2016 MVFC Preseason Poll and Team



ST. LOUIS - Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State was tabbed to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference crown in 2016. The Bison have two outright and three shared league titles with an overall record of 71-5 the past five seasons.



This year, NDSU earned 37 of a possible 39 first-place votes and 388 total points in a poll conducted by league coaches, media and sports information directors.



North Dakota State had five players picked to the preseason all-conference team: running back King Frazier , offensive guard Zack Johnson , defensive end Greg Menard , linebacker Nick DeLuca , and free safety Tre Dempsey .



NDSU long snapper James Fisher , defensive tackle Nate Tanguay and strong safety Robbie Grimsley earned honorable mention.



The league is coming off a season in which five teams represented the conference in the playoffs for a second straight year. Northern Iowa, picked second in this year's poll, was one of those five, and the Panthers received the remaining two first-place tallies and 343 total points.

ST. LOUIS - Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State was tabbed to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference crown in 2016. The Bison have two outright and three shared league titles with an overall record of 71-5 the past five seasons.This year, NDSU earned 37 of a possible 39 first-place votes and 388 total points in a poll conducted by league coaches, media and sports information directors.North Dakota State had five players picked to the preseason all-conference team: running back, offensive guard, defensive end, linebacker, and free safetyNDSU long snapper, defensive tackleand strong safetyearned honorable mention.The league is coming off a season in which five teams represented the conference in the playoffs for a second straight year. Northern Iowa, picked second in this year's poll, was one of those five, and the Panthers received the remaining two first-place tallies and 343 total points.

South Dakota State was picked third in this year's preseason poll. The Jackrabbits, who have earned a postseason bid for four straight years, are picked third with 284 total points. SDSU narrowly edged two-time defending co-champion Illinois State in the rankings; ISU received 274 total points.



Youngstown State was picked fifth with 254 total points. The Penguins are seeking their first playoff bid since 2006 under second-year head coach Bo Pelini.



A preseason favorite has claimed the league crown 18 times (in 30 previous polls). North Dakota State was picked to win the league last season.