2023 American Southwest Conference football season

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.

2023 American Southwest Conference football season
Sport	Football
Number of teams	8
Champion	Hardin–Simmons

2023 American Southwest Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 16 Hardin–Simmons $^		6	–	0					9	–	2
Mary Hardin–Baylor		5	–	1					6	–	4
Howard Payne		3	–	3					6	–	4
McMurry		3	–	3					6	–	4
East Texas Baptist		3	–	3					5	–	5
Texas Lutheran		1	–	5					2	–	8
Austin		0	–	6					1	–	9
Sul Ross*		0	–	0					4	–	6
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant * Note: Sul Ross ineligible for D3 postseason play and conference games due to start of transition to D2. Rankings from D3Football.com

Teams

Hardin–Simmons

2023 Hardin–Simmons Cowboys football
ASC champion
NCAA Division III First Round, L 6–20 vs Trinity (TX)
Conference	American Southwest Conference
Ranking
D3Football.com	No. 16
Record	9–2 (6–0 ASC)
Head coach	Jesse Burleson (13th season)
Offensive coordinator	Jeff Whitehead (13th season)
Defensive coordinator	Zach Wilkerson (10th season)
Home stadium	Shelton Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

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*	Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX	W 47–3	2,804
September 9	at No. 11 Wisconsin–La Crosse*	Veterans Memorial Stadium La Crosse, WI	W 28–21	3,183	[1]
September 22	at Endicott*	Hempstead Stadium Beverly, MA	L 10–37	2,237	[2]
September 30	Howard Payne	Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX	W 40–33	2,611
October 7	at McMurry	Wilford Moore Stadium Abilene, TX	W 19–16	0
October 14	Texas Lutheran	Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX	W 27–22	3,122
October 21	at Sul Ross*	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	W 55–7	194
October 28	Mary Hardin–Baylor	Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX	W 24–14	3,421
November 4	at Austin	Apple Stadium Sherman, TX	W 59–19	2,743
November 11	at East Texas Baptist	Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX	W 42–27	1,003
November 18	at No. 6 Trinity (TX)*	Trinity Stadium San Antonio, TX (NCAA Division III First Round)	L 6–20	1,069	[3]
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

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Mary Hardin–Baylor

2023 Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders football
Conference	American Southwest Conference
Record	6–4 (5–1 ASC)
Head coach	Larry Harmon (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Andy Padron (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Jack Johnson (2nd season)
Home stadium	Crusader Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

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*	Ramer Field River Falls, WI	L 22–45	2,124	[5]
September 9	at No. 5 Trinity (TX)*	Trinity Stadium San Antonio, TX	L 16–35	1,776
September 16	No. 4 Wisconsin–Whitewater*	Crusader Stadium Belton, TX	L 14–17	2,500	[6]
September 23	McMurry	Crusader Stadium Belton, TX	W 50–9	3,828
October 7	at Texas Lutheran	Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX	W 55–21	310
October 14	Sul Ross*	Crusader Stadium Belton, TX	W 37–13	3,307
October 21	at Austin	Apple Stadium Sherman, TX	W 49–14	0
October 28	at No. 20 Hardin–Simmons	Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX	L 14–24	3,421
November 4	East Texas Baptist	Crusader Stadium Belton, TX	W 21–12	2,850
November 11	at Howard Payne	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	W 35–10	2,155
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

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Howard Payne

2023 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets football
Conference	American Southwest Conference
Record	6–4 (3–3 ASC)
Head coach	Kevin Bachtel (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Brad Wilson (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Nick Forde (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Cade Gray (1st season)
Home stadium	Gordon Wood Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

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*	Stoffer Stadium Newberg, OR	W 17–3	1,531	[8]
September 9	SAGU*	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	W 42–10	1,275
September 16	Lyon*	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	W 85–0	1,525
September 30	at No. 18 Hardin–Simmons	Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX	L 33–40	2,611	[9]
October 7	East Texas Baptist	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	W 28–14	1,325
October 14	Austin	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	W 35–11	3,125
October 21	at McMurry	Wilford Moore Stadium Abilene, TX	L 21–45	200
October 28	Texas Lutheran	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	W 31–27	1,100
November 4	at Sul Ross	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	L 42–47	269
November 11	Mary Hardin–Baylor	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	L 10–35	2,155
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

