2012 – The University of St. Thomas joined the RRAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
• 2013 – Northwood–Texas, SAGU (now Nelson) and Texas Wesleyan left the RRAC to join the Sooner after the 2012–13 academic year.
• 2014 – Louisiana State University–Alexandria (Louisiana State–Alexandria or LSU Alexandria) joined the RRAC in the 2014–15 academic year.
• 2015:
  • Two institutions left the RRAC to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2014–15 academic year:
    • Bacone to join the Sooner
    • and Texas–Brownsville (UTB) athletics was discontinued due to the merger with the University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) to become the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).
  • The University of Houston–Victoria (Houston–Victoria or UHV; now Texas A&M University–Victoria) joined the RRAC in the 2015–16 academic year.
• 2016 – Texas A&M University–Texarkana (Texas A&M–Texarkana or TAMUT) joined the RRAC in the 2016–17 academic year.
• 2018 – Langston left the RRAC to join the Sooner after the 2017–18 academic year.
• 2019 – St. Thomas (Tex.) left the RRAC to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) after the 2018–19 academic year.
• 2020 – Texas A&M University–San Antonio (Texas A&M–San Antonio or TAMUSA) joined the RRAC in the 2020–21 academic year.
• 2021 – Louisiana Christian University (formerly Louisiana College) and Xavier University of Louisiana joined the RRAC in the 2021–22 academic year.
• 2022:
  • Wiley left the RRAC to join the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) after the 2021–22 academic year.
  • Lewis–Clark State College joined the RRAC as an affiliate member for women's tennis in the 2023 spring season (2022–23 academic year).
• 2023:
  • North American University joined the RRAC in the 2023–24 academic year.
  • Carroll College, Montana Technological University (Montana Tech), the University of Providence and Rocky Mountain College joined the RRAC as affiliate members for men's golf in the 2024 spring season (2023–24 academic year).
• 2024 – Five institutions left the RRAC as affiliate members, all effective after the 2024 spring season (2023–24 academic year):
  • Lewis–Clark State for women's tennis
  • and Carroll (Mont.), Montana Tech, Providence (Mont.) and Rocky Mountain for men's golf
• 2025:
  • Huston–Tillotson and Paul Quinn left the RRAC to join the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) after the 2024–25 academic year.
  • The University of North Texas at Dallas (a.k.a. UNT Dallas) joined the RRAC in the 2025–26 academic year.
  • Houston–Victoria (UHV) was transferred to the Texas A&M University System, becoming Texas A&M–Victoria, effective September 1, 2025. The school remains in the RRAC.
• 2026 – Two institutions will leave the RRAC to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective beginning 2026–27 academic year:
  • Xavier (La.) to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC)
  • Texas A&M–Texarkana to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Lone Star Conference (LSC)

Member schools

Current members

The RRAC currently has 13 full members, with a slight majority (seven) being private schools.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined[a]	Basketball?
Jarvis Christian University	Hawkins, Texas	1912	Disciples of Christ[b]	800	Bulldogs	1998	both
Louisiana Christian University	Pineville, Louisiana	1906	Southern Baptist	950	Wildcats	2021	both
Louisiana State University of Alexandria	Alexandria, Louisiana	1959	Public[c]	5,330	Generals	2014	both
Louisiana State University Shreveport	Shreveport, Louisiana	1967	Public[c]	9,736	Pilots	2010	both
North American University	Stafford, Texas	2007	Nonsectarian	923	Stallions	2023	both
University of North Texas at Dallas	Dallas, Texas	2000	Public[d]	3,797	Trailblazers	2025	both
Our Lady of the Lake University	San Antonio, Texas	1895	Catholic (C.D.P.)	2,096	Saints	2008	both[e]
University of the Southwest	Hobbs, New Mexico	1962	Nondenominational	1,034	Mustangs	1998	both[f]
Texas College	Tyler, Texas	1894	C.M.E. Church[b]	644	Steers	1998	both
Texas A&M University–San Antonio	San Antonio, Texas	2009	Public[g]	7,584	Jaguars	2020	both[h]
Texas A&M University–Texarkana	Texarkana, Texas	1971	Public[g]	2,109	Eagles	2016	both[i][j]
Texas A&M University–Victoria[k]	Victoria, Texas	1973	Public[g]	3,784	Jaguars	2015	none
Xavier University of Louisiana	New Orleans, Louisiana	1925	Catholic (S.B.S.)[b]	3,181	Gold Rush & Gold Nuggets	2021	both[l]

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Also a historically black college and university.
3. Part of the Louisiana State University System.
4. Part of the University of North Texas System.
5. The Our Lady of the Lake men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (2009–10).
6. The Southwest (N.Mex.) men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC a decade after becoming a full member for other sports (2008–09).
7. Part of the Texas A&M University System.
8. The Texas A&M–San Antonio men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC four years after becoming a full member for other sports (2024–25).
9. The Texas A&M–Texarkana men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC three years after becoming a full member for other sports (2019–20).
10. Texas A&M–Texarkana will depart the RRAC for the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference (LSC) after the 2025–26 school year.
11. Texas A&M–Victoria joined the RRAC as the University of Houston–Victoria, known athletically as UHV. The university transferred from the University of Houston System to the Texas A&M University System on September 1, 2025.
12. Xavier will depart the RRAC for the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) after the 2025–26 school year.

