VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – Valley City State University has been picked 2nd in the NSAA Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Monday by the conference office.
The Vikings received 28 poll points and 1 first-place vote as they were picked to finish behind defending conference champion Dickinson State.
Valley City State posted an 8-2 overall record last season and went 6-2 in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) to finish second in the 2021 NSAA standings. The Vikings begin the 2022 season Aug. 25 at rival Jamestown. VCSU then plays its home opener against Concordia College on Sept. 1, which is also the 4th Annual VCSU Ag Bowl.
The Vikings are scheduled to play six conference games this season, beginning with an Oct. 8 home game against Dakota State University.
Dickinson State received 36 poll points and six first-place votes in this week’s preseason poll. VCSU and Waldorf University both received 28 points to tie for second, followed by Dakota State, Mayville State, Presentation College and Iowa Wesleyan.
To earn an automatic bid to the NAIA Football Playoffs, a team needs to be in the ‘Top 20’ in the national poll and win the conference title. The NAIA playoffs are set for Nov. 19 with the opening round games, followed by the quarterfinal round on Nov. 26 and semifinal round on Dec. 3. The NAIA championship game is set for Dec. 17 at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, N.C.
Each North Star football members will be playing a total of six conference games during the season, with each team receiving a bye for one week. Conference games officially start on Oct. 1 with three games scheduled – Dickinson State at Dakota State, Presentation at Waldorf, and Mayville State at Iowa Wesleyan. Valley City State will be idle on Oct. 1 and opens their conference play at home versus Dakota State on Oct. 8.
The conference season ends on Nov. 12 with VCSU at MSU, PC at DiSU, and WU at DaSU. Iowa Wesleyan concludes their NSAA conference play on Nov. 5 at Waldorf.
Below are the complete results of 2022 NSAA Football Coaches’ Preseason Poll:
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes in parenthesis) | Points |
| 1 | Dickinson State (N.D.) (6) | 36 |
| T2 | Valley City State (N.D.) (1) | 28 |
| T2 | Waldorf (Iowa) | 28 |
| 4 | Dakota State (S.D.) | 22 |
| 5 | Mayville State (N.D.) | 15 |
| 6 | Presentation (S.D.) | 12 |
| 7 | Iowa Wesleyan | 6 |