SPOKANE, Wash. – The Big Sky Conference released its football preseason poll Monday morning, and the Southern Utah University Football team was picked to finish 11th by both the media and coaches.

"We are excited that we have the opportunity to play the top three teams from the Big Sky preseason poll this season," said head coach Demario Warren. "It will give us the opportunity to prove we belong at the top of the conference."

Both the media and coaches tabbed Weber State as the preseason favorite to win the league. Spots one through 11 in both polls were identical with Montana, Eastern Washington, Montana State and Sacramento State rounding out the top five. UC Davis Northern Arizona and Idaho took spots six, seven and eight, while Idaho State and Portland State were picked to finish right before the Thunderbirds. The coaches selected Cal Poly to finish 12th and Northern Colorado 13th, while the media had those two schools in the opposite order.

Southern Utah is fresh off a seventh-place finish from the previous season that was shortened and played in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Every loss the Thunderbirds suffered last year was by one possession.

The T-Birds open the season on Saturday, August 28, at San Jose State. Kickoff is slated for 8:00 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on national television via CBS Sports Network.

Coaches Poll

1. Weber State 
2. Montana 
3. Eastern Washington  
4. Montana State
5. Sacramento State 
6. UC Davis
7. Northern Arizona             
8. Idaho
9. Idaho State
10. Portland State
11. Southern Utah
12. Cal Poly
13. Northern Colorado

Media Poll

1. Weber State 
2. Montana 
3. Eastern Washington  
4. Montana State
5. Sacramento State 
6. UC Davis
7. Northern Arizona             
8. Idaho
9. Idaho State
10. Portland State
11. Southern Utah
12. Northern Colorado 
13. Cal Poly

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