(Sioux City, Iowa) – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) has announced the preseason football coaches’ poll for the 2024 season. Northwestern is the preseason pick to win the GPAC championship.
Northwestern reached the NAIA title game each of the last two years and was the 2023 NAIA Football Runner-up and the 2022 NAIA Football National Champion. In 2023, the Red Raiders finished with a record of 14-1 after falling to Keiser University in the title game by a score of 31-21.
Along with Northwestern, Morningside and Dordt also picked up berths to the NAIA Football Championship Series.
The Red Raiders of Northwestern totaled 97 points and seven first place votes. Morningside was picked second with 89 points and three first place votes. Dordt was picked third with 87 points and one first place vote and Midland was fourth with 67 while Concordia rounded out the top five with 65 points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
2024 GPAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll:
| RANK | TEAM | POINTS | (1st PLACE VOTES) |
| 1. | Northwestern | 97 | (7) |
| 2. | Morningside | 89 | (3) |
| 3. | Dordt | 87 | (1) |
| 4. | Midland | 67 | |
| 5. | Concordia | 65 | |
| 6. | Hastings | 49 | |
| 7. | Dakota Wesleyan | 44 | |
| 8. | Briar Cliff | 39 | |
| 9. | Mount Marty | 31 | |
| 10. | Waldorf | 20 | |
| 11. | Doane | 17 |
Games for the 2024 season kick off on Thursday, August 29 through Saturday, August 31, with most teams playing non-conference games. Conference action starts on Saturday, August 31 for Concordia and Waldorf, while the rest of the teams start league play on September 7.
