FARGO, N.D. – Three-time defending national champion North Dakota State is the top-ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision preseason coaches’ poll.
The Bison enter their Aug. 30 season opener at Iowa State having won a school- and FCS-record 24 straight games. NDSU returns 10 starters from last year’s team, though the squad will have a new quarterback and a new head coach.
Chris Klieman was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach when Craig Bohl left for Wyoming. Carson Wentz takes over at quarterback for All-American Brock Jensen, who graduated.
The rest of the preseason poll top five is Eastern Washington, Southeast Louisiana, New Hampshire and Montana. Filling out the top 10 is Coastal Carolina, Towson, Jacksonville State, McNeese State and South Dakota State.