North Dakota State has been picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference crown in 2013. NDSU, the defending national champion, has won 28 of its past 30 games (going 14-1 each year). The Bison were a unanimous choice to repeat, earning 39 of a possible 39 first-place votes, in a poll conducted by league coaches, media and sports information directors. The Bison return 18 total starters from a team that went 14-1 overall and 7-1 in the conference last year.
South Dakota State is picked second in the poll after finishing in second place and representing the league in the FCS playoffs a year ago. SDSU returns 15 starters from last year’s 9-4 team. Perennial FCS power UNI is picked third in the poll after going 5-6 last year. Before falling from the Top 25 rankings last year in October, the Panthers had been ranked among the nation’s elite for a league-record 99-straight weeks.
All-America safety Caleb Schaffitzel (Jr., Fair Grove, Mo.) and wide receiver Dorian Buford (Sr., St. Louis, Mo.), both returning first-team all-conference players, were tabbed to the Valley Football preseason first team, while defensive lineman Anthony Grady (Sr., Texarkana, Ark.) earned honorable mention distinction on the team. The team was voted on by conference head coaches, media and sports information directors and includes 39 total players.
2013 Valley Football Preseason Poll
1. North Dakota State (39) 390
2. South Dakota State 323
3. UNI 269
4. Illinois State 264
5. Youngstown State 253
6. Indiana State 197
7. Southern Illinois 188
8. Missouri State 123
9. Western Illinois 77
10. South Dakota 61