Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team is ranked sixth in the country in the D3football.com Top 25 Preseason Poll. The Cru totaled 488 points in balloting of coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country in that poll. This marks the third preseason poll to rank UMHB #6 in the nation this season.
Defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater grabbed 20 of the 25 first-place votes and 620 total points as the pick to repeat as national champion. Mount Union took the other five first-place votes and 604 total points for #2. Wesley College is ranked 3rd in the nation with 541 points, Linfield College was picked fourth with 512 points and St. Thomas is picked fifth with 496 total points.
UMHB is one of three American Southwest Conference teams ranked in the preseason poll. Hardin-Simmons is picked 15th after totaling 216 points and Mississippi College is the pick at #22 with 107 total points.
The Cru expects to return 49 lettermen and six starters on both sides of the ball this season. UMHB went 10-2 overall last season, posted a 7-1 mark in ASC play and shared the ASC championship with Mississippi College. UMHB advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III National Championships for the sixth straight year before falling to Linfield College. The Cru will kick off the 2010 season with a 1:00 PM road game at Wisconsin-La Crosse on September 11th.
