DALLAS –
Mary Hardin-Baylor is predicted to repeat as the 2023 American Southwest Conference Champions after gathering 97 points and all-but one first place vote in the 2023 ASC Preseason Football Poll released Monday. Conference head coaches and sports information directors eligible for postseason play voted on the order of finish.
Howard Payne senior quarterback
Landon McKinney was selected Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Mary Hardin-Baylor junior linebacker
Durand Hill was Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and classmate
Matthew Jackson was Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.
McKinney was All-ASC Second Team Offense in 2022, as he led the league in total offense a season ago with 303.7 yards per game. He totaled 3,037 yards (2,876 passing/161 rushing) for the Yellow Jackets. Hill earned All-ASC First Team last year and was tabbed on D3football.com Preseason All-America Second Team. Hill logged 124 tackles with 71 solo tackles, had 8.5 tackles for loss and led the team with 11 pass breakups. Jackson follows two-time Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year from his team, K.J. Miller. He garnered the second-most attempts on the Cru last season after Miller with 208 yards returned (23.11) and scored a touchdown. His longest return in nine attempts went for 95 yards.
Mary Hardin-Baylor won its 18th ASC title in 2022 and finished in the NCAA Semifinals for the fifth time in program history. The Cru comes off a 12-2 overall record and was a perfect 8-0 in league play. They enter the campaign No. 3 in D3football.com Top 25 Preseason Poll. UMHB is two seasons removed from its national championship.
Hardin-Simmons notched the remaining first place vote and were selected second with 83 points. The Cowboys posted a 9-2 record and 7-1 conference record last season. Hardin-Simmons gave the ASC two national tournament participants in 2022 and are No. 8 in the preseason poll.
Howard Payne comes in third with 67 points after going 7-3 last season with a 6-2 conference mark. HPU is receiving votes in the preseason poll.
East Texas Baptist was predicted fourth with 54 points after a .500 season at 5-5 overall and 4-4 in the ASC.
Texas Lutheran (44),
McMurry (26), and
Austin (21) round out the preseason poll.
Sul Ross State will not count in the 2023 standings and are ineligible for both the ASC and NCAA Championships due to the Lobos reclassifying to NCAA Division II.
The 2023 season opens on Thursday, August 31 with McMurry and East Texas Baptist on the road. Hardin-Simmons hosts Albright on Friday, September 1, while Texas Lutheran, Austin, Mary Hardin-Baylor, Sul Ross State, and Howard Payne kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 2.
2023 ASC Football Schedule
2023 ASC Preseason Football Poll
| Team (First Place Votes) |
Points |
2022 Record (ASC) |
| 1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (13) |
97 |
12-2 (8-0) |
| 2. Hardin-Simmons (1) |
83 |
9-2 (7-1) |
| 3. Howard Payne |
67 |
7-3 (6-2) |
| 4. East Texas Baptist |
54 |
5-5 (4-4) |
| 5. Texas Lutheran |
44 |
4-6 (3-5) |
| 6. McMurry |
26 |
1-9 (1-7) |
| 7. Austin |
21 |
1-9 (1-7) |
| $ - Sul Ross State |
- |
4-6 (4-4) |
$ – Ineligible for ASC and NCAA Championships
2023 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offense: Landon McKinney, QB, Sr., Howard Payne
Defense: Durand Hill, LB, Jr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Special Teams: Matthew Jackson, RET, Jr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Players to Watch in 2023
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Team |
Hometown |
| John Aldridge * |
K |
Gr. |
Austin |
Richardson, Texas |
| Jhakamian Carr * |
DE |
Jr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Longview, Texas |
| Jordan Carroll * |
WR |
Gr. |
Howard Payne |
Forney, Texas |
| Seth Cosme * |
QB |
Sr. |
Texas Lutheran |
Angleton, Texas |
| Brady Dygert |
LB |
Jr. |
Austin |
Magnolia, Texas |
| Jacob Forton * |
RB |
Sr. |
Texas Lutheran |
Spring Branch, Texas |
| Noah Garcia |
RB |
So. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Abilene, Texas |
| Caleb Giles * |
OLB |
Sr. |
Texas Lutheran |
Houston, Texas |
| Gaylon Glynn |
QB |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Waco, Texas |
| Cody Harral * |
P |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Ballinger, Texas |
| Durand Hill * |
LB |
Jr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Buda, Texas |
| Matthew Jackson |
RET |
Jr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Dallas, Texas |
| Herman Lee * |
LB |
Jr. |
McMurry |
Prosper, Texas |
| Peyton Lowe * |
LB |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Gunter, Texas |
| Landon McKinney * |
QB |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Liberty City, Texas |
| Colton Marshall * |
RET |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Abilene, Texas |
| Jared Mendoza * |
K/P |
Gr. |
McMurry |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Matt Mitchell * |
LB |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Wimberley, Texas |
| Cameron Welch * |
P/K |
Jr. |
Texas Lutheran |
New Braunfels, Texas |
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* - 2022 All-Conference
Wilson is the official football of the American Southwest Conference.