UNI football: MVFC releases preseason poll/watch list

ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) released its preseason poll and watch list for the upcoming 2025 college football season as voted on by the league’s head coaches, sports information directors and media.

Heading into the 2025 season, the Panthers are predicted to finish eighth in the conference race after finishing the 2024 season in 10th place. Defending FCS National Champions North Dakota State are favored to win the MVFC with 417 points and 39 first-place votes. South Dakota picked up the other three first-place votes and sits in third on the preseason poll.

New in 2025, the MVFC released a Preseason Watch List in place of its normal Preseason All-MVFC Teams in order to better highlight the talent across the 10-team field. A preseason team will be announced in September ahead of conference play. The MVFC Preseason Watch List can be found below.

UNI PANTHERS ON THE MVFC PRESEASON WATCH LIST

*Full MVFC Preseason Watchlist available HERE.

MVFC PRESEASON POLL (Points / First-Place Votes)

1. North Dakota State …. 417 (39)
2. South Dakota State …. 355
3. South Dakota …. 349 (3)
4. Illinois State …. 292
5. Youngstown State …. 211
6. Southern Illinois …. 208
7. North Dakota …. 196
8. Northern Iowa …. 130
9. Indiana State …. 105
10. Murray State …. 47

UNI football action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Football), X (@UNIFootball) and on Instagram (@unipantherfootball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.