FB: American Southwest Conference

[TheChucker]

Saw a rumor on Twitter that UMHB will visit Mars Hill (D2) on September 27.

Very interesting. I've always been curious to see how UMHB stacks up against teams from higher divisions.

That could be an interesting game! I've always thought the best of D3 are as good or better than 90% of D2. It's not a huge jump for programs that value athletics. For example, D3 teams were 3-3 vs D2 last year. A handful of WIAC teams seem to play D2 games each year and they do OK.

[crufootball]

Not on their website but it's official according to Mars Hill, September 27th at 1 PM.

https://x.com/marshill_fb/status/1922683361539100907?s=46

[CruFrenzy]

I like it. Average to above average D2 opponent 1100 miles away from home, now that's a game if you don't show up for you will get absolutely ran through.

I think our non con should be a great test, should tell us a lot about where our program is at right now.

[Reverendbiker]

I think our non con should be a great test, should tell us a lot about where our program is at right now.

Agree 100%. I don't want to hear any more talk about the Cru's weak non con schedule. One D2 opponent, One D3 national powerhouse,and two of the best NAIA teams in the country (one of whom beat us handily last year). Coach better have this team ready to play...

[CruFrenzy]

I think our non con should be a great test, should tell us a lot about where our program is at right now.

Agree 100%. I don't want to hear any more talk about the Cru's weak non con schedule. One D2 opponent, One D3 national powerhouse,and two of the best NAIA teams in the country (one of whom beat us handily last year). Coach better have this team ready to play...

Who is the second NAIA team we are playing?

I must've missed that. Other than Bethel TN.

[Reverendbiker]

I think our non con should be a great test, should tell us a lot about where our program is at right now.

Agree 100%. I don't want to hear any more talk about the Cru's weak non con schedule. One D2 opponent, One D3 national powerhouse,and two of the best NAIA teams in the country (one of whom beat us handily last year). Coach better have this team ready to play...

Who is the second NAIA team we are playing?

I must've missed that. Other than Bethel TN.

Announcement to drop soon.

[TheChucker]

I think our non con should be a great test, should tell us a lot about where our program is at right now.

Agree 100%. I don't want to hear any more talk about the Cru's weak non con schedule. One D2 opponent, One D3 national powerhouse,and two of the best NAIA teams in the country (one of whom beat us handily last year). Coach better have this team ready to play...

Who is the second NAIA team we are playing?

I must've missed that. Other than Bethel TN.

Announcement to drop soon.

I'll play and guess. Texas Wesleyan? They're the only NAIA Top 25 team within a two-state trip.

RANK   INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES]   RECORD   FINAL POINTS
1   Grand View (Iowa) [16]   14-0   350
2   Keiser (Fla.)   12-1   336
3   Morningside (Iowa)   12-2   315
3   Benedictine (Kan.)   11-3   315
5   Montana Western   10-2   287
6   Indiana Wesleyan   11-2   276
7   Northwestern   9-3   270
8   Georgetown (Ky.)   9-3   259
9   St. Thomas (Fla.)   9-2   224
10   Montana Tech   9-3   218
11   Texas Wesleyan   10-1   215
12   Friends (Kan.)   11-2   201
13   Southwestern (Kan.)   11-2   173
14   Dickinson State (N.D.)   10-2   160
15   MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)   9-2   154
16   OUAZ (Ariz.)   8-2   115
17   Baker (Kan.)   9-2   109
18   Concordia (Neb.)   8-2   99
18   Southeastern (Fla.)   7-2   99
20   Dordt (Iowa)   8-2   92
21   Campbellsville (Ky.)   9-2   57
22   Pikeville (Ky.)   6-6   54
23   Saint Francis (Ind.)   8-4   47
24   Southern Oregon   8-3   44
25   Taylor (Ind.)   9-2   25

[UMHB03]

I think our non con should be a great test, should tell us a lot about where our program is at right now.

Agree 100%. I don't want to hear any more talk about the Cru's weak non con schedule. One D2 opponent, One D3 national powerhouse,and two of the best NAIA teams in the country (one of whom beat us handily last year). Coach better have this team ready to play...

Who is the second NAIA team we are playing?

I must've missed that. Other than Bethel TN.

Announcement to drop soon.

I'll play and guess. Texas Wesleyan? They're the only NAIA Top 25 team within a two-state trip.

RANK    INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES]    RECORD    FINAL POINTS
1    Grand View (Iowa) [16]    14-0    350
2    Keiser (Fla.)    12-1    336
3    Morningside (Iowa)    12-2    315
3    Benedictine (Kan.)    11-3    315
5    Montana Western    10-2    287
6    Indiana Wesleyan    11-2    276
7    Northwestern    9-3    270
8    Georgetown (Ky.)    9-3    259
9    St. Thomas (Fla.)    9-2    224
10    Montana Tech    9-3    218
11    Texas Wesleyan    10-1    215
12    Friends (Kan.)    11-2    201
13    Southwestern (Kan.)    11-2    173
14    Dickinson State (N.D.)    10-2    160
15    MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)    9-2    154
16    OUAZ (Ariz.)    8-2    115
17    Baker (Kan.)    9-2    109
18    Concordia (Neb.)    8-2    99
18    Southeastern (Fla.)    7-2    99
20    Dordt (Iowa)    8-2    92
21    Campbellsville (Ky.)    9-2    57
22    Pikeville (Ky.)    6-6    54
23    Saint Francis (Ind.)    8-4    47
24    Southern Oregon    8-3    44
25    Taylor (Ind.)    9-2    25

That's my guess as well, though I could also see it being OUAZ. They always struggle to put together a full schedule just as we do.

