vcsuhelmet(CSi) The 2016 Dacotah Bank/North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Football Coaches Preseason Poll was announced Monday.  Dickinson State (N.D.) is the preseason coaches’ pick to win this year’s football title.  The preseason poll was voted by the league’s head coaches.

The Blue Hawks registered four first-place votes and collected 45 points in the NSAA Football Coaches’ Preseason Poll.  Dickinson State won the 2015 Dacotah Bank/NSAA Football conference title last season with a 5-1 record and qualified for the NAIA Football Championship Series, losing to Montana Tech in the opening round. Dickinson State was also voted into The NAIA Preseason Top 25 National Poll, The Blue Hawks were ranked #21.

Valley City State (N.D.) finished second in the poll with 39 points.  Dakota State (S.D.) picked up the final three first-place votes and earned 37 points to finish third in the poll.  The Vikings and Trojans finished tied for second-place with a 4-2 record in the conference standings last season.

Jamestown (N.D.) was predicted to finish fourth in the preseason poll after recording 28 points.  Presentation (S.D.) edged Mayville State (N.D.) 18-17 to finish fourth.  Waldorf (Iowa) placed seventh with 12 points.

To earn an automatic bid to the NAIA Football Playoffs, a team need to be in the ‘Top 20′ in the national poll and win the conference title.

Jamestown and Valley City State will kick off the football season on Aug. 25 in Valley City, N.D.  The following day (Aug. 26), Dakota State will begin their season at Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  Two NSAA teams will open season on Aug. 27 with Waldorf visiting Briar Cliff (Iowa) and Dickinson State taking on Montana Western.

Both Mayville State and Presentation football teams will open season on Sept. 3.

The NSAA conference season kicks off on Sept. 24 with Jamestown visiting Dakota State, Valley City State hosting Waldorf and Presentation traveling to Dickinson State.