BROWNWOOD, Texas — The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football defeated Howard Payne University on Saturday in Brownwood, Texas, winning a share of the 2025 American Southwest Conference Championship. The Cru overwhelmed the Yellow Jackets 65-9 in its regular-season finale.

UMHB will await its fate in the 2025 NCAA Division III Football Playoff Bracket. The new NPI system does not account for the strength of schedule and only counts Division III opponents in its standings, resulting in the Cru having a 5-2 record in the system.

The Cru beat top NAIA opponents Bethel and Texas Wesleyan this season, but those victories will not count toward standings in the NPI rankings. Hardin-Simmons also won a share of the ASC title and will earn the league’s automatic bid with the advantage against U

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