RFC Summer Semester: American Southwest Conference (ASC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

American Southwest Conference (ASC)--NCAA Division III

Website

2013 Final Standings

Looking back: The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders cruised their way to yet another American Southwest Conference championship in 2013. They've now won or shared 11 of the last 12 ASC titles dating back to 2002.

Additionally, the Crusaders have advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs 12 times in the last 13 years since 2001. That includes 10 straight trips to postseason play over the last 10 years.

In the NCAA Division III playoffs, UMHB advanced to the national semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater in a heartbreaker, 16-15. It marked the second straight season the Crusaders lost to the eventual national champions, as they fell to Mount Union, 48-35, in 2012.

Looking ahead: As recently as 2004, the ASC had as many as 10 member schools. In the last several years, however, the league has been decimated by several defections to other conferences, losing schools such as Austin and Texas Lutheran to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), McMurry to the NCAA Division II ranks (only to recently return to NCAA Division III), and now Mississippi College to D-II.  That leaves only six ASC members taking to the football field in 2014.

But there's some good news on the way. Not only will McMurry return to the ASC as a full member by 2015, Belhaven University of Jackson, Mississippi will also join the conference, as the Blazers begin their transition to Division III athletics. Those moves will eventually give the ASC eight football-playing schools by 2016.

Predicted order of finish (2013 overall record in parentheses):

1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (13-1):  With a preseason ranking of No. 2 by d3football.com, as well as another No. 2 ranking by USA Today, a No. 4 ranking by Sporting News, and No. 6 by Lindy's Sports, the "Cru" will once again be the team to beat in the ASC.  


2. Louisiana College (7-3):  The only other team in the ASC to finish 2013 with a winning record, the Wildcats hope to end the Crusaders long reign in the ASC after finishing 5-1 in conference play last season, good enough for second place.

3. Hardin-Simmons (4-6):  The Cowboys will look to rebuild after suffering their first losing season since 1990, when they finished 3-6 overall. They also finished 2-4 in conference play last season, a similar mark to 1990.

4. Howard Payne (4-6):  After back-to-back 1-9 seasons, the Yellow Jackets turned the corner somewhat with a three-win improvement in 2013.  They hope to continue to move in the right direction coming into 2014.

5. East Texas Baptist (3-7):  The Tigers face a long uphill battle after a disappointing 2013 season that saw them win their first two games.

6. Sul Ross State (1-9):  The Lobos have had just one season with at least five wins (5-5 in 2012) dating back to 2008.


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