MCKINNEY, Texas (July 25, 2024) – The University of Texas Permian Basin is predicted to finish in third place according to the 2024 LSC Football Preseason Poll, which was announced on Thursday, July 25, at the 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.

Central Washington University is predicted to win the 2024 Lone Star Conference football championship according to the LSC Football Preseason Poll. CWU totaled 286 points and collected 20 of the 30 first-place votes. The Wildcats were 9-4 overall last season, including going 7-1 in league play with its only loss in conference action coming in a 42-14 defeat at the hands of UT Permian Basin in the LSC Championship game during the final game of the regular season. CWU would then go on to reach the NCAA Division II Championship quarterfinals – winning its first two playoff games on the road.

Angelo State University is picked as the conference runner-up with 260 points and six first-place votes. The Rams, who won the league in 2022, finished 7-3 overall last season and 6-2 in league play. ASU won its final three games and six of its last seven.

Defending conference champion UT Permian Basin is the third-place selection with 244 points and the final four first-place votes. After being picked to finish seventh in the LSC preseason poll last year, the Falcons went 10-2 last season and were unbeaten in league play (8-0). It was the first time in program history for UTPB to win the LSC crown and advance to the postseason.

Texas A&M-Kingsville is predicted to finish fourth with 202 points. The Javelinas went 7-3 overall and 5-3 in conference play last year. Midwestern State (153 points) is the fifth-place selection, followed by West Texas A&M (149 points), Eastern New Mexico (128 points), Western Oregon (118 points), Western New Mexico (68 points) and new league member Sul Ross State (42 points).

All 10 league teams will play nine conference games to determine the LSC champion. SRSU is eligible to win the 2024 conference title but as an NCAA Division II provisional member, it is not eligible for the NCAA postseason.

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 (2011-2012, 2017 and 2021) each have four. Eastern New Mexico has won twice (1991 and 2013). Sul Ross State also prevailed two times (1950, 1965) in its first run as a member of the league.

In addition to the preseason poll, UTPB wide receiver Jeremiah Cooley and linebacker Jalon Rocquemore, who are both returning to the team as graduate students, were selected for the 2024 LSC Football Preseason Players to Watch list. Cooley, who was named the LSC Receiver of the Year last season, caught 26 passes for 522 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023. He had a touchdown catch in six games and led the LSC while also ranking 28th in the NCAA Division II for touchdown catches. Rocquemore, meanwhile, is UTPB's leading returning tackler after ranking second on the team with 58 total tackles last season.

Defending conference champion UTPB will open its new 2024 season at home against Western New Mexico University on Saturday, August 31, at 6 p.m. inside the historic Ratliff Stadium.

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2024 LSC Football Preseason Poll
2024 LSC Football Preseason Players to Watch