DALLAS, Texas – Hardin-Simmons University is predicted to repeat as the 2024 American Southwest Conference Champions after gathering 29 points and five first-place votes in the 2024 ASC Preseason Football Poll, released Monday. Conference head coaches and sports information directors eligible for postseason play voted on the order of finish.
Hardin-Simmons senior running back Noah Garcia was selected Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Mary Hardin-Baylor senior linebacker Durand Hill was Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Junior Cowboy, Dameon Gomes was Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.
Garcia was All-ASC First Team Offense in 2023, as he led the league a season ago with 76.7 rushing yards per game. He totaled 767 rushing yards and recorded 10 touchdowns for the Cowboys. Hill earned All-ASC First Team last year and was tabbed on D3football.com Preseason All-America Second Team. He led the Cru in their 2023 campaign with 84 total tackles including 44 solo tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss while adding two interceptions and two pass breakups. Gomes also earned 2023 All-ASC First Team honors and was selected D3football.com Preseason All-America First Team. He averaged 26.67 yards on 18 punt returns last season and scored two touchdowns with an 80-yard season-long return.
Hardin-Simmons won its first outright ASC title since 2004 last season and made their 12
th NCAA appearance. The Cowboys come off a 9-2 overall record and was a perfect 6-0 in league play. They enter the campaign No. 16 in D3football.com Top 25 Preseason Poll.
Mary Hardin-Baylor notched the remaining three first place votes and was selected second with 26 points. The Cru posted a 6-4 record and 5-1 conference record last season. UMHB is receiving votes (102) in the D3football.com Preseason Poll. Howard Payne comes in third with 14 points after going 6-4 last season with a 3-3 conference mark. East Texas Baptist was predicted fourth with 11 points after a .500 season at 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the ASC.
The 2024 ASC football season will kickoff on Friday, September 6
th as East Texas Baptist takes on LaGrange. Saturday, September 7
th will feature a duo of games. UMHB travels to Bethel University (Tenn.) and Hardin-Simmons heads to Brownwood for the first conference game against Howard Payne.
2024 ASC Football Schedule
2024 ASC Football Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st votes) |
Pts. |
2023 Record (ASC) |
| 1. |
Hardin-Simmons (5) |
29 |
9-2 (6-0) |
| 2. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor (3) |
26 |
6-4 (5-1) |
| 3. |
Howard Payne |
14 |
6-4 (3-3) |
| 4. |
East Texas Baptist |
11 |
5-5 (3-3) |
2024 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offense: Noah Garcia, RB, Jr., Hardin-Simmons
Defense: Durand Hill, LB, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Special Teams: Dameon Gomes, RET, Jr., Hardin-Simmons
2024 ASC Football Players to Watch
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Team |
Hometown |
| Kaden Brown |
QB |
So. |
East Texas Baptist |
Midlothian, Texas |
| Jahkamian Carr* |
DE |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Longview, Texas |
| Gus Charles* |
WR |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Houston, Texas |
| Hymond Drinkard |
RET |
Jr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Richmond, Texas |
| Tray Ervin |
LB |
So. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Alpine, Texas |
| Noah Garcia* |
RB |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Abilene, Texas |
| Dameon Gomes* |
RET |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Mansfield, Texas |
| Braden Hargrove* |
DE |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Durand Hill* |
LB |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Buda, Texas |
| Peyton Lowe* |
LB |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Gunter, Texas |
| Hayden Philpot* |
OL |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Decatur, Texas |
2023 All-ASC Selection *
Wilson is the official football of the American Southwest Conference.