For the ninth consecutive year, the University of Minnesota Duluth has cracked the American Football Coaches Association Division II Preseason Poll, checking in at No. 19 in the 2016 rankings which were released today.
The Bulldogs, who were 9-3 overall last season and commenced 2016 preseason camp three days ago, collected 196 points and were just one of four Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schools represented in the AFCA II Top 25 Poll, joining Minnesota State University-Mankato (No. 7), the University of Sioux Falls (No. 23) and Augustana University (No. 25). Bemidji State University was among 29 teams that received votes.
Defending NCAA II champion Northwest Missouri State University (29 of 30 possible first-place votes and 749 points), occupied the No. 1 spot and was followed by the University of West Georgia (the remaining first-place vote and 676 pts.), Grand Valledy State University (658 pts.). Shepherd University (638 pts.), Colorado State University-Pueblo (581 pts.), Ashland University (523 pts.), Minnesota State-Mankato (466 pts.), Indiana University of Pa. (364 pts.) and Henderson State University and Texas & M University-Commerce (both 363 pts.).
The following is a listing of UMD's AFCA II preseason and final poll rankings since 2008:
| Year |
Preseason |
Final |
| 2016 |
No. 19 |
? |
| 2015 |
No. 3Â Â Â Â |
NR |
| 2014 |
No. 3 |
No. 3 |
| 2013 |
No. 11 |
No. 8 |
| 2012 |
No. 2 |
No. 12 |
| 2011 |
No. 1 |
No. 6 |
| 2010 |
No. 4 |
No. 1 |
| 2009 |
No. 3 |
No. 5 |
| 2008 |
No. 22 |
No. 1 |
UMD will launch its 84th season intercollegiate competition on Sept. 1 at Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival Southwest Minnesota State University.
2016 AFCA II Preseason Poll
