Football | 8/7/2018 3:26:00 PM
>>> 2018 WOU Football Schedule
PORTLAND, Ore. – Returning close to 70 players from a year ago, the Western Oregon University football team was picked to finish third in the conference standings according to the GNAC Preseason Football Coaches Poll, the league announced on Tuesday.
The Wolves received 14 points in the poll while Central Washington, the defending conference champion, collected four of the five first-place votes to take the top spot in the ranking. Central Washington received 24 points after going 11-1 last year and a perfect 8-0 in conference play. The Wildcats are also receiving national recognition, picking up the No. 6 position the College Football America Yearbook's Division II Preseason Poll and No. 11 in Street & Smith's preseason rankings.
Azusa Pacific, which finished third in the GNAC last year, picked up the other first-place vote and four second-place votes to finish second in the poll with 21 points. Humboldt State (11 pts.) and Simon Fraser (5 pts.) rounded out the preseason standings.
All five GNAC teams open the season on Sat., Sept. 1. Three open with home games as Western Oregon hosts Angelo State, Simon Fraser hosts Division III Willamette and Azusa Pacific hosts West Texas A&M. Humboldt State opens at Midwestern State while Central Washington opens at Division I-FCS power Eastern Washington.
| 2018 GNAC PRESEASON FOOTBALL COACHES POLL |
| Rank |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
2017 Record |
GNAC Record (Finish) |
Points |
| 1. |
Central Washington (4) |
11-1 |
8-0 (1st) |
24 |
| 2. |
Azusa Pacific (1) |
7-4 |
4-4 (3rd) |
21 |
| 3. |
Western Oregon |
3-8 |
2-6 (4th) |
14 |
| 4. |
Humboldt State |
8-2 |
6-2 (2nd) |
11 |
| 5. |
Simon Fraser |
0-10 |
0-8 (5th) |
5 |
| Points awarded on 5-4-3-2-1 basis. |
