The University of Minnesota Morris football team was voted as the fifth-place finisher in the UMAC Preseason Poll, released by the conference office on Tuesday. The Cougars tallied 15 points in the poll, finishing ahead of Crown College and new UMAC football affiliate member Finlandia University.
Martin Luther College was a slight favorite to finish as the UMAC champion in 2021, ending with 33 points and four first-place votes. Greenville University was second with 32 points and two first-place votes. The University of Northwestern had the other first-place vote in the poll, taking third with 25 points.
Westminster College (MO) took fourth place in the poll with 24 points. Minnesota Morris then followed in fifth place with 15 points. Crown (12 points) and Finlandia (six points) rounded out the UMAC standings.
The Cougars have grown the roster significantly in the offseason and head into the year with nearly 60 players on the team. Important returners such as wide receiver Branden Carlson and defensive lineman Matt Menth (both Second Team All-UMAC in 2019) will feature prominently, while a number of players who received their introduction to college football in this past Spring’s short season will be back in the fold such as sophomore defensive back Hunter Infanger, who led the Cougars in tackles with 27 in two games.
The 2021 season kicks off for Minnesota Morris with a trip to Macalester College on September 4 at 6:30 p.m. The Cougars return home to Big Cat for back-to-back non-conference games against Carleton College (September 11 at 2 p.m.) and Hamline University (September 18 at 1 p.m.). UMAC play begins on Homecoming Weekend with a 12 p.m. kick-off against Westminster on October 2. Two other home games on the docket include Crown on October 16 and Northwestern on October 30. Both of those games are 6 p.m. starts.
Place School Points (First-Place Votes)
1. Martin Luther 33 (4)
2. Greenville 32 (2)
3. Northwestern 25 (1)
4. Westminster 24
5. Minnesota Morris 15
6. Crown 12
7. Finlandia 6