THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY

ABOUT TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Edinburg's University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, established in 2013 through the merger of UT-Pan American and UT-Brownsville, fields 16 varsity sports across Division I-FCS competition in the Southland Conference. The Vaqueros serve a student body of 35,812, making UTRGV one of the youngest universities to achieve FCS status and a critical athletic anchor for the Rio Grande Valley region. From baseball and football to women's lacrosse and swimming & diving, the program reflects the institution's rapid ascent and commitment to comprehensive athletic development in South Texas.

Men's and women's teams compete across traditional sports like basketball and soccer alongside less common offerings for the region, with both cross country programs and tennis squads operating at the collegiate level. The Vaqueros' athletic infrastructure supports competitive participation in a conference that includes programs like Stephen F. Austin and Nicholls State, positioning UTRGV among regional rivals in lower-tier FCS football and basketball competition. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution with significant local enrollment, the university's 16-sport model represents institutional investment in student-athlete development and community representation within collegiate athletics.