KANSAS CITY – UNK Football was ranked tenth in the 2024 Preseason Coaches and Media polls, as announced by the conference Tuesday.
The Lopers took tenth in both polls out of ten schools, which has shrunk from twelve schools to ten with the departure of Lincoln University to the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and Northeastern State going NCAA independent for the next couple years.
2023 MIAA Co-Champion Central Missouri was first place in both polls, followed up by Pitt State. Northwest Missouri was ranked third in both polls.
Fourth through sixth was jumbled up between Emporia State, Fort Hays State, and Missouri Western. The coaches poll placed Emporia in fourth place, followed by Fort Hays in fifth, and Missouri Western in sixth. The media poll flipped Missouri Western and Emporia in fourth and sixth, respectively.
Positions seven through ten was a constant in both polls, with Central Oklahoma seventh, Missouri Southern eighth, Washburn ninth, and UNK in tenth.
The Lopers open up the season against in-state rival Chadron State in Chadron on August 29th. The MIAA slate begins on the 7th against Northwest Missouri at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium in Kearney
