TribBlog: More FBS Ambitions

My story today reported on the University of Texas-San Antonio's attempt to create a football team at the school that may eventually compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision, the NCAA's highest level of competition. Texas State University in San Marcos, which already has a football team, is also hoping to make the jump to the FBS within a few years.

UTSA's athletic objective is being pursued as the university vies with six other Texas schools for money to become the next Tier One university in the state. Texas State — the fifth largest university in the state — doesn't share the Tier One aspirations of the state's other top 10 schools. But the university's leaders are geared up to push the school's football team, which has been around since 1904, into the FBS.

That would require finding a new athletic conference within the FBS. Currently, Texas State plays in the Southland Conference, where UTSA planned to compete before it announced it would join the Football Championship Subdivision independently.

A group of Texas State alumni is leading a donation drive to raise $10 million for new athletics facilities, coaching salaries and scholarships.