The Montana State Bobcats are favored to win the Big Sky Conference regular-season football title this season, according to a poll of league coaches and media that cover the conference.
Eastern Washington was picked second, Montana third and Cal Poly fourth in both polls, which were released Monday.
Montana State has shared in the past three league titles, posting a 7-1 conference mark each year.
The Bobcats received 31 first-place votes and 596 points in the media poll, followed by Eastern Washington with 12 first-place votes and 566 points. Montana drew three first-place votes and 492 points.
In the coaches’ poll, MSU received eight first-place votes, EWU received three and Montana two.
The top 10 teams were identical in both polls. Northern Arizona is ranked fifth, followed by Sacramento State, North Dakota, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah and Portland State. UC Davis and Weber State split 11th and 12th, while Idaho State is ranked last in both polls.
Bobcat quarterback DeNarius McGhee of Euless, Texas, was named the preseason offensive player of the year while Griz linebacker Jordan Trip of Missoula received the preseason defensive honor. Both earned conference player of the year honors after the 2012 season.
McGhee was one of four MSU players named to the preseason all-conference team while Tripp was one of three Montana players.
The pre-season all-conference team also includes Montana State running back Cody Kirk of Frenchtown, wide receiver Tanner Bleskin of Great Falls and defensive end Brad Daly of Helena. Offensive tackle Danny Kistler of Seattle and defensive end Zack Wagenmann of Missoula join Griz teammate Tripp on the 30-player team.
One of the top three teams in the preseason polls has won at least a share of the Big Sky title since 1995.
Big Sky Conference Preseason Football Polls
First place votes in parentheses, followed by total poll points
MEDIA POLL
1. Montana State (31) – 596
2. Eastern Washington (12) – 566
3. Montana (3) – 492
4. Cal Poly (1) – 466
5. Northern Arizona – 457
6. Sacramento State (1) – 374
7. North Dakota – 309
8. Northern Colorado – 239
9. Southern Utah – 228
10. Portland State – 212
11. UC Davis – 191
12. Weber State – 164
13. Idaho State – 74COACHES POLL
1. Montana State (8) – 140
2. Eastern Washington (3) – 130
3. Montana (2) – 111
4. Cal Poly – 109
5. Northern Arizona – 104
6. Sacramento State – 88
7. North Dakota – 66
8. Northern Colorado – 63
9. Southern Utah – 57
10. Portland State – 49
11. Weber State – 48
12. UC Davis – 37
13. Idaho State – 12