WACO, Texas – North Dakota will begin the season ranked No. 22 in the AFCA FCS Preseason Coaches’ Poll, which was released Monday morning. The Missouri Valley Football Conference has seven teams ranked in the preseason poll.

Defending national champion South Dakota State has the top spot and 25 first-place votes, while Florida A&M at No. 25 has the only other first-place vote. North Dakota State is No. 2, trailed by South Dakota at No. 5. Southern Illinois is just outside the top-10 at No. 11. Illinois State sits No. 20, while North Dakota (No. 22) and Youngstown State (No. 23) round out the poll for the MVFC.

Last Monday, UND entered the Stats Perform Preseason Top 25 at No. 24.

The Fighting Hawks will kick off the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31, visiting the Cyclones of Iowa State. UND and ISU are slated to square off at 2:30 p.m. (CT) in Ames, Iowa, with the game being televised on FS1.

AFCA FCS Coaches Preseason Top 25
1. South Dakota State (25)
2. North Dakota State
3. Montana
4. Montana State
5. South Dakota
6. Villanova
7. Idaho 8. Chattanooga
9. Furman
10. Sacramento State
11. Southern Illinois
12. Richmond
13. Central Arkansas
14. UAlbany
15. UIW
16. William & Mary
17. UC Davis
18. Lafayette
19. Western Carolina
20. Illinois State
21. Tarleton
22. North Dakota
23. Youngstown State
24. Nicholls
25. Florida A&M (1)