SAN ANTONIO – The East Texas A&M University football team is set to kick off preparations for the 2025 season at the Southland Football Opening Drive on Sunday-Monday in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
 
The three representatives for the Lions in San Antonio are coach Clint Dolezel, linebacker Kyree Anderson (Cy-Lakes), and wide receiver Christian Jourdain (New Orleans).
 
The trio will take part in meetings with their counterparts from the Southland, as well as going through a creative content "car-wash", and interacting with local, regional, and national media during the two-day event.
 
The Southland Football Opening Drive will be broadcasted on the conference's YouTube page on Monday. All 10 programs in the Southland will be represented during the broadcast, with the Lions set to appear on the broadcast starting at 10:45 a.m. 
 
The 2025 Southland Conference football preseason poll will be released on Monday as well. More information on the Southland Football Opening Drive can be found HERE. 
 
The Southland Football Drive is held in conjunction with the Texas High School Coaches Association Coaching School and Convention for the second straight year. All Lion fans attending the convention can meet Director of Athletics Jim Curry and other Lion coaches at Booth No. 144 on the main convention floor. 

This season marks the first season for the Lions as a full member of NCAA Division I, being eligible for NCAA Playoffs. Quick facts on the Lions prior to the start of the 2025 season can be found HERE. 

East Texas A&M welcomes a newcomer class of 42 for the 2025 season with 13 newcomers from NCAA Division I FBS schools, four from FCS schools, one each from Division II and Division III schools, and eight from the junior college ranks. The full 2025 roster for the Lions can be seen HERE. 

The 2025 season begins with a pair of games on the ACC Network for the Lions as they travel to SMU on August 30 at 8 p.m. and at Florida State on September 6 at 11 a.m. CDT. The Lions are one of two programs in the country to have their first two games broadcasted on National TV this season. 

The first home game of the 2025 season comes on September 27 against NC Central at 6 p.m. Season tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.