BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- Voted on by the league coaches, the Augustana football team is selected to finish sixth overall in the NSIC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Vikings, who received 158 points overall, are also picked to finish fourth in the NSIC South Division. The Vikings did tally one first-place vote in the division, finishing with 34 preseason points. 

Augustana quarterback Kyle Saddler was selected as the NSIC south division Player to Watch, and Viking linebacker Kyle Theis was named a south division defensive Player to Watch. Saddler, who was named all-conference honorable mention a season ago, started all 11 games and led the league with 3423 yards and 30 touchdowns. The Texas gunslinger had a pair of five touchdown performances a season ago and finished the year third all-time in both single-season completions and passing yards. Behind Saddler, Saddler averaged a league-best 311.2 passing yards per game. 

A Wisconsin native, Kyle Theis was also a south division all-conference honorable mention pick a season ago. The linebacker played in all 11 games for the Vikings, finishing second on the Vikings with 79 total tackles, including 43 solo takedowns. Theis had a monster 17 tackle game against Minnesota State, which proved to be a season-high for the team. The senior finished the year with three sacks, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.

Following a 7-4 campaign in 2018, the Vikings return a majority of their starters to the field this fall. The offense starts upfront with All-NSIC first-team selection Jake Lacina under center, who helped the offensive line allow just nine sacks all season. The Vikings have some of deepest skill positions in the league, including All-NSIC performers RB Rudolh Sinflorant (905 yards, 9 touchdowns) and WR Nickel Meyers (994 yards, 13 touchdowns). Defensively, the Vikings return 9 starters, including defensive back Michael Kloza (4 ints.) and DE Logan Swanson, who will make a big impact for the Vikings.

Augustana reports to fall camp Sunday, August 11 and begins the 2019 regular season at home vs. Upper Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 7 at 1 p.m. at Kirkeby-Over Stadium.

Season tickets are available to purchase now for the 2019 football season and include tickets to all six home games at Kirkeby-Over stadium. To purchase season tickets, or to learn about premium seating options at Augustana, call 877-GoAugie or fill out the ticket interest form at GoAugie.com. 

Fans are also encouraged to support Augustana Athletics by joining the A-Club, helping to build champions in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. For more information on the A-Club and priority seating benefits for members, visit GoAugie.com/Aclub.

With seven first-place votes, Minnesota State was picked to win the south division. The Mavericks were also picked as the league favorite, racking up 224 points. 

NSIC Football:
The NSIC football schedule will be broken into two divisions (north/south). Each team will play 11 conference games that will count towards the NSIC Overall Championship as well as seven divisional games that will count towards the NSIC North/South Division Championships. In all, three league champions will be awarded (Overall Champion, North Division Champion, South Division Champion). Ties will not be broken for overall or division champions. Same as in the 2018 season, the four non-division games will be moved to weeks five to seven and divisional games will be weeks one to four and nine to 11.

Preseason Poll:
 

Overall					North Division
1	Minnesota State (14)	224		1	Minnesota Duluth (7)	49
2	Minnesota Duluth (2)	208		2	Bemidji State (1)	42
3	Sioux Falls	187		3	MSU Moorhead	35
4	Winona State	182		4	St. Cloud State	34
5	Bemidji State	169		5	Northern State	24
6	Augustana	158		6	University of Mary	17
7	MSU Moorhead	138		7	Minot State	16
8	St. Cloud State	134		8	Minnesota Crookston	7
9	Concordia-St. Paul	109			South Division
10	Northern State	90		1	Minnesota State (7)	49
11	Southwest Minnesota State	79		2	Winona State	39
	Upper Iowa	79		3	Sioux Falls	37
13	Wayne State	73		4	Augustana (1)	34
14	University of Mary	39		5	Concordia-St. Paul	25
15	Minot State	36		6	Wayne State	16
16	Minnesota Crookston	15		7	Southwest Minnesota State	12
					Upper Iowa
	first place votes in ()