For the third time since 2000, Valdosta State will begin a season atop the preseason Division II polls. The American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll began 13 years ago- no other team has held that preseason #1 spot more often than the Blazers.

Minnesota State-Mankato comes in at No. 2 with three first-place votes, followed by West Texas A&M, Northwest Missouri State and last year’s national runner-up, Winston-Salem, rounds out the top five.

VSU begins their national title defense on Saturday, September 7 at Fort Valley State.