Football 8/17/2015 2:21:00 PM

Football ranked fifth by AFCA

AFCA Preseason Poll | Full Pads Practice Photo Album

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Northwest Missouri State University football team was ranked fifth in the 2015 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) preseason coaches poll which was released on Monday. Northwest was one of two MIAA schools to earn a preseason ranking with Pittsburg State being tabbed No. 7. The two schools tied for the MIAA conference title last season, going 10-1 in conference action.

Minnesota State earned nine first place votes and was ranked first, followed closely by defending NCAA champion Colorado State Pueblo who had 16 first place votes but trailed in total points. Minnesota-Duluth had three first place votes and was third with 648 points. West Georgia also had three first place votes and was fourth with 632 points. The Bearcats got the lone remaining first place vote and was nine points behind West Georgia with 623 points.

Since the AFCA rankings began, Northwest has been ranked No. 5 22 times in program history. The Bearcats hold a 19-3 (0.863) all-time record when seeded fifth with the last games coming back in 2012.

Northwest was tabbed as the MIAA preseason favorite in 2015 by both the media and coaches. The Bearcats begin the season on Thursday, Sept. 3, against Nebraska-Kearney in Kearney, Neb., at 7 p.m. The 2015 home opener will be on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Bearcat Stadium against Missouri Southern at 7 p.m.

2015 AFCA Preseason Rankings
1. Minnesota St.-Mankato (9) - 14-1
2. Colorado St.-Pueblo (16) - 14-1
3. Minnesota-Duluth (3) - 13-1
4. West Georgia (3) - 12-3
5. Northwest Missouri St. (1) - 10-2
6. Ferris St. (Mich.) - 11-1
7. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) - 11-2
8. Ohio Dominican - 11-2
9. Concord (W.Va.) - 13-1
10. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) - 11-1
11. Bloomsburg (Pa.) - 11-2
12. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) - 10-1
13. Angelo St. (Texas) - 9-3
14. Delta St. (Miss.) - 9-2
15. North Alabama - 9-2
16. Valdosta St. (Ga.) - 10-3
17. Sioux Falls (S.D.) - 11-1
18. Colorado School of Mines - 10-2
19. Azusa Pacific (Calif.) - 10-1
20. Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) - 9-2
21. Harding (Ark.) - 9-2
22. Texas A&M-Commerce - 9-3
23. West Chester (Pa.) - 11-2
24. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) - 6-5
25. Slippery Rock (Pa.) - 9-3

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