Kansas City, Mo. – The Montana Tech Orediggers jumped four spots from the NAIA Spring Football Coaches' Poll landing at No. 7. This is the last poll before the regular season starts. The first Coaches' Poll of the regular season is released on Sept. 16.
 
National runner-up Morningside (Iowa) was ranked No. 1 in the poll. Tech fell to Morningside last year in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series. Defending national champion Marian (Ind.) was tied for second with Missouri Valley who was a national semifinalist last year.
 
Montana Tech is the highest ranked Frontier Conference school in the Top 25. The Orediggers were tied in total points with Carroll College in the Frontier Conference Preseason Poll, but held more first place votes.
 
No. 12 Carroll College made the largest improvement of any school moving up six spots from No. 18 in the Spring Poll. Southern Oregon fell the furthest dropping to No. 14 after a No. 5 ranking last spring. .
 
Last year's Frontier and AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Chuck Morrell leads the Orediggers into battle on Sept. 7 in La Grande, Oregon. Montana Tech starts the season with two road games before returning to Butte for their home opener on Sept. 21. The home opener marks a new era at Alumni Coliseum with the addition of artificial field turf installed over the summer.