Texas A&M-Commerce was selected to repeat as the Lone Star Conference football champions according to the 2017 LSC preseason poll announced Thursday.

      The league's preseason poll reflects the opinions of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region.

      A&M-C, who claimed its third straight LSC title with an 8-1 league record last season, earned first place votes on 21 of the 26 ballots to total 229 points.  The Lions were 10-2 in 2016 including a NCAA Division II playoff appearance.

      Midwestern State received two first-place nods to finish second with 192 points following an 8-3 campaign last season.

      Texas A&M-Kingsville ranked third with 177 points in front of Eastern New Mexico (136) and Tarleton State (135).  Angelo State (114), West Texas A&M (97), Western New Mexico (45) and UT Permian Basin (45) rounded out the poll.

      TAMUK, TSU and UTPB each collected one of the remaining first-place votes.

      The season kicks off August 31 and the LSC has nine teams set to compete in 2017.  Each team will play eight conference games to determine the LSC Champion.

      Four LSC teams participated in postseason play last season, with A&M-C and MSU advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs, ENMU playing in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl, and TAMUK in the Live United Bowl.
 

No.	Team	1st	Total
1	Texas A&M-Commerce	21	229
2	Midwestern State	2	192
3	Texas A&M-Kingsville	1	177
4	Eastern New Mexico		136
5	Tarleton State	1	135
6	Angelo State		114
7	West Texas A&M		97
T8	Western New Mexico		45
T8	UT Permian Basin	1	45