Western Athletic Conference

Tarleton added Jake Stone to the coaching staff to serve as outside linebackers coach. Stone arrives in Stephenville after spending 11 years as a coach at Tulane. The Green Wave alum spent the last three years as a defensive analyst after serving four years as a graduate assistant, including three years with the defense and one season with recruiting. Stone was a student assistant during his undergraduate career.

Abilene Christian released its 2023 non-conference schedule, which features two games against FBS competition. The Wildcats open the season on Thursday, Aug. 31, at home against Northern Colorado. ACU has raised the difficulty level of its schedule this year with a home game against FCS semifinalist UIW and road games against FBS foes North Texas and Texas A&M. 

Lone Star Conference

Angelo State announced its 2023 schedule, highlighted by a non-conference rematch with Colorado School of Mines. The defending LSC champions open the season on the road against West Alabama on Thursday, Aug. 31, before returning home to meet the Orediggers for the fourth time in the last three years. ASU is 1-2 in those previous encounters, with both losses in the Division II playoffs. 

Midwestern State head coach Bill Maskill has filled two more positions on his coaching staff in preparation for spring practice. Veteran defensive coach Michael Vite will serve as defensive line coach for the Mustangs. Vite most recently served as defensive coordinator at Lane College, with previous stops at Texas Southern and Sul Ross State. DuMaurier Jordan is the new defensive backs coach at MSU following a two-year stint in the same position with Ottawa (Ariz.) under the tutelage of Mike Nesbitt.

Texas A&M-Kingsville announced most of its 2023 schedule, with one home game expected to be announced soon for Week 2. The Javelinas hope to build off a 2022 campaign that saw them win their first seven games before ending the season with a five-game losing streak, including a loss to East Central in the Fun Town RV Heritage Bowl. TAMUK will need to traverse through challenges at the end of the season in 2023, with three of its final four games on the road, including trips to Midwestern State, Eastern New Mexico, and Western Oregon.