KANSAS CITY, Mo. — College of Idaho led four Frontier Conference teams in the 2019 NAIA Football Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, which was released Monday.
The Yotes, who finished 6-5 last season after an 0-5 start, are the highest-ranked Frontier team at No. 15. They were also selected to win the conference by both the coaches and the media.
Southern Oregon (No. 20), Rocky Mountain College (No. 23) and Montana Western (No. 25) were also ranked in the top 25, and Eastern Oregon and Montana Tech each received votes, showcasing the Frontier's depth.
Rocky is the league's defending champion, posting a 7-3 conference record last fall. The Battlin' Bears lost in the first round of the NAIA playoffs to eventual champion Morningside (Iowa), which tops this year's preseason rankings. Benedictine (Kan.), last year's runner-up, ranks second, following by Saint Francis (Ind.), Kansas Wesleyan and Saint Xavier (Ill.) to round out the top five.
Dickinson (N.D.) State, which is coached by Baker native Pete Stanton and boasts a number of Montanans on its roster, is ranked ninth. The Blue Hawks host Rocky and first-year head coach Chris Stutzriem in the season opener on Aug. 29.
For the complete top 25 rankings, please click here.