Former members

The RRAC has 16 former full members, all but five were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined[a]	Left[b]	Current conference
Bacone College	Muskogee, Oklahoma	1880	Tribal college	N/A	Warriors	1998[c]	2015	Closed in 2024
Houston Baptist University[d]	Houston, Texas	1960	Baptist	4,189	Huskies	1998	2007	Southland (SLC)[e]
Huston-Tillotson University	Austin, Texas	1881	UMC & UCC[f]	1,029	Rams	1998	2025	HBCU (HBCUAC)
Langston University	Langston, Oklahoma	1897	Public[f]	1,910	Lions	1998	2018	Sooner (SAC)
Northwestern Oklahoma State University	Alva, Oklahoma	1897	Public	1,929	Rangers	1998	2001	Great American (GAC)[g]
Northwood University	Cedar Hill, Texas	1966	Nonsectarian	N/A	Knights	1998[h]	2013	Closed in 2014
Paul Quinn College	Dallas, Texas	1872	A.M.E. Church	602	Tigers	1998	2025	HBCU (HBCUAC)
University of St. Thomas	Houston, Texas	1947	Catholic (C.S.B.)	3,813	Celts	2011	2019	Southern (SCAC)[i]
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma	Chickasha, Oklahoma	1908	Public	914	Drovers	1998	2000	Sooner (SAC)
Southwestern Adventist University	Keene, Texas	1893	Seventh-day Adventist	817	Knights	1998	2002	USCAA Independent
Southwestern Assemblies of God University[j]	Waxahachie, Texas	1927	Assemblies of God	1,725	Lions	1998	2013	Sooner (SAC)
Texas A&M International University	Laredo, Texas	1969	Public	8,536	Dustdevils	2002[k]	2006	Lone Star (LSC)[g]
Texas Wesleyan University	Fort Worth, Texas	1890	United Methodist	2,595	Rams	2001	2013	Sooner (SAC)
University of Texas at Brownsville[l]	Brownsville, Texas	1991	Public	N/A	Ocelots[m]	2006	2015	N/A[n]
University of Texas Permian Basin	Odessa, Texas	1973	Public	5,899	Falcons	1998[o]	2006	Lone Star (LSC)[g]
Wiley University[p]	Marshall, Texas	1873	United Methodist[f]	636	Wildcats	1998[q]	2022	HBCU (HBCUAC)

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. The Bacone men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC three years after becoming a full member for other sports (2001–02).
4. Currently known as Houston Christian University since 2022.
5. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
6. Also a historically black college and university.
7. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
8. The Northwood–Texas men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC fourteen years after becoming a full member for other sports (2012–13).
9. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
10. Currently known as Nelson University since 2024.
11. The Texas A&M International men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (2003–04).
12. Non-basketball full member.
13. UT Brownsville's other nickname before the merger with Texas–Pan American (UTPA) was Scorpions until after the 2011–12 school year, then competed without a nickname during the 2012–13 school year, before adopting the Ocelots nickname for their final two seasons.
14. Texas–Brownsville (UTB) was merged with the University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) to become the University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in 2015. The new institution inherited the UTPA athletic program, which now operates as the UTRGV Vaqueros in the NCAA Division I Southland Conference.
15. The Texas–Permian Basin men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC four years after becoming a full member for other sports (2002–03).
16. Current known as Wiley University since 2023.
17. The Wiley men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC four years after becoming a full member for other sports (2002–03).

Former affiliate members

The RRAC had five former affiliate members, three are public schools and two are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined[a]	Left[b]	RRAC sport(s)	Primary conference
Carroll College	Helena, Montana	1909	Catholic (Diocese of Helena)	1,103	Fighting Saints	2023	2024	Men's golf	Frontier
Lewis–Clark State College	Lewiston, Idaho	1893	Public	3,706	Warriors & Lady Warriors	2022	2024	Women's tennis	Cascade (CCC)
Montana Technological University	Butte, Montana	1889	Public[c]	1,622	Orediggers	2023	2024	Men's golf	Frontier
University of Providence	Great Falls, Montana	1932	Catholic (Ursulines)	677	Argonauts	2023	2024	Men's golf	Frontier
Rocky Mountain College	Billings, Montana	1878	various[d]	991	Battlin' Bears	2023	2024	Men's golf	Frontier

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. Part of the Montana University System.
4. Rocky Mountain has various affiliations: The Mainline Protestant, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the United Church of Christ.

Membership timeline

 Full member (non-football)   Associate member (sport) 

Sports

A divisional format is used for basketball (M / W), softball, and volleyball.
East Jarvis Christian Louisiana Christian LSU Alexandria LSU Shreveport Texas College Texas A&M-Texarkana Xavier	West North American Our Lady of the Lake Southwest Texas A&M-San Antonio Texas A&M-Victoria UNT-Dallas

The Red River Athletic Conference sponsors championships in seven men's and eight women's sports.

Conference sports

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Golf	Y	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Tennis	Y	Y
Track and Field (Outdoor)	Y	Y
Volleyball		Y

RRAC men's sports sponsored by school

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross country	Golf	Tennis	Track & field (outdoor)	Soccer
Jarvis Christian	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Louisiana Christian	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
LSU-Alexandria	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
LSU-Shreveport	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
North American	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
North Texas-Dallas	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Our Lady of the Lake	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Southwest	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Texas College	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Texas A&M-San Antonio	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Texas A&M-Texarkana	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Texas A&M-Victoria	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Xavier	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

RRAC women's sports sponsored by school

School	Softball	Basketball	Cross country	Golf	Tennis	Track & field (outdoor)	Soccer	Volleyball
Jarvis Christian	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Louisiana Christian	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
LSU-Alexandria	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
LSU-Shreveport	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
North American	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
North Texas-Dallas	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
Our Lady of the Lake	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Southwest	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Texas College	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Texas A&M-San Antonio	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Texas A&M-Texarkana	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Texas A&M-Victoria	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Xavier	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes