McKINNEY, Texas -- Midwestern State is picked to finish second in the race for the 2022 Lone Star Conference football championship as released Thursday afternoon at the league's annual media day at McKinney ISD Stadium.

The Mustangs return 43 letter winners and 12 starters from last season squad which won outright LSC title with a 7-3 record going 6-1 in league play.

Angelo State was the pick to win the league title claiming 15 of 27 first-place votes to finish with 257 points, just ahead of Midwestern State which received nine first-place votes for 236 total points.

Central Washington (207 points) is picked to finish third followed by West Texas A&M (198, 1 first-place votes), UT Permian Basin (150, 2 first-place votes), Texas A&M-Kingsville (143), Western Oregon (108), Eastern New Mexico (97), Western New Mexico (57), and Simon Fraser (32).

MSU IN PRESEASON POLLS | The Mustangs won their fifth Lone Star Conference title in 2021 after being picked to finish in a tie for fourth in the preseason poll. MSU also won league titles in 2009 (fifth in preseason poll), 2011 (fourth), 2012 (first), and 2017 (second).

SEASON TICKETS | Midwestern State season tickets are on sale at MSUMustangs.com/tickets at the cost of $75 for six home games this season. 

SEASON OPENER | Midwestern State plays host to Colorado State-Pueblo in its season opener on Saturday, Sept. 3 at Memorial Stadium. The Mustangs are 18-2 in lid lifters during the Bill Maskill era including victories to open the last eight campaigns.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS | Central Washington, Western Oregon and Simon Fraser out of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) join the Lone Star Conference as associate members to bring the total number of football-sponsoring institutions to 10.

11-GAME SCHEDULE, 11 DIVISION II OPPONENTS | Midwestern State is set to play 11 NCAA Division II opponents during the regular season for the fifth time since becoming a D2 member in 1997. The Mustangs advanced to postseason play in each of those four seasons qualifying for the NCAA Division II playoff field in 2006, 2009 and 2015. MSU accepted a bid to play in the Kanza Bowl in 2010.

HOME SWEET HOME | Midwestern State has won more than 82 percent of its games at Memorial Stadium since the start of the Bill Maskill era in 2002 boasting an 83-18 record. The Mustangs play a six-game home slate in 2022 including non-conference matchups against Colorado State-Pueblo and Michigan Tech. MSU also welcomes conference foes Simon Fraser, West Texas A&M, Western Oregon and Angelo State to Wichita Falls.

WELCOME BACK DINNER | The 15th Annual Midwestern State Athletics Welcome Back Dinner featuring former Dallas Cowboy great Dat Nguyen is set for Sunday, August 21 at D.L. Ligon  Coliseum. Reserve your seat for $120 online at www.msumustangs.com/welcomeback. A limited number of complete tables accommodating six people with sponsor acknowledgement remain available and can be purchased for $600. Please RSVP by August 17. For more information, contact Sheri Mummert at (940) 397-4779.

2022 Lone Star Conference Preseason Football Poll

Offensive Preseason Player of the Year | Nathan Omayebu III, Angelo State
Defensive Preseason Player of the Year | J.T. Cavender, West Texas A&M

Place	Team (1st-place votes)	Points
1	Angelo State (15)	257
2	Midwestern State (9)	236
3	Central Washington	207
4	West Texas A&M (1)	198
5	UT Permian Basin (2)	150
6	Texas A&M-Kingsville	143
7	Western Oregon	108
8	Eastern New Mexico	97
9	Western New Mexico	57
10	Simon Fraser	32