OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Stevenson University football team is ranked No. 18 in the D3football.com preseason Top 25 released on Monday. The D3football.com Top 25 enters its 15th season in 2017.
Defending NCAA Division III national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor was selected first, followed by Mount Union, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wisconsin-Oshkosh and St. Thomas. The Mustangs were one of three Middle Atlantic Conference teams to appear, as Delaware Valley was slotted at No. 20, while Albright is receiving votes. Stevenson's opening opponent, Frostburg State, was picked at No. 17.
Stevenson, which was ranked No. 20 in last season's final D3football.com Top 25 and reached as high as No. 14 during the season, is coming off a 9-2 record and the program's first-ever MAC title and NCAA tournament appearance. The Mustangs return several key performers on both sides of the ball, including junior quarterback Dan Williams, the 2016 MAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Stevenson opens the 2017 season at Frostburg State on Thursday, August 31, with the home and conference opener set for Saturday, September 9 against King's (Pa.), with kickoff for that game set for noon.