MARSHALL, Texas – Hardin-Simmons earned the 2023 American Southwest Conference title and will have the automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Selection show is Sunday, November 12 at 4:00 p.m. and will stream live on NCAA.com.
 
This is the ninth ASC Championship title for Hardin-Simmons and the first outright title since 2004. It is the first time a program besides Mary Hardin-Baylor has won the crown outright. Their was a tri-champion in 2015 (Mary Hardin-Baylor, Hardin-Simmons, and East Texas Baptist) and co-champion in 2009 (Mary Hardin-Baylor and Mississippi College).
 
Hardin-Simmons had clinched at least a share of the ASC Championship and was the automatic qualifier after defeating Austin last Saturday and Mary Hardin-Baylor defeating East Texas Baptist. The Cowboys handled business today with a 42-27 victory at East Texas Baptist to ensure sole possession of first place and posted a 9-1 overall record and perfect 6-0 mark in conference play. The team last went perfect in conference play in 2020-21 when it was in the West Division and was 4-0.
 
Hardin-Simmons entered this week ranked No. 19 in the national rankings and were No. 3 in NCAA Division III Region III rankings.