ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Defending Pioneer Football League champion Drake was chosen by conference coaches to repeat at PFL winners in the 2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced this afternoon.
Drake received eight of the 11 first-place votes from the league's coaches and received 98 of a maximum possible 100 points available, with coaches unable to vote for their own teams.
St. Thomas the 2022 PFL Champion followed Drake in the poll with 87 points, including one first-place vote. Davidson also received a first-place vote and totaled 81 points to finish third in the poll. Butler (72 points) and San Diego (67) were picked to finish fourth and fifth, with San Diego receiving a first-place vote. The pair rounded out a group of teams that are the clear frontrunners entering the season. Dayton, with 49 points, opens the second half of the Preseason Coaches' Poll. They were followed by a trio of teams tightly packed in the poll: Presbyterian (39 points), Marist (37), and Morehead State (35). Valparaiso (22) and Stetson (18) rounded out the 11-team poll.
The upcoming 2024 season marks the 32nd year of the Pioneer Football League. The league will feature 11 teams, each playing an eight-game schedule to determine the league champion and recipient of the automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Championship.
The PFL will present its 2023 Preseason All-PFL Teams Wednesday. The entire PFL 2024 Coaches' Poll is listed below.
Team (First-place votes) Points
1. Drake (8) 98
2. St. Thomas (1) 87
3. Davidson (1) 81
4. Butler 72
5. San Diego (1) 67
6. Dayton 49
7. Presbyterian 39
8. Marist 37
9. Morehead State 35
10. Valparaiso 22
11. Stetson 18
* 10 points awarded for a first-place vote, with one point less for each succeeding place (Maximum score = 100)
* Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
