Wednesday, March 11, 2020

PORTLAND, Ore. – As the scheduling alliance between the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and Lone Star Conference is set to begin this fall, the two conferences have agreed to extend that agreement an additional two years.

The extension will link the two conferences through the 2023 season. The agreement will feature 32 in-region non-conference matchups between the two leagues in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, bringing the four-year alliance total to 58 Super Region 4 non-conference games. The initial agreement consisted of 26 non-conference matchups over the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

“We are extremely excited to extend what has evolved into one of the most significant scheduling alliances across Division II,” said GNAC commissioner Dave Haglund. “Our partnership with the Lone Star is noteworthy because it makes sense in multiple ways. When you consider enhanced postseason access, scheduling stability for all 13 institutions and fiscal prudence by adhering to the Division II philosophy of in-region competition, it is understandable why this collaboration has been met with unanimous approval by the presidents and athletic directors in both conferences.”

As part of the agreement, GNAC teams will play two home and two road games versus Lone Star opponents within the first four weeks of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Lone Star teams will play one home and one road against GNAC teams in that segment of the season. GNAC teams will continue with their double round-robin schedule format in conference play. This ensures that all GNAC teams are guaranteed 10 regular-season Division II games in those seasons.

The partnership has matured into one of the most significant in-region scheduling alliances in Division II given the number of Super Region 4 matchups created by the agreement. In-region non-conference results are critical criteria used in determining Super Region rankings and eventual berths in the NCAA Championships field. In addition to the GNAC and Lone Star, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference comprise Super Region 4.

The football membership of the GNAC is comprised of full-member institutions in Central Washington, Simon Fraser and Western Oregon and an affiliate member in Azusa Pacific. Football-playing members of the Lone Star include Angelo State, Eastern New Mexico, Midwestern State, Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas A&M-Kingsville, West Texas A&M and Western New Mexico. Tarleton State, also a Lone Star football member, is currently transitioning to NCAA Division I membership.