Mount Union's football team topped both Ohio Athletic Conference media and coaches preseason polls announced Wednesday at the conference football media day at Ohio Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus.

The Purple Raiders, the preseason No.1 pick in the nation by USA Today, went 14-1 last season, won the OAC championship and advanced to the Stagg Bowl, national championship game, for a fifth straight season. Mount Union has won the last 18-straight and 21 OAC football titles overall.

The football team reports back to campus on Aug. 18 and starts practice on Aug. 19 with the season opener Sept. 11 at 2 p.m. against The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Wisconsin. The game will begin Larry Kehres' 25th season as Mount Union head coach and he has a 289-22-3 overall record.

OAC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Mount Union (9) - 81
2. Ohio Northern - 71.5 (0.5)
3. Otterbein - 63.5 (0.5)
4. Capital - 56
5. Heidelberg - 43
6. Muskingum - 41
7. Baldwin-Wallace - 34
8. John Carroll - 31
9. Marietta - 19
10. Wilmington - 10

OAC Preseason Media Poll
1. Mount Union (34) - 340
2. Ohio Northern - 299
3. Otterbein - 274
4. Capital - 197
5. Heidelberg - 176
6. John Carroll - 158
7. Muskingum - 154
8. Baldwin-Wallace - 145
9. Marietta - 78
10. Wilmington - 49

First Place votes in parenthesis

courtesy of Leonard Reich, Sports Information Director