The Missouri Western State University football team were picked 21st in the D2Football.com Preseason Top 25 Poll which was released today by D2Football.com. The highest D2Football.com preseason ranking for the Griffons was last season when they were 14th. Western opens up the season Sept. 1 vs. Pittsburg State in St. Joseph, Mo. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm.

Three other MIAA schools were in the top 25 with Northwest Missouri State coming in 5th, Central Missouri was 8th and Washburn 22nd.

Kicker, Greg Zuerlein a transfer student-athlete from Nebraska-Omaha was selected to the Preseason All-America second-team. Zuerlein took a medical redshirt last season and was forced to transfer for his senior season after the Mavericks terminated their football program. In 2009 Zuerlein was an AFCA All-America selection and was a D2Football.com All-America second-team selection. He is a two time All-MIAA first team selection and hold numerous UNO school records.

The Griffons are coming off a season where they made their second NCAA Division II Playoff appearances finishing the season 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the MIAA. Western went a perfect 6-0 at home with victories over Mesa State, Lincoln, Pittsburg State, Truman State, Emporia State and Fort Hays State. The Griffons picked up two key road victories over then 15th ranked Washburn by a score of 36-33 on September 18 and against Nebraska-Omaha by a score of 16-14 on November 6.
Click here for D2football.com preseason Top 25.

Click here for D2football.com preseason All-America List.

— MWSU Sports Information —