AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

2026 Season Preview, Presented by Hansen Ratings
Mary Hardin-Baylor
Mary Hardin-BaylorBelton, TX
Hardin-Simmons
Hardin-SimmonsAbilene, TX
McMurry
McMurryAbilene, TX
East Texas Baptist
East Texas BaptistMarshall, TX
Howard Payne
Howard PayneBrownwood, TX
Schreiner
SchreinerKerrville, TX
2025 Season Recap
Team | W-L (Conf) Rating
1. Hardin-Simmons | 9-2 (5-1) 35.7
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor | 7-3 (5-1) 37.9
3. Howard Payne | 4-6 (2-4) 5.9
4. East Texas Baptist | 4-6 (0-6) 4.3
Postseason Results
Auto Bid
0-1
Hardin-Simmons
At-Large
0-0
Bowl(s)
0-0
W-L
0-1
Conference Summary
12.0
Avg. Rating
55%
Avg. Ret.
52%
Offense
58%
Defense
Players to Watch
YARP/G = Yards Above
Replacement per Game
Dylan Plake - QB, So
McMurry - 28.4 YARP/G
Paul Woodard - RB, Sr
East Texas Baptist - 26.1 YARP/G
Thomas Chandler - WR, Sr
McMurry - 32.9 YARP/G
Will McClintock - TE, Sr
Mary Hardin-Baylor - 12.8 YARP/G
Mike McAfee - OL, Sr
Hardin-Simmons - 21.9 YARP/G
Harrison Foster - DB, Sr
Hardin-Simmons - 52.8 YARP/G
Bryce Neves - DB, Jr
McMurry - 48.2 YARP/G
Kaiden Roden - LB, Sr
Hardin-Simmons - 42.6 YARP/G
Jackson Harris - DL, Sr
McMurry - 37.9 YARP/G
Brandon McGruder - DL, Sr
Mary Hardin-Baylor - 36.9 YARP/G
Games to Watch
Game Score = Measure of
Quality & Competitiveness
11/14: Hardin-Simmons (+5.5) @ Mary Hardin-Baylor Game Score: 29.6 Mary Hardin-Baylor 25.8-20.2 - 64%
9/12: Hardin-Simmons (+8.5) @ UW-La Crosse WIAC Game Score: 28.2 UW-La Crosse 30.2-21.5 - 71%
9/4: Mary Hardin-Baylor (-10.5) @ Rowan NJAC Game Score: 20.6 Mary Hardin-Baylor 32.3-22.1 - 75%
9/19: Endicott (+13) @ Mary Hardin-Baylor CNE Game Score: 18.5 Mary Hardin-Baylor 27.8-14.6 - 80%
10/10: Hardin-Simmons (-17) @ McMurry Game Score: 7.2 Hardin-Simmons 35.5-18.7 - 86%
2026 Season Preview
: New Conference Member : Startup Program
Mary Hardin-Baylor
Projected W-L: 8.7-1.3 (4.4-0.6)
Return
Prod.
Total
52%
(157)
Returning Production
National #157 of 243
Conference 3rd of 6
36%
(208)
Returning Offense
National #208 of 243
Conference 4th of 6
Off.
72%
(45)
Returning Defense
National #45 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
56%
Auto Bid Odds
National #15 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
24%
At-Large Odds
National #9 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
36.8
(10)
Rating
National #10 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
40.7
(28)
Adjusted Offense
National #28 of 243
Conference 2nd of 6
AdjO
3.9
(5)
Adjusted Defense
National #5 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
AdjD
Hardin-Simmons
Projected W-L: 7.3-1.7 (4.1-0.9)
Return
Prod.
Total
45%
(193)
Returning Production
National #193 of 243
Conference 5th of 6
32%
(218)
Returning Offense
National #218 of 243
Conference 5th of 6
Off.
60%
(103)
Returning Defense
National #103 of 243
Conference 3rd of 6
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
37%
Auto Bid Odds
National #26 of 243
Conference 2nd of 6
14%
At-Large Odds
National #27 of 243
Conference 2nd of 6
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
32.9
(15)
Rating
National #15 of 243
Conference 2nd of 6
43.8
(13)
Adjusted Offense
National #13 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
AdjO
11.0
(18)
Adjusted Defense
National #18 of 243
Conference 2nd of 6
AdjD
McMurry
Projected W-L: 5.0-4.0 (2.7-2.3)
Return
Prod.
Total
72%
(47)
Returning Production
National #47 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
80%
(34)
Returning Offense
National #34 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
Off.
63%
(84)
Returning Defense
National #84 of 243
Conference 2nd of 6
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
6%
Auto Bid Odds
National #94 of 243
Conference 3rd of 6
4%
At-Large Odds
National #70 of 243
Conference 3rd of 6
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
14.7
(59)
Rating
National #59 of 243
Conference 3rd of 6
33.8
(65)
Adjusted Offense
National #65 of 243
Conference 3rd of 6
AdjO
19.1
(58)
Adjusted Defense
National #58 of 243
Conference 3rd of 6
AdjD
East Texas Baptist
Projected W-L: 5.3-4.7 (1.8-3.2)
Return
Prod.
Total
52%
(156)
Returning Production
National #156 of 243
Conference 2nd of 6
53%
(147)
Returning Offense
National #147 of 243
Conference 3rd of 6
Off.
51%
(156)
Returning Defense
National #156 of 243
Conference 4th of 6
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
1%
Auto Bid Odds
National #138 of 243
Conference 4th of 6
1%
At-Large Odds
National #108 of 243
Conference 4th of 6
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
4.8
(95)
Rating
National #95 of 243
Conference 4th of 6
32.4
(75)
Adjusted Offense
National #75 of 243
Conference 5th of 6
AdjO
27.5
(127)
Adjusted Defense
National #127 of 243
Conference 4th of 6
AdjD
Howard Payne
Projected W-L: 4.5-4.5 (1.8-3.2)
Return
Prod.
Total
52%
(160)
Returning Production
National #160 of 243
Conference 4th of 6
59%
(120)
Returning Offense
National #120 of 243
Conference 2nd of 6
Off.
44%
(194)
Returning Defense
National #194 of 243
Conference 5th of 6
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #154 of 243
Conference 5th of 6
1%
At-Large Odds
National #117 of 243
Conference 5th of 6
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
4.5
(101)
Rating
National #101 of 243
Conference 5th of 6
32.6
(73)
Adjusted Offense
National #73 of 243
Conference 4th of 6
AdjO
28.1
(133)
Adjusted Defense
National #133 of 243
Conference 5th of 6
AdjD
Schreiner
Projected W-L: 1.4-8.6 (0.2-4.8)
Return
Prod.
Total
-
Returning Production
National -
Conference -
-
Returning Offense
National -
Conference -
Off.
-
Returning Defense
National -
Conference -
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 6th of 6
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 6th of 6
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 6
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-21.9
(204)
Rating
National #204 of 243
Conference 6th of 6
15.7
(201)
Adjusted Offense
National #201 of 243
Conference 6th of 6
AdjO
37.6
(198)
Adjusted Defense
National #198 of 243
Conference 6th of 6
AdjD
Auto Bid = Conference AQ; At-Large = Pool C at-large bid; Bowl = automatic bowl tie-ins (ECAC bowls are not included)
Note: Projections use prelim. returning production. Ranks in parentheses are national, of 243 teams. Data: stats.ncaa.org | Analysis: Logan Hansen