WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The University of Mount Union football team was voted to finish first in the 2022 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Preseason Coaches Poll.

Coming off their 32^nd OAC Title, the Purple Raiders received nine of the 10 first place votes to collect 81 points by the league's head coaches (head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting).

"We are excited about the 2022 football season and competing for an OAC championship," said third-year Head Coach Geoff Dartt. "We must grind out good days and stay consistent with our execution on offense, defense, and special teams."

The 13-time NCAA Champion Raiders will open the 2022 season at home Saturday, September 3 against Defiance in a non-conference matchup. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m.

2022 OAC Preseason Coaches Poll:
1. Mount Union -- 81 (9)
2. Baldwin Wallace -- 71 (1)
3. Heidelberg -- 65
4. John Carroll -- 59
5. Marietta -- 44
6. Ohio Northern -- 42
7. Muskingum -- 36
8. Wilmington -- 20
T9. Otterbein -- 16
T9. Capital -- 16

Note: First-place votes in parenthesis