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McMurry

2023 McMurry War Hawks football
Conference	American Southwest Conference
Record	6–4 (3–3 ASC)
Head coach	Jordan Neal (5th season)
Defensive coordinator	Will Snyder (2nd season)
Home stadium	Wilford Moore Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

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.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 31	vs. Birmingham–Southern*	War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR	L 19–20	25
September 9	at Millsaps*	Harper Davis Field Jackson, MS	W 53–2	257	[11]
September 23	at No. 23 Mary Hardin–Baylor	Crusader Stadium Belton, TX	L 9–50	3,828
September 30	Lyon*	Wilford Moore Stadium Abilene, TX	W 52–14	3,100
October 7	No. 5 Hardin–Simmons	Wilford Moore Stadium Abilene, TX	L 16–19 (OT)	0	[12]
October 14	at East Texas Baptist	Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX	L 13–14	1,732
October 21	Howard Payne	Wilford Moore Stadium Abilene, TX	W 45–21	200
October 28	Austin	Wilford Moore Stadium Abilene, TX	W 51–13	1,124
November 4	at Texas Lutheran	Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX	W 36–33	600
November 11	Sul Ross*	Wilford Moore Stadium Abilene, TX	W 43–23	100
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

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East Texas Baptist

2023 East Texas Baptist Tigers football
Conference	American Southwest Conference
Record	5–5 (3–3 ASC)
Head coach	Calvin Ruzicka (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Trevor Hopkins (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Jordan Collins (1st season)
Home stadium	Ornelas Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

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*	Wildcat Field Pineville, LA	L 14–34	4,221
September 9	Hendrix*	Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX	W 38–37	671
September 16	No. 23 Wisconsin–Oshkosh*	Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX	L 7–60	379
September 30	Austin	Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX	W 35–7	2,017
October 7	at Howard Payne	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	L 14–28	1,325
October 14	McMurry	Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX	W 14–13	1,732
October 21	at Texas Lutheran	Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX	W 16–6	1,300
October 28	Sul Ross	Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX	W 24–10	1,276
November 4	at Mary Hardin–Baylor	Crusader Stadium Belton, TX	L 12–21	2,850	[14]
November 11	No. 19 Hardin–Simmons	Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX	L 27–42	1,003
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

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Texas Lutheran

2023 Texas Lutheran Bulldogs football
Conference	American Southwest Conference
Record	2–8 (1–5 ASC)
Head coach	Neal LaHue (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Beau Grech (2nd season)
Home stadium	Bulldog Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

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*	Titan Stadium Oshkosh, WI	L 31–48	2,396	[16]
September 9	at Southwestern (TX)*	Birkelbach Field Georgetown, TX	W 39–7	2,400
September 16	Ave Maria*	Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX	L 14–27	500
September 30	at Sul Ross*	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	L 34–37	194
October 7	No. 22 Mary Hardin–Baylor	Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX	L 21–55	310
October 14	at No. 20 Hardin–Simmons	Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX	L 22–27	3,122
October 21	East Texas Baptist	Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX	L 6–16	1,300
October 28	at Howard Payne	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	L 27–31	1,100
November 4	McMurry	Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX	L 33–36	600
November 11	Austin	Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX	W 29–10	1,000
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

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Austin

2023 Austin Kangaroos football
Conference	American Southwest Conference
Record	1–9 (0–6 ASC)
Head coach	Tony Joe White (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	George Love (1st season)
Home stadium	Apple Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

