Coaches’ Poll Pl. School (First-place votes) Pts. 1. Sam Houston State (8) 98 2. Southeastern Louisiana (1) 86 3. McNeese State (1) 79 4. Stephen F. Austin 73 5. Northwestern State 60 6. Central Arkansas (1) 57 7. Abilene Christian 49 8. Lamar 46 9. UIW 26 10. Nicholls 16 11. Houston Baptist 15 Sports Information Directors’ Poll Pl. School (First-place votes) Pts. 1. Sam Houston State (9) 99 2. Stephen F. Austin 87 3. Southeastern Louisiana 77 4. McNeese State (1) 75 5. Central Arkansas (1) 66 6. Northwestern State 51 7. Abilene Christian 48 8. Lamar 41 9. UIW 25 10. Nicholls 20 11. Houston Baptist 12

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Sam Houston State, which won its sixth league title last season, was picked as the favorite heading into the 2015 season as voted on by the league’s coaches and sports information directors, the league announced Wednesday at its annual media day at L’auberge Resort.Sam Houston was the top pick by both the coaches and the SIDs, receiving eight first-place votes and 98 points total in the coaches’ poll and nine first-place votes and 99 points in the SID poll. Southeastern Louisiana, co-champions with Sam Houston last season, earned one first-place vote from the coaches along with McNeese State and Central Arkansas. In the SID poll, the Cowboys and Bears split the remaining two first-place tallies. Coaches and SIDs could not vote for their own team.The Bearkats, who posted a 7-1 mark in conference play last season, return 21 starters and 54 lettermen, including the preseason all-conference quarterback junior Jared Johnson and sophomore defensive end P.J. Hall, the reigning conference freshman of the year. The Bearkats reached the semifinals last season for the third time in four years. Nine offensive starters return for Sam Houston, which also returns 10 defenders and two special teams player.Southeastern Louisiana, which advanced to the Division I postseason for the second consecutive years, was picked second in the coaches’ poll, receiving 86 points, and third in the SID poll, picking up 77 points. The Lions return 13 starters and 46 letterwinners to a team that shared the conference crown with Sam Houston at 7-1 in league play. Leading the way for Southeastern is senior running back/return specialist Xavier Roberson, a preseason all-conference selection.Stephen F. Austin, which tied for third last season at 5-3, was tabbed second by the SIDs with 87 points and fourth by the coaches with 73 points. The Lumberjacks, who returned to the postseason last year for the seventh time and first since 2010, return 41 letterwinners, including 14 starters. The Lumberjacks will be led offensively by quarterback Zach Conque, last year’s newcomer of the year.McNeese State was slated third by the coaches with 79 points and fourth by the SIDs with 75 points. The Cowboys, who have not posted a losing season since 2004, return 17 starters and 64 letterwinners. McNeese tied for sixth last season at 4-4 and will be led by dual-threat quarterback Daniel Sams, who paces the Cowboys in rushing last season after splitting time underneath center.Northwestern State was slotted fifth by the coaches and sixth from the SIDs after earning 60 and 51 points, respectively. The Demons, who ended 2014 at 4-4 in conference, return 15 starters and 53 letterwinners, including all-conference wide receiver/return specialist Ed Eagan, who was second in the FCS last season with 180.5 all-purpose yards per game.Central Arkansas earned 66 points from the SIDs to finish fifth in the polling while garnering 57 points from the coaches to place sixth. The Bears finished 5-3 in Southland play last season. Led by all-conference defensive end Jonathan Woodard, the league’s top defensive player last season, UCA returns 16 starters and 56 letterwinners.Rounding out the final five spots in both polls is Abilene Christian followed by Lamar, UIW, Nicholls and Houston Baptist.