INDIANAPOLIS - The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) has released the 2019 GMAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll, and Tiffin football has been selected fourth for the second-straight season.
Hillsdale was picked to win the GMAC after taking the title with an undefeated conference record last season. Ohio Dominican and Findlay, who finished in a three-way tie with Tiffin in 2018, were slated second and third, respectively. The bottom half of the poll, in order, was Walsh, Alderson Broaddus, Kentucky Wesleyan, and Lake Erie.
The Dragons played above conference expectations last year, finishing in the tie for second-place with a 6-2 record in GMAC play. At 9-2 overall, it was one of the best seasons in TU football history, including a nine-game win streak to open the season that was the longest since the 2006 squad opened with 10-straight victories.
Under first-year head coach Cris Reisert, TU returns plenty of talent from last year's team, led by a pair of redshirt juniors in quarterback Nick Watson (64.7 completion percentage, 2,983 yards, 23 touchdowns) and running back Kyle Brunson (957 yards, 11 touchdowns), both second in the conference in passing and rushing, respectively.
Tiffin opens the 2019 season on Sept. 7 with a nonconference matchup at Northwood. GMAC play begins Sept. 21 at Walsh, followed by TU's home opener and Homecoming game against Ohio Dominican a week later on Sept. 28. Once again, the final two games of the season will be very tough, as the Dragons play Hillsdale on Senior Day on Nov. 9 and wrap up the regular-season slate on Nov. 16 at Findlay.
| School | Points |
|---|---|
| 1. Hillsdale (6 first-place votes) | 47 |
| 2. Ohio Dominican | 40 |
| 3. Findlay (2 first-place votes) | 37 |
| 4. Tiffin | 34 |
| 5. Walsh | 25 |
| 6. Alderson Broaddus | 21 |
| 7. Kentucky Wesleyan | 12 |
| 8. Lake Erie | 8 |