Abilene Christian, which has been competing in the NAIA and Division II ranks for nearly 40 years, has accepted a bid to join the Division 1 Southland Conference in 2013-14.

The school will hold a news conference on Saturday to officially announce the move.

ACU has competed in the Lone Star Conference since 1973. In 2013, the Wildcats will begin their four-year transitional phase to Division I and will become eligible for the FCS playoffs in 2017-18.

The Southland Conference will have 14 members beginning in 2013-14 with the recent addition of Abilene Christian, the University of New Orleans, Incarnate Word and Houston Baptist.

Brett McMurphy covers college sports for ESPN.