The MIAA’s coaches and sportswriters are predicting a conference championship for the Central Missouri Mules.

MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy announced the results of both preseason polls during the conference’s football media day Tuesday morning in Kansas City. Eight of the conference’s ten coaches selected the Mules to win the ten-team conference this fall, with the remaining two first-place votes going to Pittsburg State. The Gorillas placed second in both polls, followed by Northwest Missouri State. UCM had 20 of the 26 first place votes in the preseason media poll. UCM and Pitt State were last season’s co-champions, going 9-1 in league play, with the Gorillas defeating UCM 38-37 in the regular season.

Central Missouri’s season begins September 7th at home against Northeastern State of Oklahoma, which is now a non-conference game after the Riverhawks made the decision to go independent in football after going winless in the league last season.