Kearney, Neb. - The MIAA has released preseason football coaches and media polls for the upcoming 2021 season. 

The polls were released Tuesday morning as a part of MIAA Media Day in Kansas City. Note head coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team in the coaches' poll. 
 
Head coach Josh Lynn, along with right tackle Corey Hoelck (Giltner) and outside linebacker Travis Holcomb (Cairo), spoke to media at 10:15 a.m. The press conference with UNK will be available later today at www.themiaanetwork.com (go to the on-demand option). Also visit the MIAA social media channels for additional interviews with Hoelck and Holcomb. The 2021 MIAA Football Preseason Guide can be found HERE. 

Coming off a season a 2019 season in which it went 7-5 and won the Mineral Water Bowl, and then went 2-0 in a short 2020 season, UNK is fourth on the coaches' poll and fifth in the media poll. These are the highest preseason rankings the Lopers have had in these polls since joining the conference in 2012. Kearney was sixth, respectively, in both 2012 polls.

"We took over in 2017 and had some earlier success and started to get where we needed to be. That carried over to 2019 when we ended up going 6-5 and beating a good Winona State team in the Mineral Water Bowl," Lynn said. "(Our momentum again) carried over to the 2020 season where we were fortunate enough to play two fall games, win both and then have a scrimmage in the spring. We have a group of young men who've been in this program quite a while now. It's an exciting time for UNK football."
 
Fall camp begins on Monday, Aug. 9, with the season-opener coming at home against Missouri Southern on Thursday, Sept. 2.

"If we had a different coaching staff, I don't think you see as many players come back, Hoelck said. "I think we have all but two from our senior class coming back and I think that goes to show our relationship with football and that we believe in this program and what we want to finish out for Coach Lynn and the staff and the town of Kearney."

MIAA Coaches Poll (1st Place) – Points
     1.   Northwest Missouri (10) – 120
  T-2.   Central Missouri (1) – 105
  T-2.   Fort Hays State (1) – 105
     4.    Nebraska Kearney – 86
     5.    Missouri Western – 71
     6.    Washburn – 69
     7.    Pittsburg State – 66
     8.    Emporia State – 55
     9.    Central Oklahoma – 52
T-10.   Missouri Southern – 24
T-10.   Northeastern State – 24
    12.   Lincoln – 15

MIAA Media Poll (1st Place) – Points
     1.    Northwest Missouri (10) – 142 points
     2.    Central Missouri (1) – 124 points
     3.    Fort Hays State (1) – 120 points
     4.    Missouri Western – 99 points
     5.    Nebraska Kearney – 98 points
     6.    Pittsburg State – 91 points
     7.    Washburn – 70 points
     8.    Central Oklahoma – 62 points
     9.    Emporia State – 56 points
    10.   Missouri Southern – 33 points
    11.   Northeastern State – 25 points
    12.   Lincoln – 16 points