BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- Bemidji State University football enters the 2022 season with its highest placing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll in 15 years as it was selected to finish second overall and first in the NSIC North Division, as released by the conference office Wednesday.
 
The reigning conference champion Beavers are slotted to finish behind only Augustana University in the overall poll. BSU totaled 145 points with four first-place votes compared to 153 points and five first-place votes for AU. The Beavers were chosen to win the NSIC North Division with 36 points and six first-place votes, followed by the University of Minnesota Duluth in second with 31 points and one first-place vote.
 
BSU's selection in the overall poll is the highest for the program since being chosen to win the NSIC crown in the 2007 preseason poll.
 
The 2021 Beaver squad finished 10-3 overall, securing the first 10-win season and the first NCAA postseason appearance in program history, as Head Coach Brent Bolte was named the 2021 NSIC Coach of the Year. He led BSU to its sixth overall NSIC Championship, first since 2006, and first NSIC North Division Championship outright. The Beavers opened the NCAA Tournament with a 28-24 win at No. 25 Augustana and advanced as the only NSIC program in the second round. Bemidji State ended its season ranked No. 18 in the D2Football.com Top 25 Media Poll and No. 19 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, marking the highest ranking in either poll in program history.
 
Bemidji State returns two All-Americans in wide receiver Brendan Beaulieu and offensive lineman Ty Cobb, along with 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy finalist and BSU Offensive Player to Watch Brandon Alt. The connection between Alt and Beaulieu produced several program and conference records, including an NSIC single-season record of 46 passing touchdowns by Alt. BSU Defensive Player to Watch Zollie Kaplan led the "Gang Green" defense a season ago with 18.5 tackles for a loss and 8.0 sacks, which ranked second and fifth in the NSIC, respectively.
 
BSU is scheduled to face five of the top six teams ranked in the preseason coaches' poll, beginning Thursday, Sept. 1 at Chet Anderson Stadium against Minnesota State University, Mankato.
 
NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team (First Place Votes) Total Points
1. Augustana (5) 153
2. Bemidji State (4) 145
3. Minnesota Duluth 142
4. Minnesota State (3) 136
   Sioux Falls (2) 136
6. Winona State 109
7. Northern State 94
8. Wayne State 88
9. MSU Moorhead 72
10. UMary 71
11. Concordia-St. Paul 41
12. Minot State 36
13. Southwest Minn. State 26
14. Upper Iowa 25
 
NSIC North Division Poll
Team (First Place Votes) Total Points
1. Bemidji State (6) 36
2. Minnesota Duluth (1) 31
3. Northern State 24
4. UMary 19
   MSU Moorhead 19
6. Concordia-St. Paul 10
7. Minot State 8
 
NSIC South Division Poll
Team (First Place Votes) Total Points
1. Augustana (2) 32
2. Minnesota State (3) 31
3. Sioux Falls (2) 27
4. Winona State 21
5. Wayne State 19
6. Upper Iowa 10
7. Southwest Minn. State 7

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).
 
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
--bsu--