The Lone Star Conference (LSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 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 West Texas A&M Buffaloes, also known as the WTAMU Buffaloes or WT Buffaloes, and formerly West Texas State Buffaloes and WTSU Buffaloes, are the athletic teams that represent West Texas A&M University, located in Canyon, Texas, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Buffaloes, colloquially known as the Buffs (men) and Lady Buffs (women), compete as members of the Lone Star Conference for all 14 varsity sports.
Bill Kelly was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Eastern New Mexico University from 1983 to 1984 and West Texas State University—now known as West Texas A&M University—from 1985 to 1987, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 31–20–2. Kelly was also the head football coach at Snow College, a junior college in Ephraim, Utah, from 1981 to 1982, tallying a mark of 17–6–1. He played college football at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1965 to 1969 as a wide receiver, running back, and kick returner.
The Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team is the college football program representing Texas A&M University–Commerce. The school competes in the Southland Conference (SLC) in Division I FCS of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Prior to joining the Southland, they competed in the Lone Star Conference of Division II. The A&M–Commerce football team plays its home games at Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium on the university campus in Commerce, Texas. On Dec. 16, 2017, A&M-Commerce won its first NCAA Division II national championship, by defeating West Florida, 37-27, in Kansas City. The Lions recorded a perfect record in 1934, won the NAIA National Championship in 1972, and have amassed a total of 24 LSC conference championships since joining as a charter member in 1931. On September 28, 2021, the university accepted an invitation from the Southland Conference, moving the university's athletics programs up to the NCAA Division I level. This ended a 90-year affiliation with the Lone Star Conference, as A&M-Commerce was the last founding member remaining. The football team began competing at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level starting with the 2022 season.
Colby Don Carthel is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, a position he has held since December 2018. Carthel served as the head football coach at Texas A&M University–Commerce from 2013 to 2018, leading the 2017 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team to a NCAA Division II Football Championship title. Prior to his time as head coach, he was the defensive coordinator under his father, Don Carthel, at West Texas A&M University, from 2006 to 2012. Carthel played football at Angelo State University, where he was an all-conference linebacker.
The 2018 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2018 NCAA Division II football season as members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by second-year head coach Hunter Hughes. The team played its home games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas. This was the last year the Buffaloes played their home games at Kimbrough Memorial as the Canyon Independent School District purchased the stadium from the university; the team moved to the on-campus Buffalo Stadium starting with the 2019 season.
The 2012 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2012 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference. The Buffaloes ended the regular season with 9–2 record which was enough to claim a share of the Lone Star Conference title and to qualify for the NCAA tournament as a six seed in region 4. West Texas A&M went on to win the NCAA Super Region Four Tournament but ended the season with a loss to Winston-Salem State in the National semi-final. With the 57–20 win over Western State on September 8, eighth-year head coach Don Carthel tied former head coach Joe Kerbel for the most wins in school history with 68, passing him a week later with win over Texas A&M–Kingsville. The Buffaloes had multiple shutouts for first time since 2008.
The 2012 Lone Star Conference football began on August 30 when West Texas A&M lost to CSU-Pueblo and ended with West Texas A&M loss against Winston-Salem in the NCAA D2 Semi Final on December 8. It was Abilene Christian and Incarnated Word last season before they moved to NCAA D1 Southland Conference.
The 2021 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team represented Texas A&M University–Commerce as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season. Led by third-year head coach David Bailiff, the Lions compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 5–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the LSC. Texas A&M–Commerce played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
The 2016 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team represented Texas A&M University–Commerce as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 2016 NCAA Division II football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Colby Carthel, the Lions compiled an overall record of 11–2 with a mark of 8–1 in conference play, winning the LSC title for the third consecutive season. Texas A&M–Commerce advanced to the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs for the fifth time in program history. In the first round, the Lions defeated Colorado Mesa, 34–23, for the program's first playoff win since 1991, but lost to the Grand Valley State, 55–32, in the second round. The Lions were ranked No. 9 in the final AFCA poll.
The 2023 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2023 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). They were led by first-year head coach Kris McCullough. The Falcons finished the regular season 10–1, going 8–0 in LSC play to win the conference title for the first time in program history. The Falcons received a bid for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in program history, being selected as the third seed in Super Region 4.
The 2005 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2005 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by first-year head coach Don Carthel and played their games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas.
The 2008 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2008 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by fourth-year head coach Don Carthel and played their home games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas.
The 2024 Sul Ross Lobos football team represents Sul Ross State University during the 2024 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Lobos are led by third-year head coach Barry Derickson and play their home games at Jackson Field in Alpine, Texas.
The 2006 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University during the 2006 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by second-year head coach Don Carthel and played their home games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas.
The 2014 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2014 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by second-year head coach Mike Nesbitt. Nesbitt led the Buffaloes through the 2013 season under the interim tag and was promoted to full-time head coach following the season.
The 2013 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2013 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by first-year head coach Mike Nesbitt. The team played its home games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas. The Buffaloes finished the season with an overall record of 11–3 with a LSC record of 4–2, finishing third in the conference.
The 2015 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University during the 2015 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by third-year head coach Mike Nesbitt. The team played its home games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas.
The 2022 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University during the 2022 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by sixth-year head coach Hunter Hughes and played their home game at the newly renamed Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas.
The 2016 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2016 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by fifth-year head coach Mike Nesbitt and played their home games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas.
