Texas A&M-Commerce was picked to repeat as the Lone Star Conference football champions according to the 2016 LSC preseason poll announced Thursday.

      The league's preseason poll reflects the opinions of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region.

      A&M-C, who claimed its second straight LSC title with a perfect 6-0 league record last season, earned first place votes on 19 of the 28 ballots to total 269 points.  The Lions were 8-4 in 2015 including a NCAA Division II playoff appearance.

      Midwestern State, which captured the 2015 LSC Playoffs Championship, received eight first-place nods to finish second with 254 points following a 10-2 campaign last season.

      Angelo State ranked third with 211 points in front of West Texas A&M in fourth (182) and Eastern New Mexico fifth (181).  Texas A&M-Kingsville (141), Tarleton State (121), Oklahoma Panhandle State (66), Western New Mexico (66) and UT Permian Basin (49 and one first-place vote) rounded out the poll.

      The season kicks off September 1 and the LSC has 10 teams set to compete in 2016.  Each team will play nine conference games to determine the LSC Champion.

      Three LSC teams were included in postseason play last season, with MSU and A&M-C advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs, and ENMU playing in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl.

 

No.	Team	1st	Total
1	Texas A&M-Commerce	19	269
2	Midwestern State	8	254
3	Angelo State		211
4	West Texas A&M		182
5	Eastern New Mexico		181
6	Texas A&M-Kingsville		141
7	Tarleton State		121
T8	Western New Mexico		66
T8	Oklahoma Panhandle State		66
10	UT Permian Basin	1	49