Northwest named overwhelming preseason favorite in MIAA

Both and coaches and media have picked the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats to repeat as football champions in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), in voting conducted Monday as part of the conference’s media day activities in Kansas City, Kansas.

The defending Division 2 national champions, out of Maryville, Missouri, received 49 of 51 combined first place votes in the polls, with Central Missouri (Warrensburg, MO) receiving one vote in the coaches poll, as the Mules earned the #2 spot in both polls heading into the 2016 season.

There was a split in opinions as it pertains the third spot in the poll, as the coaches slid the way of both Pittsburg State (Pittsburg, KS) and Emporia State (Emporia, KS), who tied for the three spot.  The media put Pitt State third, followed by Emporia.

Deeper in the coaches poll, Central Oklahoma is fifth and Fort Hays State sixth, with Missouri Western seventh.  Fort Hays is fifth in the media poll, followed by Central Oklahoma and Missouri Western.

‘The MIAA football season kicks off on Thursday, September 1st, highlighted by Northwest Missouri State playing at Emporia State and Central Missouri at Pittsburg State.

2016 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

Northwest Missouri (10) – 120

Central Missouri (1) – 110

Pittsburg State – 87

Emporia State – 87

Central Oklahoma – 86

Fort Hays State – 80

Missouri Western – 62

Washburn – 56

Northeastern State – 31

Missouri Southern – 27

Nebraska-Kearney – 25

Lindenwood – 21

2016 MIAA Preseason Media Poll

Northwest Missouri (39) – 468

Central Missouri – 392

Pittsburg State – 349

Emporia State – 325

Fort Hays State – 316

Central Oklahoma – 310

Missouri Western – 264

Washburn – 217

Lindenwood – 132

Northeastern State – 117

Missouri Southern – 84

Nebraska-Kearney – 68