Kearney, Neb. - The MIAA has released the preseason coaches and media polls for the upcoming 2025 football season. 

The polls were revealed Monday morning (July 28) as a part of MIAA Media Day in Emporia. Note head coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team in the coaches' rankings. Head coach Ryan Held, along with running back Isaiah Harris (Millard South H.S.) and defensive end Jack Johnson (Kearney H.S.), are slated to speak to the media at noon. The press conference is available for free at www.themiaanetwork.com.

UNK went 5-6 (3-6 MIAA) last fall, posting a 3-3 record in games decided by eight points or less. The Lopers had a 4-2 road mark and eight all-league selections. 

The Lopers tallied 28 points in the coaches' poll, just a point behind Missouri Western, to rank eighth. Last year in St. Joseph, UNK walked off the Griffons, 24-23. Right ahead of this pair is Northwest Missouri with 41 points. The Blue & Gold downed the Bearcats, 21-14, at Cope Stadium last September.

On the media side, the Lopers tallied 120 points to rank seventh with Emporia (167) coming in sixth. Mo West (107) is behind UNK with Pittsburg State and Central Oklahoma occupying the top two spots in each poll. UCO won the 2024 regular season title with a 8-1 league mark, followed by Pitt (7-2).

Held and his staff have 29 letterwinners returning from a 5-6 squad including 13 starters (four offense, five defense and four special teams). Besides Harris and Johnson, returning veterans include All-MIAA offensive linemen Wyatt Marr (Lincoln Lutheran) and Carter Klein (Pleasanton), wide receiver/punt returner Zane Schawang (Waverly), d-linemen Caleb Freeland (Folsom, Calif.) and Josh Davies-Balogun (Richmond, Texas), linebacker Parker Wise (Kearney H.S.) and defensive backs Jovan Marsh (Robbins, Ill.) and CJ Kuehl (Indianola, Ia.).   

Fall camp begins on Monday, Aug. 4, with the opener set for Thursday, Aug. 28, at Wayne State. 

MIAA Coaches Poll (1st Place) – Points
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. UNK - 28 points
9. Washburn - 21 points
10. Missouri Southern - 9 points
 
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. UNK - 120 points
8. Missouri Western - 107 points
9. Washburn - 88 points
10. Missouri Southern - 46 points