THE RFC MYC: American Southwest Conference (ASC)-(NCAA Division III)

American Southwest Conference (ASC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders won their second NCAA Division III national championship in three years in the first Stagg Bowl ever to be held in their home state of Texas, knocking off then-defending national champion Mount Union 24-16 on December 14. The win over the Purple Raiders avenged a 12-0 shutout loss to the Ohio-based squad in the 2017 Stagg Bowl. 

Now the big question going into 2019, at least within the American Southwest Conference (ASC), is this: Can any team stop UMHB? For now, the answer appears to be no one, according to the ASC preseason poll, with the "Cru" being picked to cruise to yet another conference championship this season.

Should the Crusaders falter at any point this fall, the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys could be the best bet to take the title. H-SU finished 9-2 overall in 2018, with both losses coming to UMHB, including a first-round loss to the Crusaders in the NCAA D-III playoffs. The Cowboys will get their chance against the "Cru" on October 26 in a game that could decide the ASC crown. Mary Hardin-Baylor shut out Hardin-Simmons 26-0 in last year's regular-season meeting on October 6, then ended the Cowboys season in the playoff contest 27-6 on November 17.  

2018 American Southwest Conference (ASC) Football Final Standings

2019 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)

NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2019 season. When the team's schedule is submitted, the link (s) will appear in each blog post. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.

Belhaven

East Texas Baptist

Hardin-Simmons

Howard Payne

Louisiana College

Mary Hardin-Baylor

McMurry

Southwestern (Tex.)

Sul Ross State

Texas Lutheran

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