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ST. LOUIS, Mo. | Three-time defending national champion North Dakota State took the top spot in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll announced Tuesday.

A loaded University of Northern Iowa football team was picked third, the 29th year in a row the Panthers have been voted in the top five. South Dakota State slid into the No. 2 spot.

All three of those teams received first-place votes -- UNI had seven -- while Youngstown State came up in fourth by a wide margin, followed by Southern Illinois in fifth. North Dakota State is led by first-year head coach Chris Klieman, a UNI alum.

The MVFC also released preseason all-conference teams with four Panthers earning first-team honors. Running back David Johnson, offensive lineman Jack Rummells, defensive lineman Xavier Williams and defensive back Makinton Dorleant had the first-team nods. Quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen and wide receiver Kevin Vereen Jr. were given honorable mention.

The selection is nothing new for Johnson, who has already been named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List as well as The Sports Network Preseason All-American Team.

The Panthers begin fall practice Aug. 4 and will kick off the season Aug. 30 at Iowa.

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