KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Five-time defending MIAA champion Northwest Missouri has been selected as preseason No. 1 in both the MIAA coaches' poll and media poll.
The Bearcats received 78 points with seven of a possible 10 first-place votes in the coaches' poll, and 333 points with 23 first-place votes in the media poll to become the preseason pick to win the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title.
Washburn was placed as preseason No. 2 in both polls, earning three first-place votes and 71 total points in the coaches' poll while receiving seven first-place votes and totaling 305 points in the media poll.
• The coaches' poll: 1, Northwest Missouri (7) 78 points. 2, Washburn (3) 71. 3, Central Missouri 65. 4, Missouri Western 58. 5, Pittsburg State 51. 6, Missouri Southern 34. 7, Emporia State 33. 8, Truman 32. 9, Fort Hays State 19. 10, Lincoln 9.
• The media poll: 1, Northwest Missouri (23) 333 points. 2, Washburn (7) 305. 3, Central Missouri (5) 281. 4, Missouri Western 252. 5, Pittsburg State 219. 6, Emporia State 159. 7, Missouri Southern 136. 8, Truman 112. 9, Fort Hays State 92. 10, Lincoln 36.
Lopers selected as RMAC favorite
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The University of Nebraska at Kearney was picked first and Chadron State fourth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason coaches' football poll.
UNK, the defending conference champion, was awarded the top spot after receiving six first-place votes. The Lopers are playing their last season in the RMAC before joining the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 2012.
The Lopers were followed by Colorado Mines, CSU-Pueblo, Chadron State, Adams State, Mesa State, Western New Mexico, Fort Lewis, Western State and New Mexico Highlands.
UNI is top choice in Missouri Valley
DES MOINES — Nearly everyone in the Missouri Valley Football Conference believes Northern Iowa will be the team to beat in 2011.
After the way the Panthers finished in 2010, it doesn't feel that way to coach Mark Farley.
Though the Panthers won the Valley title last season at 6-2, they finished 7-5 overall and were knocked out of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs with a 14-7 home loss to Lehigh.
"I think we have to fight back from last season," Farley said.
UNI received 29 of 36 first-place votes in the league's preseason poll of coaches, news media and sports information directors that was released Monday. North Dakota State got six first-place votes and was second behind UNI. Southern Illinois was third with one vote for first.
South Dakota State was picked fourth, three points ahead of Illinois State and four ahead of Indiana State. Western Illinois, Youngstown State and Missouri State rounded out the poll.
— World-Herald press services
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