McMurry University has rejoined the American Southwest Conference for athletic competition beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.

McMurry will join Hardin-Simmons University once again as members of the same athletic conference. McMurry previously was a member of the American Southwest Conference before joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2024. 

According to a news release, the move was imperative for the ASC, which needed to add two or more schools to join the conference for football by the start of the 2026 season in order to preserve the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

“After careful consideration, McMurry University has determined that rejoining the American Southwest Conference best serves our scholar-athletes and the future of our athletics program,” McMurry University President Lynne Murray said.

Beginning in 2026, the American Southwest Conference will be comprised of the following schools:

• East Texas Baptist University
• Hardin-Simmons University
• Howard Payne University
• McMurry University
• Schreiner University
• University of Mary Hardin Baylor