A pair of historic teams once again top the rankings from MIAA Football Media Day in Topeka, KS on the Washburn University campus.
Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State finished No. 1 and 2, respectively, in the conference's media poll with the Bearcats netting 19 of 30 first place votes.
The coaches poll had the two squads flipped, with Pitt first and Northwest second. The predictions are fitting after the two perennial contenders shared the MIAA title in 2025.
Second-year Bearcat head coach John McMenamin tipped his cap to last year's Northwest squad that led the program's resurgence, but says nothing is a given this fall.
"It's a quick trip from the penthouse to the outhouse," McMenamin said Monday morning at media day. "If you don't stay on top of things and how you're doing, you can stumble."
"We don't take anything for granted. I think we have to constantly evolve on what we are and who we are."
The Bearcats lost key pieces at every level of the offense and defense from a season ago. Eleven total starters return from the squad that sent the program back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
While there are holes to fill, the Bearcat coaching staff showed the ability to mold young student-athletes into contributors throughout the previous fall. Now those players are stepping into leadership roles.
"The guys are taking over and making it their team and putting their fingerprints on it, and developing the care-factor, how much they care about each other," McMenamin said of the upperclassmen. "That's what makes the great teams, and I think we've got a chance at that. These guys aren't finger-pointers, they want to find solutions. That's what the summer is about."
Northwest begins fall camp August 4. They open the season on the road August 29 against Texas A&M Kingsville at 7pm. It's one of three road night games on the slate this season.
Full audio from Northwest Missouri State's time on the stage at MIAA Media Day featuring McMenamin, Kaleb McCullough and Holden Zigmant is available above.
MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Northwest (19)
2. Pittsburg State (10)
3. Central Oklahoma (1)
4. Central Missouri
5. Fort Hays State
6. Emporia State
7. Nebraska Kearney
8. Washburn
9. Missouri Western
10. Missouri Southern
MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Pittsburg State (7)
2. Northwest (3)
3. Central Oklahoma
4. Fort Hays State
5. Central Missouri
6. Emporia State
7. Nebraska Kearney
8. Washburn
9. Missouri Western
10. Missouri Southern
