Northwest Mo., Emporia State, Central Mo., Pittsburg State lead MIAA football poll
Northwest Missouri, the two-time defending NCAA Division II football champion, was once again picked to win the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in preseason polls released Tuesday.
The Bearcats received nine of 12 first-place votes in the coaches poll and 36 of 39 in the media poll. Emporia State, which got five first-place votes combined, was second in both polls, followed by Central Missouri, which received one first-place vote from the coaches.
Northwest Missouri plays host to Emporia State and Central Missouri plays Pittsburg State, picked fourth in both polls, at home when the MIAA season starts Aug. 31.
2017 MIAA preseason football coaches foll
1. Northwest Missouri (9) 118
2. Emporia State (2) 108
3. Central Missouri (1) 106
4. Pittsburg State 88
5. Fort Hays State 83
6. Washburn 71
7. Missouri Western 58
8. Central Oklahoma 51
9. Lindenwood 37
10. Northeastern State 31
11. Missouri Southern 24
12. Nebraska-Kearney 17
2017 MIAA preseason football media poll
1. Northwest Missouri (36) 464
2. Emporia State (3) 421
3. Central Missouri 383
4. Pittsburg State 347
5. Fort Hays State 316
6. Washburn 262
7. Central Oklahoma 227
8. Missouri Western 215
9. Lindenwood 145
10. Missouri Southern 108
11. Northeastern State 102
12. Nebraska-Kearney 52
This story was originally published August 1, 2017 at 11:45 AM with the headline "Northwest Mo., Emporia State, Central Mo., Pittsburg State lead MIAA football poll."