Northwest Missouri tops the American Football Coaches Association's preseason Division II poll.
The Bearcats received 31 of the 32 first-place votes in the balloting.
Two other Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association are in the top 25. Pittsburg State is ranked ninth in the poll with Emporia State tied for 22nd. Central Missouri, Missouri Western and Washburn all received votes in the poll, which was released Monday.
The MIAA season is set to kick off with five games Thursday, Sept. 4.
Truman State of the Great Lakes Valley Conference was also one of the 53 teams to receive votes.