INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference released its preseason coaches' poll on Friday, July 28 and the McKendree University Bearcats were tabbed to finish 5^th in the poll. The University of Indianapolis Greyhounds were voted as the unanimous choice to win the 2023 GLVC football title.

The preseason poll is selected by the league's eight head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.

McKendree will be led by head coach Mike Babcock, who is entering his 11^th year at the helm of the Bearcats. During the 2022 season, the Bearcats went 5-6 overall and 2-4 in GLVC play to finish fourth.

Leading the 2023 season will be junior Yogi Flager, Jr, who led the league in receiving yards (1,144) and touchdowns (10). He was the only receiver in the league to surpass the 1,000 yards receiving mark. Flager will have a new signal caller as the offense will be looking for a QB to replace Turner Pullen, whom the Bearcats lost due to graduation.

On the defensive side, McKendree returns 23 letterwinners, led by first-team All-GLVC defensive back Andrew Sherry who registered 69 tackles, which led the team. Sherry also picked off two passes. Alongside Sherry will be Ethan Young, who led the team in interceptions with 3.

The Bearcats open the 2023 slate with a trip to Tiffin, Ohio on September 2^nd to battle the Dragons of Tiffin University. They will return home for a date with the University of West Florida Argonauts, who reached the Division II National Semifinals for the home opener at Leemon Field.

The 2023 GLVC Champion will be determined by the results of the round-robin league schedule. Co-Champions will be named in the result of a tie, which has happened once since football became a Conference-sponsored sport in 2012 when Southwest Baptist and Truman shared the crown in 2016.

The complete poll and voting results can be found below.

2023 GLVC FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL