COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce football program was ranked No. 4 in College Athletic Advisor's Top 20 Programs That Inspire.

The program rankings are open to all four-year, collegiate-level programs outside of NCAA Division I and are based on a subjective assessment of student experience in four areas:

-Holistic development of student-athletes in the institution;
-Academic achievement and support for the academic success of student-athletes;
-Overall college experience for participants within the program;
-Affordability/graduation rates/student satisfaction.

Although College Athletic Advisor's list is subjective, the organization believes these rankings "present an informed starting point for a discussion about where student-athletes can excel as 'triple-threat' competitors (academics, athletics, and socially) in college and in their future lives."

College Athletic Advisor's Top 20 Programs That Inspire
1. Saint John's (Minn.)
2. Central Missouri
3. Wisconsin-Oshkosh
4. A&M-COMMERCE
5. West Florida
6. Salisbury (Md.)
7. Minnesota State
8. Carroll (Mont.)
9. Wisconsin-Whitewater
10. Valdosta State
11. Grand Valley State
12. Marian (Ind.)
13. Linfield (Ore.)
14. Chapman (Calif.)
15. Savannah State
16. Trinity (Conn.) 
17. Muhlenberg
18. Union (N.Y.)
19. Benedictine (Kan.)
20. Shepherd