Defending champion Trine has been picked to win the MIAA football championship for the fourth consecutive year in a preseason poll of the league’s coaches.

The Thunder, who have won 20 consecutive MIAA contests dating back to 2007, received six of the seven first-place votes in the coaches poll released Monday. Coaches could not vote for their own team.

Albion, which received the other first-place vote, was picked to finish second, followed by Adrian, Hope, Alma, Kalamazoo and Olivet.

Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 
1. Trine (6) 6 pts.
2. Albion (1) 12.
3. Adrian 15.
4. Hope 23.
5. Alma 25.
6. Kalamazoo 31.
7. Olivet 35.

Last fall, Trine finished with a perfect 6-0 record in MIAA play (11-1 overall) and defeated DePauw, Ind. 45-35 in a first-round game in the NCAA Division III football playoffs. The Thunder were defeated in the second round by eventual national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, 45-31.

The MIAA will kick off its 114th season of intercollegiate football action Thursday, Sept. 1, as Trine visits Manchester, Ind. League play begins Saturday, Oct. 1.