Youngstown State was picked to finish eighth out of 10 teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference pre-season poll, which was announced by the league on Wednesday.

The Penguins had three players selected to the pre-season all-conference team, including John F. Kennedy graduate Jacob Coates, who spicked as a return specialist. Offensive lineman Dan Becker was another first-team selection, and defensive lineman DeMarko Craig was an honorable mention.

Returning national champion North Dakota State was tabbed as the MVFC pre-season favorite. NDSU has been picked first in the pre-season poll for nine straight seasons. After winning its lone game in the fall, NDSU has won a league and FCS-record 38 straight games. North Dakota State has earned the league title for nine-straight years, four times sharing it with another league school.

This year, NDSU received 101 points in the coaches vote to edge UNI (92) and South Dakota State (91). Illinois State and Southern Illinois round out the Top 5 in the poll with 80 points and 68 points, respectively. South Dakota (52) is next, followed by the newest member of the Con-ference, North Dakota, with 39 points for seventh. Youngstown State (39), Missouri State (23) and Western Illinois (23) round out the voting.