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.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 2	Nebraska Wesleyan*	Apple Stadium Sherman, TX	L 7–19	1,253
September 9	at Rhodes*	Crain Field Memphis, TN	L 17–19	1,200
September 23	at Crown*	Old National Bank Stadium St. Bonifacius, MN	W 34–23	125
September 30	at East Texas Baptist	Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX	L 7–35	2,017
October 7	Sul Ross*	Apple Stadium Sherman, TX	L 7–49	986
October 14	at Howard Payne	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	L 11–35	3,125
October 21	No. 23 Mary Hardin–Baylor	Apple Stadium Sherman, TX	L 14–49	0
October 28	at McMurry	Wilford Moore Stadium Abilene, TX	L 13–51	1,135
November 4	No. 20 Hardin–Simmons	Apple Stadium Sherman, TX	L 19–59	0
November 11	at Texas Lutheran	Bulldog Stadium Seguin, TX	L 10–29	1,000
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

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Sul Ross

Main article: 2023 Sul Ross Lobos football team

2023 Sul Ross Lobos football
Conference	American Southwest Conference
Record	4–6 (0–0 ASC)
Head coach	Barry Derickson (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Christian Escobar (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Air raid
Defensive coordinator	Cadron Davis (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Jackson Field
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

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).

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 2	at Western New Mexico*	Ben Altamirano Field Silver City, NM	L 28–42	635
September 9	Eastern New Mexico*	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	L 12–51	243
September 16	Wayland Baptist*	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	W 27–7	140
September 30	Texas Lutheran*	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	W 37–34	194
October 7	at Austin*	Apple Stadium Sherman, TX	W 49–7	986
October 14	at No. 22 Mary Hardin–Baylor*	Crusader Stadium Belton, TX	L 13–37	3,307
October 21	No. 19 Hardin–Simmons*	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	L 7–55	194
October 28	at East Texas Baptist*	Ornelas Stadium Marshall, TX	L 10–24	1,276
November 4	Howard Payne*	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	W 47–42	269
November 11	at McMurry*	Wilford Moore Stadium Abilene, TX	L 23–37	100
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

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References

1. Krause, James (September 10, 2023). "UW-La Crosse football team loses to Hardin-Simmons". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
2. Ford, Nathaniel (September 25, 2023). "Endicott Football Makes History, Stuns No. 5/5 Hardin-Simmons". Endicott Observer. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
3. Hogue, Cory (November 18, 2023). "Trinity defense leads Tigers past Hardin-Simmons in DIII playoffs". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
4. "2023 Football Schedule". Hardin-Simmons University. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
5. Burrows, Bob (September 3, 2023). "College football: UWRF crushes third-ranked UMHB in season opener". River Falls Journal. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
6. Drennan, Eric (September 17, 2023). "0-3 UMHB sees improvement in 17-14 loss to No. 4 Whitewater". KDH Pressbox. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
7. "2023 Football Schedule". University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Athletics. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
8. "Jackets' defense smothers George Fox in opener, 17-3". Brownwood Bulletin. September 3, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
9. Chamberlain, Miriam (September 30, 2023). "Hardin-Simmons win 16th straight over Howard Payne, 40-33". Big Country Homepage. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
10. "2023 Football Schedule". Howard Payne University Athletics. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
11. "McMurry secures big first win against Millsaps 53-2". Big Country Homepage. September 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
12. Richards, Joey D. (October 7, 2023). "No. 18 Hardin-Simmons overcomes McMurry in overtime". Abilene Reporter News. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
13. "2023 Football Schedule". McMurry University Athletics. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
14. Drennan, Eric (November 4, 2023). "UMHB dominates 2nd half for 21-12 win over East Texas Baptist". KDH Pressbox. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
15. "2023 Football Schedule". East Texas Baptist University Athletics. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
16. Link, Jacob (September 7, 2023). "Titans best Bulldogs 48-31 in home opener". The Advance-Titan. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
17. "2023 Texas Lutheran Football Schedule". Texas Lutheran University. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
18. "2023 Kangaroo Football Schedule". Austin College. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
19. "2023 Football Schedule". Sul Ross State University Athletics. Retrieved July 9, 2024.