COMMERCE – East Texas A&M University has become the first college football program in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with an institution-level jersey patch sponsor, announcing a single-game agreement with Archer Construction & Design on Thursday as the jersey sponsor for Saturday's FCS Kickoff game at Mercer on ESPN.
 
The Lions will open the 2026 season on national television in primetime Saturday at 6 p.m. CT, providing an exclusive opportunity to showcase the university and its partnership with Archer Construction on a national stage. East Texas A&M is one of only three Division I FCS programs to open the season on a national linear television broadcast during each of the past three years.
 
"This partnership is an exciting step forward for East Texas A&M University and a reflection of the momentum building across Lion Athletics," said East Texas A&M Director of Athletics Jim Curry. "We're especially proud to partner with Archer Construction & Design, a company with a strong history at our university and the Northeast Texas region. To showcase that partnership on a national stage this Saturday is a great opportunity, and we're grateful to Archer for believing in East Texas A&M and the direction we're headed."
 
The multi-year agreement with Archer Construction & Design begins with the jersey patch for Saturday's game in Macon, Georgia. In years two and three of the agreement, the partnership will include fan activation at football and basketball home games.
 
Based in Paris, Texas, Archer Construction has completed numerous projects on the East Texas A&M campus, including the Buffalo Wild Wings renovation and the remodel of the Business Administration office in the Business Administration Building.
 
"Archer has built a strong partnership with East Texas A&M over the years, and we're proud to have played a role in the continued growth and improvement of the campus. Aligning with East Texas A&M Athletics felt like a natural extension of that relationship. It gives us an opportunity to support an institution that means a great deal to this region, while connecting with the students, alumni, families and communities who are invested in its success. For us, it's about much more than visibility. It's about showing up for a partner and a community we're proud to be part of," said Archer Construction & Design Owner/President/CEO Brad Archer. 
 
"There's a tremendous amount of energy around East Texas A&M right now, and it's exciting to see the university entering such an important period of growth. At Archer, we believe the best projects and partnerships are built with a long-term vision in mind. Having worked across the campus and developed strong relationships with the university over the years, we've had the opportunity to see that progress firsthand. We're proud to support East Texas A&M during this era and to be part of what it is building for its students, its community and the entire region." 
 
The jersey patch sponsorship for this weekend's game was brokered by Taymar Sales U. East Texas A&M is among a select group of football programs in the Southland Conference to feature a jersey patch sponsor for the upcoming season.
 
Fans can tune in to ESPN at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday to watch the Lions debut the Archer Construction patch on their jerseys when they take on No. 17/21 Mercer.
 
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