5-time national champ NDSU tops MVFC preseason poll
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FARGO, N.D. (AP) Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State has been tabbed as the favorite to win this year's Missouri Valley Football Conference title.
The Bison earned 37 of a possible 39 first-place votes in the preseason poll conducted among the league's coaches, sports information directors and select media representatives.
Northern Iowa received the other two first-place votes to finish second in the poll, followed by South Dakota State, Illinois State and Youngstown State.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Rounding out the top 10 are Western Illinois, South Dakota, Southern Illinois, Indiana State and Missouri State.
NDSU captured its fifth consecutive Football Championship Subdivision crown in January with a 37-10 win over Jacksonville State.
This is the fifth straight season that the Bison have topped the conference preseason poll.