Whoever it is, they need to get a move on. It's less than a week until Memorial Day and we still don't have a schedule.

[TheChucker]

That's my guess as well, though I could also see it being OUAZ. They always struggle to put together a full schedule just as we do.

Whoever it is, they need to get a move on. It's less than a week until Memorial Day and we still don't have a schedule.

Yeah, as bad as the Texas D3 football island can be, OUAZ has it much worse. Arizona is a desert when it comes to small 4-year schools. I think AZ Christian is the only other non-D1 AZ school with football.

[crufootball]

I think our non con should be a great test, should tell us a lot about where our program is at right now.

Agree 100%. I don't want to hear any more talk about the Cru's weak non con schedule. One D2 opponent, One D3 national powerhouse,and two of the best NAIA teams in the country (one of whom beat us handily last year). Coach better have this team ready to play...

Who is the second NAIA team we are playing?

I must've missed that. Other than Bethel TN.

Announcement to drop soon.

I'll play and guess. Texas Wesleyan? They're the only NAIA Top 25 team within a two-state trip.

RANK   INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES]   RECORD   FINAL POINTS
1   Grand View (Iowa) [16]   14-0   350
2   Keiser (Fla.)   12-1   336
3   Morningside (Iowa)   12-2   315
3   Benedictine (Kan.)   11-3   315
5   Montana Western   10-2   287
6   Indiana Wesleyan   11-2   276
7   Northwestern   9-3   270
8   Georgetown (Ky.)   9-3   259
9   St. Thomas (Fla.)   9-2   224
10   Montana Tech   9-3   218
11   Texas Wesleyan   10-1   215
12   Friends (Kan.)   11-2   201
13   Southwestern (Kan.)   11-2   173
14   Dickinson State (N.D.)   10-2   160
15   MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)   9-2   154
16   OUAZ (Ariz.)   8-2   115
17   Baker (Kan.)   9-2   109
18   Concordia (Neb.)   8-2   99
18   Southeastern (Fla.)   7-2   99
20   Dordt (Iowa)   8-2   92
21   Campbellsville (Ky.)   9-2   57
22   Pikeville (Ky.)   6-6   54
23   Saint Francis (Ind.)   8-4   47
24   Southern Oregon   8-3   44
25   Taylor (Ind.)   9-2   25

And you win, Texas Wesleyan it is.

https://cruathletics.com/sports/football/schedule

[UMHB03]

While I'd prefer more D3 opponents, this is a very intriguing schedule all things considered. I'm not crazy about going 9 straight games without a bye week, but there are some pretty interesting matchups.

[Reverendbiker]

I think our non con should be a great test, should tell us a lot about where our program is at right now.

Agree 100%. I don't want to hear any more talk about the Cru's weak non con schedule. One D2 opponent, One D3 national powerhouse,and two of the best NAIA teams in the country (one of whom beat us handily last year). Coach better have this team ready to play...

Who is the second NAIA team we are playing?

I must've missed that. Other than Bethel TN.

Announcement to drop soon.

I'll play and guess. Texas Wesleyan? They're the only NAIA Top 25 team within a two-state trip.


And the prize goes to the Chucker, with a neat little piece of detective work.

[HansenRatings]

Ran some numbers on the Cru's non-conference schedule.

NC SOS: 0.976
I would have to dig deeper to crunch the numbers, but this very likely could be best non-conference schedule since 1997 for a team w/ 4 non-conference games. For reference, the rightfully ballyhooed Johns Hopkins non-conference schedule in 2025 is sitting at 0.955, with one fewer game.

Spreads & Win%
vs. Bethel TN (-12.4, 78.4%)
vs. UW-Whitewater (+0.2, 49.5%)
@ Mars Hill (-0.6, 51.3%)
vs. Texas Wesleyan (-15.4, 83.5%)

[TheChucker]

While I'd prefer more D3 opponents, this is a very intriguing schedule all things considered. I'm not crazy about going 9 straight games without a bye week, but there are some pretty interesting matchups.

That schedule should hopefully sell more tickets than usual.

[Pat Coleman]

Ran some numbers on the Cru's non-conference schedule.

NC SOS: 0.976
I would have to dig deeper to crunch the numbers, but this very likely could be best non-conference schedule since 1997 for a team w/ 4 non-conference games. For reference, the rightfully ballyhooed Johns Hopkins non-conference schedule in 2025 is sitting at 0.955, with one fewer game.

Spreads & Win%
vs. Bethel TN (-12.4, 78.4%)
vs. UW-Whitewater (+0.2, 49.5%)
@ Mars Hill (-0.6, 51.3%)
vs. Texas Wesleyan (-15.4, 83.5%)

What about the UW-Oshkosh schedule?