Eastern Kentucky Leads OVC Preseason Poll

 

Staff Report

College Sports Journal

 

NASHVILLE – For the first time since the 2009 season Eastern Kentucky has been picked the favorite in the Ohio Valley Conference football race.

 

The Colonels picked up 12 of the 18 first-place votes in the 2012 poll which is a vote of league head coaches and sports information directors.

Eastern Kentucky totaled 124 points to top the poll. The only other school to receive fi rst-place votes was Jacksonville State, who picked up the remaining six votes and had 117 total points.

 

Murray State was picked third (85 points) and followed closely by Tennessee Tech in fourth (83).

 

The poll was rounded out by Tennessee State (69), UT Martin (67), Southeast Missouri (44), Eastern Illinois (42) and Austin Peay (17).

It marks the 12th time in the last 25 years that Eastern Kentucky has been picked the preseason favorite in the OVC race. Last season Eastern Kentucky finished in a three-way tie for the OVC Championship, winning its 21st league title, which is the most conference championships by one team in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) history. The Colonels also received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, marking its 20th appearance in the event, which is the second most in NCAA history.

 

Order of Finish Points
1. Eastern Kentucky (12 first-place votes) 124
2. Jacksonville State (6) 117
3. Murray State 85
4. Tennessee Tech 83
5. Tennessee State 69
6. UT Martin 67
7. Southeast Missouri 44
8. Eastern Illinois 42
9. Austin Peay 17

Note: 8 points awarded for a first-place vote, 7 for second, etc. – Coaches and SID’s could not vote for their own teams