(Kansas City, MO) The NAIA released the football coaches' preseason top 25 poll on Monday afternoon and the Cardinals are ranked 6th. This recognition comes on the heels of a record breaking 10-3 2018 campaign that featured a first-ever appearance at the NAIA Football Championship Series Quarterfinals. The Cardinals were ranked 8th in the post-season poll following the team's season ending defeat to Benedictine. This is the highest preseason ranking for the Cardinals and the second consecutive season being ranked in this poll.

The poll released by the NAIA office on Monday afternoon saw the Cardinals gather 280 total votes. Last year, the Cardinals appeared in every poll climbing as high as 6th. This is the 23rd time in Cardinal football history that the program has received recognition in the poll.

Fellow MSFA members to receive recognition in the poll include University of St. Francis (3), Saint Xavier (5), Marian University (7) with Siena Heights and Olivet Nazarene receiving 25 and 5 votes respectively

Joshua Schumacher will begin his 3rd year as the Cardinals head coach when the team travels to NCAA DII Kentucky Wesleyan on September 7th.