ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2024 Football Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday with the University of Minnesota Morris Cougars being predicted to win the conference championship. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
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#1: Minnesota Morris Cougars (24 Points, 4 First-Place Votes)
The Cougars led the preseason poll with 24 points and four first-place votes from their conference competitors. Last year, Minnesota Morris went 7-4 overall with an undefeated 5-0 record in the conference to win the UMAC Football Championship; their second in program history and their first since 2006.
Advancing to the NCAA football playoffs for the first time since 1981, the Cougars fell 62-7 to the No. 4 nationally ranked UW-La Crosse Eagles in the opening round of the national tournament.
The Cougars have 15 returning starters this fall, with eight on offense and seven on defense.
Head Coach:
Top Offensive Returners:
- Izayah Boss | Sr | RB
- 2x FirstTeam All-UMAC, D3Football.com All-Region First Team
- 2023: 7.1 yards per carry, 13 TD, 922 yards rushing
- Ethan Tang | Sr. | WR
- First Team All-UMAC
- 2023: 46 Receptions, 52.6 yards per game, 7 TD
- Christian Diederich | Sr. | OL
- 3x First Team All-UMAC, 2023 UMAC Lineman of the Year, D3Football.com All-Region First Team
- 2023: 205.6 per game rushing, 357.9 yards per game
Top Defensive / Special Teams Returners:
- Chayce Meyer | Jr. | DL
- 2x UMAC Defensive Player of the Year, 2x D3Football.com Third Team All-Region
- 2023: 9 Sacks, 20 TFL, 50 Tackles
- Alex Emmrich | Sr. | LB
- 3x All-UMAC, CSC Academic All-District
- 2023: 108 Total Tackles, 54 Solo Tackles, 3 PD
- Gregory Ohman | Jr. | LB
- Second Team All-UMAC, CSC Academic All-District
- 2023: 127 Total Tackles, 11 TFL, 85 Solo Tackles
#2: Northwestern Eagles (20 Points, 2 First-Place Votes)
The University of Northwestern Eagles placed second in the preseason poll with 20 points and the remaining two first-place votes. UNW placed second in the regular season last spring with a 4-1 UMAC record while going 6-4 overall.
Of the 14 players who scored points for UNW in 2023, 12 return in 2024.
Head Coach:
Top Offensive Returners
- Beau Burk | Sr. | WR
- 2023 UMAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, 3x First Team All-UMAC, 4x UMAC Player of the Week, 2x First Team All-NCCAA, UNW School Records for Single-Game Receiving Yards (292) and Single-Season Receiving Yards (1,250)
- 2023: 84 rec, 1,250 rec yards, 8 total TD
- Caden Cantrell | Jr. | QB
- 2x First Team All-UMAC, 2x UMAC Player of the Week, UNW School Record for Single-Game Passing Yards (466)
- 2023: 2,217 pass yards, 15 total TD, 60% completion %
- Luke Ainsley | Jr. | OL
- 2023 First Team All-UMAC, 2022 Second Team All-UMAC, 2023 Second Team All-NCCAA
Top Defensive / Special Teams Returners:
- Luke Malamisuro | Sr. | DB
- 2x First Team All-UMAC, 1x Second Team All-UMAC, 1x UMAC Player of the Week, 2022 Second Team All-NCCAA
- 2023: 4 INT, 2 TD (1 INT, 1 PR) 12 PD
- Jayden Goodwin | Jr. | LB
- 2023 First Team All-UMAC, 2022 Second Team All-UMAC, 2x UMAC Player of the Week
- 2023: 79 tackles, 2 INT, 2 FF
- Jeffrey Markvicka II | Sr. | DL
- 2023 Second Team All-UMAC
- 2023: 4.5 sacks, 41 tackles, 6.5 TFL
#3: Greenville Panthers (19 Points)
The Greenville University Panthers took third in the preseason poll with 19 points. Greenville finished tied for third in the 2023 regular season with a 2-3 conference record, going 5-5 overall.
The Panthers led the UMAC in points per game with 33.5 and points allowed at 22.5 in 2023.
Head Coach:
Top Offensive Returners:
Top Defensive / Special Teams Returners:
Tied #4: Crown Polars (10 Points)
The Crown College Polars tied the Martin Luther Knights for fourth in the preseason poll with 10 points. Last year, Crown finished tied for fifth in the UMAC with a 1-4 conference record, going 1-8 overall.
Head Coach:
Top Offensive Returners:
Top Defensive / Special Teams Returners:
Tied #4: Martin Luther Knights (10 Points)
The Martin Luther College Knights tied the Crown Polars for fourth in the preseason poll with 10 points. MLC also tied for third in the 2023 regular season with a 2-3 UMAC record and a 2-8 overall record.
Head Coach:
Top Offensive Returners:
Top Defensive / Special Teams Returners:
- Thomas Balge | Jr. | LB/S
- 2023 First Team All-UMAC
- 2023: Led the UMAC with 110 tackles, 7 pass breakups
- Joey Ehlke | Sr. | LB
- 2022, 2023 First Team All-UMAC
- 2023: 66 tackles (2nd on team), 10 pass breakups
- Jeremiah Stanton | Jr. | CB
- 2023 First Team All-UMAC
- 2023: Led the UMAC with five interceptions, 27 tackles, 8 pass breakups
#6: Westminster Blue Jays (7 Points)
The Westminster College Blue Jays round out the preseason poll with seven points. Westminster finished tied for fifth in the conference last year with a 1-4 UMAC record while going 1-8 overall.
The Blue Jays ranked first in the UMAC last season in passing defense (191.2) and red zone defense (66.7%).
Head Coach:
Top Offensive Returners:
Top Defensive / Special Teams Returners:
- Garrett Burger | Sr. | DL
- Team Captain
- 2023: 30 tackles, 2 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss
- Darvin Fowler | So. | DL
- 2023 Second Team All-UMAC
- 2023: 32 tackles, 6 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss
- Deacon Steadman | Sr. | LB
- 2023 UMAC Individual Sportsmanship Award
- 2023: 52 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 takeaways
2024 UMAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Minnesota Morris | 24 (4)
2. Northwestern | 20 (2)
3. Greenville | 19
t4. Crown | 10
t4. Martin Luther | 10
6. Westminster | 7
The 2024 football regular season opens on Saturday, September 7. The team with the best record in the conference will win the UMAC Championship and receive the UMAC’s automatic qualifying bid to the 2024 NCAA DIII Football Championship to compete in the national tournament.