KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabod football team was picked to finish in eighth place in both the coaches and media preseason polls released on Tuesday at the MIAA Football Media Day at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City.

The Ichabods received 56 points in the MIAA preseason coaches poll trailing defending national champion Northwest Missouri, who had 120 points and 10 of 12 possible first-place votes. Central Missouri was second with 110 points and one first-pace vote. Pittsburg State and Emporia State tied for third with 87 points while Central Oklahoma with 86 points rounded out the top five. Fort Hays State was picked sixth with 80 points with Missouri Western received 62 points for seventh. Following Washburn was Northeastern State was ninth with 31 points followed by Missouri Southern in 10th with 27 points, Nebraska-Kearney with 25 points and Lindenwood with 21 points.

In the media preseason poll, the Ichabods received 217 points finishing in eighth overall. Northwest Missouri had all 39 first-place votes for 468 points. Central Missouri (392) was second followed by Pittsburg State (349), Emporia State (325) and Fort Hays State (316) in fifth. Central Oklahoma (310) was sixth with Missouri Western (264) ahead of Washburn. Lindenwood was ninth (132 points) followed by Northeastern State (117), Missouri Southern (84) and Nebraska-Kearney (68).

The Ichabods will report for practice on Aug. 9 and have their first practice on the field on Aug. 11. The Washburn football media day will be on Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. on the field at Yager Stadium. The Ichabods will open the 2016 season on Sept. 1 playing host to Northeastern State at 6 p.m. The Ichabods are coming off a 5-6 season in 2015. Washburn returns 17 starters overall with seven on offense and defense while losing eight starters from the year before.
 

2016 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (10)          120
2. Central Missouri (1)             110
T3. Pittsburg State (1)              87
T3. Emporia State                    87
5. Central Oklahoma                  86
6. Fort Hays State                   80
7. Missouri Western                  62
8. Washburn                          56
9. Northeastern State                31
10. Missouri Southern                27
11. Nebraska-Kearney                 25
12. Lindenwood                       21

2016 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (39)          468
2. Central Missouri                 392
3. Pittsburg State                  349
4. Emporia State                    325
5. Fort Hays State                  316
6. Central Oklahoma                 310
7. Missouri Western                 264
8. Washburn                         217
9. Lindenwood                       132
10. Northeastern State              117
11. Missouri Southern               84
12. Nebraska-Kearney                68