SAN ANTONIO – The 2017 National Champion Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions football team is predicted to finish first in the Lone Star Conference in 2018, as announced in the preseason poll at the LSC's annual media day Tuesday.
 
The Lions went 14-1 with five playoff victories to win their first NCAA National Championship in 2017. A&M-Commerce went 7-1 in Lone Star Conference play in the 2017 campaign. A total of 43 letterwinners and 14 starters – five on offense and nine on defense – return for the Lions, who closed the season on a 10-game winning streak, which is the longest active winning streak in Division II.
 
The Lions are entering their sixth season under head coach Colby Carthel and are looking to make their fourth consecutive NCAA Division II Championship appearance and sixth straight postseason appearance. A&M-Commerce has a top 10 preseason national ranking in three publications, earning a No. 5 ranking from College Football America Yearbook, a No. 6 ranking from Street and Smith's, and a No. 7 ranking from Lindy's.
 
A&M-Commerce earned 201 points with 13 first place votes in voting conducted across the league's head coaches, sports information directors, and media members. MSU Texas was just behind the Lions with 200 votes and 10 first place votes.
 
MSU Texas quarterback Layton Rabb was named the LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Angelo State defensive lineman Markus Jones was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Season tickets are available for the Lions' six-game home schedule, which kicks off on Thursday, August 30 against Texas A&M-Kingsville in the annual battle for the Chennault Cup and Student Appreciation Night.  General admission seating is available for $60 for the season, with limited chairback season tickets available for $80. Season tickets are available online at WeAreLionsTix.com or by calling Lion Sales and Service at (903) 468-8756.
 
All chairback season ticket holders are encouraged to consider philanthropic support of our 424 talented student-athletes with a gift to the Lion Champions Fund. For information on the LCF, please contact Taylor Phelps at (903) 886-5554.
 
2018 LONE STAR CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
 

Rk	Team (First)	Pts
1	A&M-COMMERCE (13)	201
2	MSU Texas (10)	200
3	Eastern New Mexico	142
4	Angelo State	136
5	Tarleton	130
6	Texas A&M-Kingsville	104
7	West Texas A&M	73
8	UT Permian Basin (1)	57
9	Western New Mexico	37