ODESSA, Texas — Midwestern State is picked to finish second in the Lone Star Conference race as released Thursday afternoon at the league's media day at the MCM Grande Fun Dome.

The Mustangs are coming off of consecutive runner-up finishes after finishing with a 10-2 record in 2015 advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

MSU received eight of the 28 first-place votes to earn 254 total points just behind conference favorite Texas A&M-Commerce which earned 19 top votes for 254 points.

Angelo State (211 points) is picked to finish third followed by West Texas A&M (182), Eastern New Mexico (181), Texas A&M-Kingsville (141), Tarleton State (121), Western New Mexico (66), Oklahoma Panhandle State (66) and UT-Permian Basin (49 — with one first-place vote).

Texas A&M-Commerce senior running back Richard Cooper is the league's preseason player of the year after rushing for 1,300 yards last season, while West Texas A&M senior safety Hunter Streuling earned top defensive honors making 95 tackles in 2015.

MSU IN PRESEASON POLLS: The Mustangs won LSC titles in 2009, 2011 and 2012. In those seasons, MSU was ticketed to place fifth, fourth and first, respectively. Midwestern went in to one season as the favorite — 2012 — after rolling to a 10-1 record in 2011.

MUSTANGS BLISTERING LEAGUE IN 2000s: Midwestern State has 125 games since the start of the 2000 season. That's 11 more than West Texas A&M as only three schools have won 100 games since the turn of the century — MSU (125), WTAMU (114) and Tarleton State (110).

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: The Lone Star Conference welcome three new teams to the lineup this season including new upstart UT-Permian, Western New Mexico and Oklahoma Panhandle State. MSU whipped WNMU 82-6 in its meeting in 2001 and is 3-0 all-time against OPSU last playing the Aggies in 2000. Panhandle State is a football-only member of the LSC.

MASTERFUL AT MEMORIAL: Midwestern State has won more than 81-percent of its games at Memorial Stadium since the start of the Bill Maskill era (2002) boasting a 61-14 record. The Mustangs play a four-game slate at home including a Family Day matchup with Oklahoma Panhandle State (9/24) and Military Appreciation Day against Eastern New Mexico (11/12). MSU also takes on Angelo State (10/15) and UT-Permian Basin (10/29) in Wichita Falls.

WELCOME BACK DINNER: The 10th Annual Midwestern State Athletics Welcome Back Dinner featuring former Dallas Cowboy Everson Walls is set for Sunday, Aug. 28 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Reserve your seat for $75 at the MSU Athletic Offices. A limited number of complete tables accommodating six people with sponsor acknowledgement remain available and can be purchased for $350. Please RSVP by Aug. 19. For more information, contact Sheri Mummert at (940) 397-4779.

, ,