Press Release

Aug. 22, 2007

Football Picked No. 2 in AFCA Preseason Poll

WACO, Texas - Northwest Missouri State football was named No. 2 in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Top 25 poll.

It's the fourth such preseason ranking for the Bearcats leading up to the Aug. 23 season-opener against Arkansas Tech. The AFCA joins D2Football.com, Lindy's Sports Annuals and Street & Smith in honoring Northwest with the No. 2 ranking. The Bearcats once again sit behind Grand Valley (Mich.) State, who was named the preseason favorite by the AFCA.

Also earning preseason recognition are No. 7 Pittsburg State and No. 25 Washburn. Nebraska-Omaha, who the Bearcats are set to play Sept. 8, was picked at No. 13.

Northwest is ranked No. 2 by the AFCA in the 17th straight poll. The Bearcats begin 2007 ranked for the 44th consecutive week in the 37th AFCA poll dating back to the beginning of the 2004 season. The AFCA does not release polls throughout the postseason, but the 37-poll streak does include final poll released after championship game.