The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches Top 25 preseason poll was announced on Monday, August 16 and the NDSU Bison are ranked third.
Defending national champion Sam Houston is ranked No. 1 along with receiving 18 of the 28 first place votes. James Madison is ranked No. 2 and received nine of the 28 first place votes. National runner-up South Dakota State received one first place vote and is ranked No. 4.
There are five teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference ranked in the preseason coaches poll. They include, No. 3 North Dakota State University, No. 4 South Dakota State University, No. 7 University of North Dakota, No. 10 Southern Illinois University, and No. 16 University of Northern Iowa.
AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes)
1. Sam Houston (18)
2. James Madison (9)
3. North Dakota St.
4. South Dakota St. (1)
5. Delaware
6. Weber St.
7. North Dakota
8. Jacksonville St.
9. Montana
10. Southern Illinois
11. Montana St.
12. Monmouth
13. Central Arkansas
14. Eastern Washington
15. Villanova
16. Northern Iowa
17. Southeastern Louisiana
18. Chattanooga
19. VMI
20. Kennesaw St.
21. UC Davis
22. Richmond
23. Nicholls
24. North Carolina A&T
25. Austin Peay