The unprecedented five-time defending national champion North Dakota State Bison have been tabbed to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference crown in 2016.

2016 Valley Football Preseason Poll
Team (first-place votes) Points
1. North Dakota State (37) 388
2. UNI (2) 343
3. South Dakota State 284
4. Illinois State 274
5. Youngstown State 254
6. Western Illinois 176
7. South Dakota 146
8. Southern Illinois 124
9. Indiana State 115
10. Missouri State 41

In the past five seasons, NDSU has produced five NCAA Division I Football titles, five-straight MVFC titles (2 outright, 3 shared) and an overall record of 71-5. This year, NDSU earned 37 of a possible 39 first-place votes and 388 total points in a poll conducted by league coaches, media and sports information directors.

The league is coming off a season in which five teams represented the conference in the playoffs for a second-straight year. UNI, picked second in this year’s poll, was one of those five, and the Panthers received the remaining two-place tallies and 343 total points.

South Dakota State is picked third in this year’s pre-season poll. The Jackrabbits, who have earned a post-season bid for four-straight years, are picked third with 284 total points. SDSU narrowly edged two-time defending co-champion Illinois State in the rankings; ISU received 274 total points.

Youngstown State is picked fifth, with 254 total points, as the Penguins are seeking their first playoff bid since 2006 under second-year coach Bo Pelini.

A pre-season favorite has claimed the league crown 18 times (in 30 previous polls). North Dakota State was picked to win the league last season.  Valley Football is celebrating its 32nd season in 2016. In its first 31 seasons the league owns seven national crowns