KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Washburn Ichabods were tabbed fourth in the MIAA Coaches and the MIAA Media polls released today by the conference office at the 2022 MIAA Football Media Day presented by Seigfreid Bingham Tuesday at the Kansas City Convention Center's Little Theatre in downtown Kansas City. 

The Ichabod football team was 25th in the nation in the final 2021 American Football Coaches Association poll last season after going 9-3 finishing second in the MIAA regular season standings reaching the NCAA playoffs.
 
The top six slots in both polls were the same with Northwest Missouri followed by Nebraska-Kearney, Pittsburg State, Washburn, Fort Hays State and Emporia State. The Bearcats had 10 first-place votes in the coaches poll tallying 119 points while the Lopers had 104 points and one first-place vote and the Gorillas had 100 points and a first-place vote. The Ichabods had 98 points followed by the Tigers gaining 76 points and the Hornets collecting 63 points.
 
Central Missouri and Missouri Western tied for seventh in 58 points followed by Central Oklahoma in ninth with 51 points, Missouri Southern with 29 points, Northeastern State with 22 points and Lincoln with 12 points.
 
Out of 25 MIAA media members and athletic communication specialists who submitted a vote, Northwest Missouri had 296 points with 22 first-place votes, Nebraska-Kearney had 263 points and a first-place vote. Pittsburg State had 237 points and a first-place vote and the Ichabods had 226 points and a first-place vote.
 
The remainder of the media poll was FHSU with 180 points, ESU with 175, MWSU with 156 and UCO in eighth with 136 points. UCM in ninth with 108 points followed up by MSSU with 95 points, NSU with 52 points and Lincoln with 26 points in 12^th.
 
The Ichabods will open the 2022 season in Yager Stadium hosting Lincoln on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.
 
2022 MIAA Football Preseason Coaches Poll
1) Northwest Missouri – 119 Points [10 First-Place Votes]
2) Nebraska Kearney – 104 Points [1 First-Place Vote]
3) Pittsburg State – 100 Points [1 First-Place Vote]
4) Washburn – 98 Points
5) Fort Hays State – 76 Points
6) Emporia State – 63 Points
T7) Central Missouri – 58 Points
T7) Missouri Western – 58 Points
9) Central Oklahoma – 51 Points
10) Missouri Southern – 29 Points
11) Northeastern State – 22 Points
12) Lincoln – 12 Points
 
2022 MIAA Football Preseason Media Poll
1) Northwest Missouri – 296 Points [22 First-Place Votes]
2) Nebraska Kearney – 263 Points [1 First-Place Vote]
3) Pittsburg State – 237 Points [1 First Place Vote]
4) Washburn – 226 Points [1 First-Place Vote]
5) Fort Hays State – 180 Points
6) Emporia State – 175 Points
7) Missouri Western – 156 Points
8) Central Oklahoma – 136 Points
9) Central Missouri – 108 Points
10) Missouri Southern – 95 Points
11) Northeastern State – 52 Points
12) Lincoln – 26 Points