FARGO, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota State University is the unanimous pick to repeat as Missouri Valley Football Conference champion. The Bison got all 39 first-place votes in the preseason poll of league coaches, media and sports information directors. NDSU has won back-to-back Football Championship Subdivision titles.

NDSU is followed in the poll by South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Illinois State and Youngstown State. The bottom five, in order, are Indiana State, Southern Illinois, Missouri State, Western Illinois and South Dakota.