When it comes to NCAA Division I athletics, Texas boasts some of the nation’s most competitive and prestigious programs. Known for their deep athletic traditions and passionate fanbases, Texas colleges offer aspiring student-athletes a dynamic environment for both academic and athletic growth. Texas is home to more than 20 Division I institutions, each bringing something unique to the NCAA landscape—whether it’s powerhouse basketball teams, legendary football programs, or state-of-the-art facilities.
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Here’s a look at all the Division I colleges in Texas, with insights into what makes them exceptional destinations for athletes.
1. Baylor University (Waco, TX)
- Conference: Big 12
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Football, Track & Field
- Highlights: Baylor’s men’s basketball team claimed the NCAA Championship in 2021, and the university is renowned for its commitment to both academic and athletic success.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s Golf, Women’s Golf, Equestrian, Soccer, Softball, Track & Field, Women’s Tennis, and Volleyball.
2. University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)
- Conference: Big 12 (moving to SEC in 2024)
- Notable Sports: Football, Basketball, Baseball
- Highlights: Known for its storied football program and passionate fanbase, UT Austin is one of the most prominent sports schools in the nation.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
3. Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
- Conference: SEC
- Notable Sports: Football, Basketball, Baseball
- Highlights: With one of the largest stadiums in college football, Texas A&M’s Kyle Field is a renowned spot for fans. The Aggies are known for producing top-level athletes.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, Equestrian, and Volleyball.
4. Texas Christian University (TCU) (Fort Worth, TX)
- Conference: Big 12
- Notable Sports: Football, Baseball, Basketball
- Highlights: TCU’s recent football success in the College Football Playoff has raised its profile, along with its robust baseball program.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Rifle, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
5. Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
- Conference: Big 12
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Football, Baseball
- Highlights: Texas Tech’s men’s basketball team reached the NCAA Championship game in 2019, adding to its strong athletic reputation.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
6. University of Houston (Houston, TX)
- Conference: Big 12 (recently moved from AAC)
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Football, Track & Field
- Highlights: Known for its strong basketball tradition, the Houston Cougars have become a perennial NCAA tournament contender.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
7. Southern Methodist University (SMU) (Dallas, TX)
- Conference: American Athletic Conference (moving to ACC in 2024)
- Notable Sports: Football, Basketball, Soccer
- Highlights: SMU has a rich athletic history, with a notable football program and a campus in the heart of Dallas.
- All Sports Offered: Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Rowing, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
8. University of North Texas (Denton, TX)
- Conference: American Athletic Conference
- Notable Sports: Football, Basketball, Soccer
- Highlights: UNT is known for its growing basketball program and strong presence in Texas athletics.
- All Sports Offered: Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
9. Rice University (Houston, TX)
- Conference: American Athletic Conference
- Notable Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football
- Highlights: Rice has a highly respected baseball program and combines academic prestige with competitive sports.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
10. University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) (San Antonio, TX)
- Conference: American Athletic Conference
- Notable Sports: Football, Basketball, Track & Field
- Highlights: UTSA’s football program has seen rapid growth, gaining strong local support.
- All Sports Offered: Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
11. Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, TX)
- Conference: WAC
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Football, Baseball
- Highlights: Known for a competitive basketball program that has achieved NCAA tournament success.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
12. Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX)
- Conference: Conference USA
- Notable Sports: Football, Basketball, Baseball
- Highlights: Sam Houston has a strong football tradition, winning the FCS National Championship in recent years.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
13. Texas State University (San Marcos, TX)
- Conference: Sun Belt Conference
- Notable Sports: Football, Basketball, Baseball
- Highlights: A growing athletics program, especially in football and baseball, with strong regional support.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
14. University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) (Arlington, TX)
- Conference: WAC
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Baseball
- Highlights: Known for a solid men’s basketball team with frequent conference tournament appearances.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Softball, Tennis, and Track & Field.
15. Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, TX)
- Conference: SWAC
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Football, Track & Field
- Highlights: Known for its competitive men’s basketball program, Prairie View A&M has strong traditions in both athletics and academics within the SWAC.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
16. Texas Southern University (Houston, TX)
- Conference: SWAC
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Football, Baseball
- Highlights: Texas Southern is recognized for its men’s basketball team, with a history of NCAA tournament appearances and a strong athletic culture.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Track & Field.
17. Abilene Christian University (Abilene, TX)
- Conference: WAC
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Football, Track & Field
- Highlights: Known for its men’s basketball team’s NCAA tournament success, Abilene Christian has a growing reputation for athletic excellence.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
18. Lamar University (Beaumont, TX)
- Conference: Southland Conference
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Baseball, Football
- Highlights: Lamar has a strong men’s basketball tradition and has been a consistent competitor in the Southland Conference.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
19. University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, TX)
- Conference: Southland Conference
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Football, Track & Field
- Highlights: UIW has seen growth in its athletic programs, particularly in football and basketball, and is well-known for its commitment to both academics and athletics.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
20. Tarleton State University (Stephenville, TX)
- Conference: WAC
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Football, Rodeo
- Highlights: Recently transitioned to Division I, Tarleton State’s athletics are on the rise, especially in basketball and football.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
21. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) (Edinburg, TX)
- Conference: WAC
- Notable Sports: Basketball, Baseball
- Highlights: UTRGV has a strong basketball following and a growing reputation in Texas collegiate sports.
- All Sports Offered: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
Quick Links
This completes the full list of NCAA Division I colleges in Texas, each offering a range of sports programs and competitive opportunities for student-athletes across various disciplines. Texas’s Division I schools provide a mix of large, public universities and smaller, private institutions, each with its unique character and strengths in both academics and athletics. From traditional powerhouses to emerging programs, Texas is a prime destination for those looking to balance collegiate athletics with academic pursuits at the highest level.
COLLEGE OPENINGS
Here you can access the most up-to-date college openings from college coaches looking for players to fill roster spots