Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference released the 2021 Preseason Football Coaches' Poll this morning, with the Northern State Wolves picked eighth overall and fifth in the North Division. NSU tallied 75 overall points and 15 North Division points. Minnesota State was picked as the overall favorite of the league, while Minnesota Duluth was picked to win the North.
 
"We're thrilled to open Dacotah Bank Stadium on September 11^th," explained Mike Schmidt, Northern State head coach. "This is a historic season for Northern State football; one that will be remembered forever. This a new era, a new team, a new coach, and a reinvigorated winning attitude."
 
The 2021 Northern State University football team will open their second season under the direction of head coach Mike Schmidt and their first official game with Schmidt at the helm. In addition, Northern State is set to open Dacotah Bank Stadium on Saturday, September 11 versus Southwest Minnesota State. The Wolves are coming off a 6-5 record and fourth place North Division finish in 2019. Northern returns four offensive starters and five defensive starters from the 2019 roster with over 80 new additions since the 2019 season finale.
 
Returners Dakota Larson and Hunter Hansen were tabbed as the team's players to watch this season. Larson was a 2019 first team All-Conference selection, along with 2021 returners Isaiah Cherrier and Chance Olson who were named to the second team. NSU opens the season on the road at Minnesota State on Thursday, September 2.
 
Dakota Larson

• 2-time NSIC All-Conference selection (2^nd – 2018, 1^st – 2019)
• Don Hansen All-Region second team and CoSIDA Academic All-American
• 2018 NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year
• 22 career starts with 1,792 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns
• Schmidt on Larson: "Dakota has been a big time playmaker in the NSIC. He seems to make explosive plays every game. He has tremendous speed and competes for every ball. He's a great student and a great teammate."

 
Hunter Hansen

• Appearances in 22 games in 2018 and 2019
• 43 career tackles with 33 solo stops
• 3 career interceptions and 7 career pass break-ups
• Schmidt on Hansen: "Hunter is all that you want in a safety. He's a tremendous athlete who has the ability to make a play on the ball and also play as physical as any linebacker in the league."

 
NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll

Overall				South Division
1	Minnesota State (12)	168		1	Minnesota State (5)	35
2	Minnesota Duluth	144		2	Augustana (1)	27
3	Augustana (1)	140		3	Winona State (1)	26
4	Sioux Falls	135			Sioux Falls	26
5	Winona State (1)	126		5	Wayne State	15
6	Bemidji State	117		6	Southwest Minn. St.	10
7	Concordia-St. Paul	96		7	Upper Iowa	8
8	Northern State	75
9	MSU Moorhead	74		North Division
10	Wayne State	60		1	Minnesota Duluth (6)	36
11	Southwest Minn. St.	46		2	Bemidji State (1)	31
12	Minot State	38		3	Concordia-St. Paul	26
13	University of Mary	28		4	MSU Moorhead	16
14	Upper Iowa	27		5	Northern State	15
				6	University of Mary	13
				7	Minot State	10