NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25

INDIANAPOLIS - Great Midwest Athletic Conference preseason favorite Ohio Dominican received votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Preseason Coaches Poll that was released earlier this week. 

The Panthers garnered 86 points in the voting in the receiving votes category, good for 31st nationally before the opening kickoff of the regular season. 

Ohio Dominican finished 2016 with a 7-4 record. The Panthers return 45 letterwinners (25 on offense, 20 on defense) from last year's team. The Panthers have 11 players on offense who started at least three games returning from 2016, along with seven on the defensive side of the ball.

Both of Ohio Dominican's Division II non-conference foes are in the poll, as California (Pa.) is ranked No. 8 and Ashland is also receiving votes. ODU opens on the road at Cal at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31, and travels to Ashland for a 7 p.m. kick on Saturday, Sept. 9.

The Great Midwest is competing in NCAA Super Region I for postseason contention this year as an eight-team league. Teams ranked from NCAA Super Region I this year include No. 7 Shepherd (Mountain East), No. 8 California (PA) and No. 9 Indiana (PA), both from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).