The University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs were selected by the league coaches as the overall and north division preseason favorite in the NSIC in 2014.  The Bulldogs received eight first place votes and amassed 215 points, just edging out Minnesota State (212), who garnered seven first place votes and was the coaches’ top choice in the south division. Winona State was picked third overall (189) and received a first place vote, while St. Cloud State (188) was fourth followed by Sioux Falls in fifth (147).
As in the past six seasons, the NSIC football schedule will be broken into two divisions (north/south). Each team will play 11 conference games that will count towards the NSIC Overall Champion as well as seven divisional games that will count towards the NSIC North/South Division Championships. In all, three league championships will be awarded (Overall Champion, North Division Champion, South Division Champion). Ties will not be broken for overall or division champions.

The 2014 season will kickoff on Thursday, September 4 at 6 p.m. when St. Cloud State travels to Minnesota State and Winona State invades Northern State.

NSIC Overall Preseason Coaches’ Poll	Points	North Division	Points
1. Minnesota Duluth (8)	215	1 Minnesota Duluth (7)	48
2. Minnesota State (7)	212	2. St. Cloud State (1)	40
3. Winona State (1)	189	3. Bemidji State	33
4. St. Cloud State	188	4. Northern State	29
5. Sioux Falls	147	5. University of Mary	26
6. Augustana College	145	6. MSU Moorhead	26
7. Southwest Minnesota State	140	7. Minot State University	13
8. Bemidji State	118	8. Minnesota Crookston	9
9. University of Mary	100	South Division	Points
10. Northern State	96	1. Minnesota State (6)	48
11. Upper Iowa	87	2. Winona State (1)	43
12. Concordia- St. Paul	81	3. Sioux Falls (1)	33
13. Wayne State	74	4. Augustana	30
14. MSU Moorhead	73	5. Southwest Minnesota State	26
15. Minot State	34	6. Upper Iowa	19
16. Minnesota Crookston	21	7. Wayne State	16
first place votes in ( )