NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll Announced

[laker]

The first sacred Thursday - SMSU, Augustana, and USF are all on the road. Guess I'll either have to take the afternoon off and go to Aberdeen, or just not watch football in-person. Joy.

I haven't looked at a master schedule yet, but other than week 1, are there any games during the week?

[SW_Mustang]

Really looking forward to this season. Fall has always been my favorite time of the year. Everyones content with relaxing, ya winter is closer but nothing takes place of a crisp fall day. For what its worth farmers almanac predicts one of the worst winters we have seen.

Thunder I agree with your pre season analysis, anything can happen but I think this year will really solidify which teams are contenders and where they stand in terms of tiers. Gameday can't come soon enough.

Definitely, October is a great month. Playoff baseball, college hockey, the thick of the football season - and I enjoy cheesy horror movies on the slow weekends. Can still attend a football game without dressing like the Michelin Man...

Looking at the schedule, if the Mustangs win two games - that might be "good." (Yuck.) Then again, new coach, a few new key players - something could happen. That's the fun of preseason analysis, it all goes out the window come kickoff.

The first sacred Thursday - SMSU, Augustana, and USF are all on the road. Guess I'll either have to take the afternoon off and go to Aberdeen, or just not watch football in-person. Joy.

[NSU4LIFE]

Really looking forward to this season. Fall has always been my favorite time of the year. Everyones content with relaxing, ya winter is closer but nothing takes place of a crisp fall day. For what its worth farmers almanac predicts one of the worst winters we have seen.

Thunder I agree with your pre season analysis, anything can happen but I think this year will really solidify which teams are contenders and where they stand in terms of tiers. Gameday can't come soon enough.

Feels like fall this morning and it is wonderful.

Also, for what its worth, Farmers Almanac predicted like 200+ inches of snow a few years back and I think we got like 60 or something. There is a reason it is called Mother Nature....she can change moods at any moment and you'll never be able to predict which one she chooses.

[UMary1]

Really looking forward to this season. Fall has always been my favorite time of the year. Everyones content with relaxing, ya winter is closer but nothing takes place of a crisp fall day. For what its worth farmers almanac predicts one of the worst winters we have seen.

Thunder I agree with your pre season analysis, anything can happen but I think this year will really solidify which teams are contenders and where they stand in terms of tiers. Gameday can't come soon enough.

[Thunder]

I'm looking forward to another exciting football season. Hopefully we get some more "NSIC is Drunk" this season like last year but I'm guessing things will return more to "normal" this year. I believe the long COVID layoff and missed season led to the unpredictability of last season. I think the top 5 of Augie, Bemidji, Duluth, Mankato, and USF are the NSIC teams that will be fighting for a postseason spot. Mankato had a disappointing season last year for sure, but they've more than earned the benefit of the doubt that last season was a blip and not a trend. The next tier of Winona, Northern, Wayne, Moorhead, and Mary can be competitive with the top 5 but I don't believe they will have enough to compete for the playoffs. It will be interesting to see what the new era in Winona brings this season. Northern has a lot of holes to fill in order to keep the momentum going from coach Schmidt and Dacotah Bank Stadium's first season. I expect the bottom four of Concordia, Minot, SMSU, and Upper Iowa to have rough seasons. One of them could very well surprise and get close to .500 but 4 wins is probably the absolute ceiling for any of these teams.

[Otis Day]

Looked back at the 2021 pre-season poll where the coaches overwhelming chose Kato going into the season. We all know what happened. That's not a dig on the Mavs, but an indictment of the parity and craziness we saw in the NSIC last season that previously hasn't really existed.

Going into this season, the coaches definitely don't have a clear frontrunner in mind and we see such a tight poll at the top. Feels like the conference is wide open again and the picks all certainly seem fair to me. I don't expect MSU to stay down for long. Can USF stop dropping one or two key games a season? Can BSU and Augie stay on top? Were Mary and Northern one-hit wonders? Hard to believe it's August already. Looking forward to watching my first live NSIC season since 2015. It's good to be back. Let's go Coo.

[SW_Mustang]

As I've gotten older I'm started to dislike summer more and more. Turing into a fall and spring time guy.

Yeah, I get it. Fall is my #2 season and a break from the blistering hot is appreciated. I just loathe winter.

[WSUWarriorFan]

Bittersweet - means winter is coming too. Joy!

But yes, I am ready for college football to come back - aside from the fact that the Stangs will likely follow the preseason predictions. Ugh.

As I've gotten older I'm started to dislike summer more and more. Turing into a fall and spring time guy.

[vikingfaithful]

Mankato has to travel to Sioux Falls for both.

USF has to travel across the street to play Augie.

I just noticed that K-O Stadium should be rocking:

Bemidji (2) on 9.10.22
Northern St. (7) on 9.24.22
USF (4t) on 10.1.22
Mankato (4t) on 10.22.22
Duluth (3) on 11.5.22

Feels like the road to the NSIC championship runs through K-O!

Last season Augustana had all those teams at their places, minus NSU, add Wayne on the road.

[BulldogFan]

Mankato has to travel to Sioux Falls for both.

USF has to travel across the street to play Augie.

I just noticed that K-O Stadium should be rocking:

Bemidji (2) on 9.10.22
Northern St. (7) on 9.24.22
USF (4t) on 10.1.22
Mankato (4t) on 10.22.22
Duluth (3) on 11.5.22

Feels like the road to the NSIC championship runs through K-O!

UMD also going to both Aberdeen and Sioux Falls this year in back to back weeks.

[SW_Mustang]

I love seeing the preseason polls/rankings coming out. We're getting closer and closer to football season!!!!

Bittersweet - means winter is coming too. Joy!

But yes, I am ready for college football to come back - aside from the fact that the Stangs will likely follow the preseason predictions. Ugh.

[Swisher]

Mankato has to travel to Sioux Falls for both.

USF has to travel across the street to play Augie.

I just noticed that K-O Stadium should be rocking:

Bemidji (2) on 9.10.22
Northern St. (7) on 9.24.22
USF (4t) on 10.1.22
Mankato (4t) on 10.22.22
Duluth (3) on 11.5.22

Feels like the road to the NSIC championship runs through K-O!

[oldyellaHer69]

NSIC's South Division going to be a brawl. Who's playing where amongst the big 3?

It always is

[laker]

NSIC's South Division going to be a brawl. Who's playing where amongst the big 3?

I see that Morningside was the #1 preseason pick again. What a dynasty.

[WPHB]

NSIC's South Division going to be a brawl. Who's playing where amongst the big 3?

Mankato has to travel to Sioux Falls for both.

USF has to travel across the street to play Augie.

I just noticed that K-O Stadium should be rocking:

Bemidji (2) on 9.10.22
Northern St. (7) on 9.24.22
USF (4t) on 10.1.22
Mankato (4t) on 10.22.22
Duluth (3) on 11.5.22

Feels like the road to the NSIC championship runs through K-O!