Sports season
2023 American Southwest Conference football season Sport Football Number of teams 8 Champion Hardin–Simmons
The 2023 American Southwest Conference football season was the season of college football played by the eight member schools of the American Southwest Conference (ASC) as part of the 2023 NCAA Division III football season . The 2023 Hardin–Simmons Cowboys football team compiled a 9–2 record (6–0 in conference games), won the ASC championship, and made it to the NCAA Division III first round where they lost to Trinity (TX) 20–6.
The 2023 Hardin–Simmons Cowboys football team represented Hardin–Simmons University of Abilene, Texas . In their 13th year under head coach Jesse Burleson , the team compiled a 9–2 record (6–0 against ASC opponents), won the ASC championship, and made it to the NCAA Division III first round where they lost to Trinity (TX) 20–6.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 1 Albright * W 47–32,804
September 9 at No. 11 Wisconsin–La Crosse * W 28–213,183 [ 1] September 22 at Endicott * L 10–372,237 [ 2] September 30 Howard Payne Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX W 40–332,611
October 7 at McMurry W 19–160
October 14 Texas Lutheran Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX W 27–223,122
October 21 at Sul Ross * W 55–7194
October 28 Mary Hardin–Baylor Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX W 24–143,421
November 4 at Austin W 59–192,743
November 11 at East Texas Baptist W 42–271,003
November 18 at No. 6 Trinity (TX) * L 6–201,069 [ 3] *Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 4]
The 2023 Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders football team represented the University of Mary Hardin–Baylor of Belton, Texas . In their second year under head coach Larry Harmon , the team compiled a 6–4 record (5–1 against ASC opponents) and finished second in the ASC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 2 at No. 23 Wisconsin–River Falls * L 22–452,124 [ 5] September 9 at No. 5 Trinity (TX) * L 16–351,776
September 16 No. 4 Wisconsin–Whitewater * L 14–172,500 [ 6] September 23 McMurry Crusader Stadium Belton, TX W 50–93,828
October 7 at Texas Lutheran W 55–21310
October 14 Sul Ross * Crusader Stadium Belton, TX W 37–133,307
October 21 at Austin W 49–140
October 28 at No. 20 Hardin–Simmons L 14–243,421
November 4 East Texas Baptist Crusader Stadium Belton, TX W 21–122,850
November 11 at Howard Payne W 35–102,155
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 7]
Venues People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
The 2023 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets football team represented Howard Payne University of Brownwood, Texas . In their first year under head coach Kevin Bachtel , the team compiled a 6–4 record (3–3 against ASC opponents) and finished tied for third in the ASC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 2 at George Fox * W 17–31,531 [ 8] September 9 SAGU * W 42–101,275
September 16 Lyon * Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX W 85–01,525
September 30 at No. 18 Hardin–Simmons L 33–402,611 [ 9] October 7 East Texas Baptist Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX W 28–141,325
October 14 Austin Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX W 35–113,125
October 21 at McMurry L 21–45200
October 28 Texas Lutheran Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX W 31–271,100
November 4 at Sul Ross L 42–47269
November 11 Mary Hardin–Baylor Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX L 10–352,155
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 10]
The 2023 McMurry War Hawks football team represented McMurry University of Abilene, Texas . In their fifth year under head coach Jordan Neal , the team compiled a 6–4 record (3–3 against ASC opponents) and finished tied for third in the ASC.
