KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Washburn Ichabods were tabbed No. 9 in both the MIAA preseason coaches and preseason media polls that were released today by the conference office at the MIAA Football Media Day held on the Emporia State campus. The Ichabods will open the 2025 season under first-year head coach Zach Watkins on Aug. 30 hosting former MIAA foe Truman State in Yager Stadium.

The Ichabods are slated to have six starters returning on offense and eight on defense as well as three on special teams for the upcoming season.

Watkins was named the 38th head coach in program history on Nov. 26, 2024 becoming the first Ichabod alumnus to fill the top spot on the Ichabod sidelines in more than 30 years after spending the previous 11 seasons as the co-defensive coordinator on the Ichabod coaching staff.

The Ichabods were 3-8 last season, going 2-7 in the MIAA with wins over Missouri Western and Missouri Southern in conference play while wrapping up the season with a win at Northeastern State. The Ichabods were 2-5 in games decided by less than 10 points last season.

2025 MIAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Central Oklahoma [7] – 78 points
2. Pittsburg State [3] – 75 points
3. Fort Hays State – 62 points
4. Central Missouri – 57 points
5. Emporia State – 50 points
6. Northwest Missouri – 41 points
7. Missouri Western – 29 points
8. Nebraska Kearney – 28 points
9. Washburn – 21 points
10. Missouri Southern – 9 points
[#] - Number of First Place Votes
 
2025 MIAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
1. Pittsburg State [13] – 310 points
2. Central Oklahoma [18] – 307 points
3. Fort Hays State [2] – 271 points
4. Central Missouri [1] – 239 points
5. Northwest Missouri – 215 points
6. Emporia State – 167 points
7. Nebraska Kearney – 120 points
8. Missouri Western – 107 points
9. Washburn – 88 points
10. Missouri Southern – 46 points
[#] - Number of First Place Votes