UNI Among Six MVFC Teams Starting Season Ranked

The UNI Panthers will begin their season as the nation's 10th-ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), according to the Preseason FCS Coaches poll released on Wednesday (Aug. 5, 2015).

The Panthers are one of six teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) ranked in the top-25 survey, which features teams from nine different leagues. The Big Sky Conference and Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tied for the second-most representatives with four each.

North Dakota State tops the poll and was a unanimous choice at No. 1 after winning its fourth-straight national championship in 2014. Illinois State, which finished second to the Bison last year, was picked at No. 2. Other MVFC teams in the poll are South Dakota State (No. 15), Youngstown State (No. 16) and Indiana State (No. 20).

The six preseason top-25 teams ties a Missouri Valley Football Conference record (2008) and marks the first time the league has held the top two spots in a preseason poll. For STATS FCS Preseason Top-25 Poll, CLICK HERE.

The FCS Coaches survey is based exclusively on a voting panel of head coaches in the FCS under the cooperation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and is administered by the Southern Conference.

The Panthers, who were picked to finish third in the MVFC, will return 14 starters to the field this fall. They open the 2015 season against the Iowa State Cyclones on Sept. 5 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The 7 p.m. game will air live on Cyclone.TV (Mediacom).

Out of UNI's 11 opponents this season, six are ranked in the preseason poll. In addition to the other five MVFC teams, Eastern Washington is ranked at No. 6. The Panthers open their home schedule against the Eagles on Sept. 6. To View UNI's 2015 Schedule, CLICK HERE.

The Panthers are coming off their 17th FCS playoff appearance in 2014 after a record-setting year. UNI set 26 school records last season thanks to an explosive offense and powerful defense that will return to the gridiron in 2015.

UNI led the nation in red-zone offense in 2014, while the defense finished the season ranked in the top-15 in eight statistical categories. Out of the 14 starters that will return this season, six have been named to preseason All-America teams (Michael Schmadeke, Tim Kilfoy, Deiondre' Hall, Isaac Ales, Brett McMakin, Makinton Dorleant).

2015 Pre-season Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Coaches Poll

Others Receiving Votes: Alcorn State 52, Stephen F. Austin 51, William & Mary 43, Cal Poly 42, Northern Arizona 34, Bethune-Cookman 25, North Carolina A&T 24, Jackson State 21, South Carolina State 21, Charleston Southern 14, Sacred Heart 14, Western Carolina 13, Furman 12, South Dakota 12, Maine 9, Bucknell 9, Lehigh 8, Towson 5, Samford 5, Bryant 4, San Diego 4, Yale 4, Central Arkansas 2, Duquesne 2, UT Martin 1.