[ 13]
Venues Bowls & rivalries People Seasons
The 2023 East Texas Baptist Tigers football team represented East Texas Baptist University of Marshall, Texas . In their first year under head coach Calvin Ruzicka , the team compiled a 5–5 record (3–3 against ASC opponents) and finished tied for third in the ASC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 1 at Louisiana Christian * L 14–344,221
September 9 Hendrix * W 38–37671
September 16 No. 23 Wisconsin–Oshkosh * Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX L 7–60379
September 30 Austin Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX W 35–72,017
October 7 at Howard Payne L 14–281,325
October 14 McMurry Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX W 14–131,732
October 21 at Texas Lutheran W 16–61,300
October 28 Sul Ross Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX W 24–101,276
November 4 at Mary Hardin–Baylor L 12–212,850 [ 14] November 11 No. 19 Hardin–Simmons Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX L 27–421,003
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 15]
The 2023 Texas Lutheran Bulldogs football team represented Texas Lutheran University of Seguin, Texas . In their second year under head coach Neal LaHue , the team compiled a 2–8 record (1–5 against ASC opponents) and finished sixth in the ASC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 2 at No. 21 Wisconsin–Oshkosh * L 31–482,396 [ 16] September 9 at Southwestern (TX) * W 39–72,400
September 16 Ave Maria * L 14–27500
September 30 at Sul Ross * L 34–37194
October 7 No. 22 Mary Hardin–Baylor Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX L 21–55310
October 14 at No. 20 Hardin–Simmons L 22–273,122
October 21 East Texas Baptist Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX L 6–161,300
October 28 at Howard Payne L 27–311,100
November 4 McMurry Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX L 33–36600
November 11 Austin Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX W 29–101,000
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 17]
The 2023 Austin Kangaroos football team represented Austin College of Sherman, Texas . In their first year under head coach Tony Joe White , the team compiled a 1–9 record (0–6 against ASC opponents) and finished last in the ASC.
[ 18]
The 2023 Sul Ross Lobos football team represented Sul Ross State University of Alpine, Texas . In their second year under head coach Barry Derickson , the team compiled a 4–6 record but was ineligible for ASC conference play due to the team's transition to the NCAA Division II 's Lone Star Conference (LSC).
[ 19]
Venues Bowls & rivalries People Seasons
^ Krause, James (September 10, 2023). "UW-La Crosse football team loses to Hardin-Simmons" . La Crosse Tribune . Retrieved July 9, 2024 . ^ Ford, Nathaniel (September 25, 2023). "Endicott Football Makes History, Stuns No. 5/5 Hardin-Simmons" . Endicott Observer . Retrieved July 9, 2024 . ^ Hogue, Cory (November 18, 2023). "Trinity defense leads Tigers past Hardin-Simmons in DIII playoffs" . Dave Campbell's Texas Football . Retrieved July 9, 2024 . ^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Hardin-Simmons University . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .^ Burrows, Bob (September 3, 2023). "College football: UWRF crushes third-ranked UMHB in season opener" . River Falls Journal . Retrieved July 9, 2024 . ^ Drennan, Eric (September 17, 2023). "0-3 UMHB sees improvement in 17-14 loss to No. 4 Whitewater" . KDH Pressbox . Retrieved July 9, 2024 . ^ "2023 Football Schedule" . University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Athletics . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .^ "Jackets' defense smothers George Fox in opener, 17-3" . Brownwood Bulletin . September 3, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2024 .^ Chamberlain, Miriam (September 30, 2023). "Hardin-Simmons win 16th straight over Howard Payne, 40-33" . Big Country Homepage . Retrieved July 9, 2024 . ^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Howard Payne University Athletics . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .^ "McMurry secures big first win against Millsaps 53-2" . Big Country Homepage . September 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2024 .^ Richards, Joey D. (October 7, 2023). "No. 18 Hardin-Simmons overcomes McMurry in overtime" . Abilene Reporter News . Retrieved July 9, 2024 . ^ "2023 Football Schedule" . McMurry University Athletics . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .^ Drennan, Eric (November 4, 2023). "UMHB dominates 2nd half for 21-12 win over East Texas Baptist" . KDH Pressbox . Retrieved July 9, 2024 . ^ "2023 Football Schedule" . East Texas Baptist University Athletics . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .^ Link, Jacob (September 7, 2023). "Titans best Bulldogs 48-31 in home opener" . The Advance-Titan . Retrieved July 9, 2024 . ^ "2023 Texas Lutheran Football Schedule" . Texas Lutheran University . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .^ "2023 Kangaroo Football Schedule" . Austin College . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Sul Ross State University Athletics . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .
