DALLAS, Texas – Hardin-Simmons University is predicted to repeat as the 2025 American Southwest Conference Champions after gathering 29 points and five first-place votes in the 2025 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. Hardin-Simmons junior linebacker Kaiden Roden, Mary Hardin-Baylor senior defensive back Samuel Steffe and East Texas Baptist senior defensive end Dominick Williams were selected Preseason Tri-Defensive Players of the Year. Senior Crusader return specialist BJ Stewart was named Preseason Special Teams Players of the Year.
Garcia was All-ASC First Team Offense in 2024, as he led the league a season ago with 79.8 rushing yards per game. He totaled 798 rushing yards and recorded 12 touchdowns for the Cowboys.
Roden earned All-ASC First Team last year, leading the Cowboys with 98 tackles with 43 solo tackles, four sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He added four quarterback hurries, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Steffe was All-ASC First Team in 2024 as he totaled 42 tackles with 34 solo and three tackles for loss. He added two interceptions, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Williams was All-ASC First Team with 29 total tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks. He also added three quarterback hurries and an interception.
Stewart transfers into Mary Haridn-Baylor this season with D3football.com All-America First Team honors.
Hardin-Simmons won its second-straight ASC title last season and made their 13
th NCAA appearance. The Cowboys come off a 10-1 overall record and were a perfect 6-0 in league play. They enter the campaign No. 6 in D3football.com Top 25 Preseason Poll.
Mary Hardin-Baylor notched the remaining three first place votes and was selected second with 27 points. The Cru posted an 8-4 record and 4-2 conference record last season. UMHB is ranked No. 8 in the D3football.com Preseason Poll after an NCAA quarterfinal playoff run in 2024. East Texas Baptist comes in third with 14 points after going 5-4 last season. Howard Payne was predicted fourth with 10 points.
The 2025 ASC football season will kickoff on Thursday, September 4
th as Howard Payne takes on Pacific (Ore.). Saturday, September 6
th will feature a trio of games. UMHB hosts Bethel University (Tenn.), Hardin-Simmons travels to California to face Chapman and East Texas Baptist hosts Lyon.
2025 ASC Football Schedule
2025 ASC Football Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st votes) |
Pts. |
2024 Record (ASC) |
| 1. |
Hardin-Simmons (5) |
29 |
10-1 (6-0) |
| 2. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor (3) |
27 |
8-4 (4-2) |
| 3. |
East Texas Baptist |
14 |
5-4 (2-4) |
| 4. |
Howard Payne |
10 |
1-8 (0-6) |
2025 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offense: Noah Garcia, RB, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Tri-Defense: Kaiden Roden, LB, Jr. Hardin-Simmons
Tri-Defense: Samuel Steffe, DB, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Tri-Defense: Dominick Williams, DE, Sr., East Texas Baptist
Special Teams: BJ Stewart, RET, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
2025 ASC Football Players to Watch
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Team |
Hometown |
| Kyle Brown* |
QB |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Cedar Park, Texas |
| Noah Garcia* |
RB |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Abilene, Texas |
| Cameron Hall* |
DL |
Jr. |
Howard Payne |
The Woodlands, Texas |
| Kaiden Roden* |
LB |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Quinlan, Texas |
| Cade Smillie |
DS |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Plano, Texas |
| Samuel Steffe* |
DB |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Aledo, Texas |
| BJ Stewart |
RET |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Shreveport, La. |
| Whitten Weems* |
P |
So. |
East Texas Baptist |
Crawford, Texas |
| Dominick Williams* |
DE |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Houston, Texas |
| Paul Woodard* |
RB |
Jr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Freeport, Texas |
2024 All-ASC Selection *
Wilson is the official football of the American Southwest Conference.