Report: UT Rio Grande Valley to exit WAC, join Southland

Field Level Media|published: 03/21/2024, 11:57am EDT

Nov 17, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros head coach Matt Figger gestures during a play against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. credits: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is set to leave the Western Athletic Conference to join the Southland Conference, ESPN reported.

The change will take place for the 2024-25 season and will cost UTRGV a $2 million exit fee to the WAC, per Wednesday's report.

However, the UTRGV said in a statement that there was "nothing definitive to announce" at this time.

"As you know this is a dynamic time in college athletics with exciting opportunities for our university," the UTRGV athletics department told ESPN in a statement. "We are always evaluating ways we can enhance the competitive experience for our student-athletes and improve their overall well-being."

UTRGV joined the WAC in 2013 when the school was still known as UT Pan American. The new name came about in 2015 after a merger between UT Pan-American and UT Brownsville.

Switching to the Southland makes geographic sense with its members including Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Texas A&M Commerce and Lamar.

The Vaqueros finished last in the WAC in both men's and women's basketball in 2023-24. The university's football program is slated to debut in 2025.

—Field Level Media