LEBANON, Ill. – A year after tying a school record for wins and capturing its first post-season victory in 68 years, Missouri S&T's football team was picked to finish fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in the pre-season coaches poll released Friday as part of the GLVC Kickoff at McKendree University.

The Miners finished second in the GLVC a year ago by going 6-1 in conference play and 10-2 overall with the only conference loss coming to Indianapolis, who was picked unanimously as the pre-season favorite for the 2019 campaign.  S&T and UIndy both won post-season games a year ago, as the Miners won the Mineral Water Bowl over Minnesota State Moorhead and UIndy won a first round NCAA Division II playoff contest over Fort Hays State.

Between UIndy and S&T in the pre-season poll are GLVC newcomer Lindenwood and Truman State.  Lindenwood joins the GLVC this season after spending the seven years in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, where it recorded a 4-7 record in 2018.  Truman went 6-5 and finished right behind the Miners in the GLVC standings at 5-2 after S&T knocked off the Bulldogs 34-33 in the regular season finale at Allgood-Bailey Stadium.

McKendree was picked to finish fifth in the pre-season poll, with Quincy, Southwest Baptist and William Jewell wrapping up the list.

The Miners, who return 14 starters for the upcoming campaign, will open their 2019 campaign Sept. 7 at Eastern New Mexico, followed by back-to-back non-conference home games against Azusa Pacific (Sept. 14) and Miles (Sept. 21) before opening GLVC play Sept. 28 at William Jewell.  S&T will face the three teams ahead of them in the pre-season poll in the second half of its schedule and will take all three away from home in a span of four weeks.

Missouri S&T opens that stretch against Truman State on Oct. 19, followed by a trip to Indianapolis the following week and then the game at Lindenwood on Nov. 9 after a Nov. 2 home contest against Southwest Baptist.

2019 GLVC Pre-Season Football Poll
1. Indianapolis, 49 points (7 first place votes)
2. Lindenwood, 38 points
3. Truman State, 37 points (1 first place vote)
4. Missouri S&T, 31 points
5. McKendree, 29 points
6. Quincy, 18 points
7. Southwest Baptist, 13 points
8. William Jewell, 9 points.
Coaches could not vote for their own teams.