Defending National Champion and four-time defending MIAA Champion Northwest Missouri State was a unanimous pick as preseason No. 1 in both the MIAA coaches poll and media polls that were announced at the MIAA Football Kickoff Weekend in Kansas City.
The Bearcats received 81 points with nine of 10 first-place votes in the coaches poll (coaches were not able to vote for their own school), and 330 points with all 33 first-place votes in the media poll to become the unanimous preseason pick to win the conference title.
Nebraska-Omaha was selected as number two in the coaches poll, while Washburn was tabbed No. 2 in the media poll. Missouri Western earned the No. 3 spot in the media poll and was voted No. 4 in the coaches poll. The Griffons received 258 points in the media poll and 61 points in the coaches poll. Numbers five through 10 were the same in both polls. Central Missouri comes in at No. 5, Missouri Southern is No. 8 and Truman State is No. 10.
Click here for the full results.