Angelo State is predicted to win its second consecutive Lone Star Conference football championship according to the 2023 LSC Football Preseason Poll, which was announced on Thursday (July 27) at LSC Football Media Day at McKinney ISD Stadium’s Community Event Center in McKinney, Texas.
The preseason poll is voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
ASU totaled 241 points and collected first-place votes on all but two of the 27 ballots. Head coach Jeff Girsch’s Rams were 12-1 overall last season, including going unbeaten in league play. ASU reached the NCAA Division II Championship quarterfinals.
Central Washington was picked as the conference runner-up with 198 points and one first-place vote. The Wildcats finished second in the league last season with a 6-3 record (6-4 overall).
Texas A&M-Kingsville was the third-place selection with 174 points, followed by 2021 LSC champion Midwestern State (147 points), West Texas A&M (123 points), Western Oregon (118 points), UT Permian Basin (98 points), Eastern New Mexico (59 points) and Western New Mexico (57 points). WOU picked up the final first-place vote.
Angelo State, Central Washington, Eastern New Mexico and Western Oregon kick off their seasons Aug. 31, while Midwestern State, Texas A&M-Kingsville, UT Permian Basin, West Texas A&M and Western New Mexico begin Sept. 2. All nine league teams will play eight conference games to determine the LSC champion.
LSC football began in 1931. Texas A&M-Kingsville posts a conference-best 27 championships, with its first coming in 1959 and last in 2009. West Texas A&M (1986, 2005-2007 and 2012) has won five LSC crowns. Angelo State (also 1978, 1984 and 1987) and Midwestern State (also 2011-2012 and 2017) each have four. Eastern New Mexico has won twice (1991 and 2013).
2023 LSC FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
| Rank |
Team |
1st |
Total |
| 1 |
Angelo State |
25 |
241 |
| 2 |
Central Washington |
1 |
198 |
| 3 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
|
174 |
| 4 |
Midwestern State |
|
147 |
| 5 |
West Texas A&M |
|
123 |
| 6 |
Western Oregon |
1 |
118 |
| 7 |
UT Permian Basin |
|
98 |
| 8 |
Eastern New Mexico |
|
59 |
| 9 |
Western New Mexico |
|
57 |