Listed in predicted order of finish by conference coaches

1. St. Scholastica (9-1 overall, 9-0 UMAC in 2013): Kurt Ramler begins his first season as the Saints coach as the favorite in the UMAC preseason coaches' poll. The Saints have won 29 of their past 30 conference games and reached the Division III playoffs in each of the past three seasons. Senior QB Tyler Harper, one of 12 returning starters, is back for his third season as the starter. Among the 10 starters not returning are RB Jake Jensen, the school's all-time leading rusher, Alec French (UMAC Defensive Player of the Year) and Chris Lambach (UMAC Lineman of the Year).

2. Northwestern (6-4, 6-3): The Eagles, picked to finish third in the preseason poll, return 20 starters from last year's team, which finished third in the UMAC. All-conference RB Josh Sinnen, the Eagles' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2001, and senior QB Jacob Fletcher, who passed for 2,100 yards and 21 TDs, return on offense. DB Austin Stubbs, who intercepted six passes and earned first-team all-conference honors last season as a freshman, headlines the defensive returners.

3. Crown (4-6, 4-5): The Storm, picked to finish fifth, has 17 returning starters from a squad that won four of its last five games in 2013. Eight starters return on the Storm defense, which ranked fourth in the UMAC in points allowed and second in sacks. Also coming back are four starters on the offensive line from a team that averaged 188.7 rushing yards per game last season.

4. Minnesota-Morris (3-7, 3-6): The Cougars, picked to finish sixth, return 19 starters from a team that was competitive last season. Five of the Cougars' seven losses were by eight points or fewer. Senior linebacker Cody Hickman, who averaged 14 tackles per game in 2013, anchors the defense.

5. Martin Luther (4-6, 4-5): Junior QB Luke Rothe, who contributed 2,600 passing/rushing yards and 27 TDs last season, returns to direct the Knights offense, which averaged 402 yards per game last season. Junior DL Ben Ewings, who set a school record with 11 sacks last season, leads the returning defensive starters. The Knights, picked to finish eighth, have 18 returning starters.

MIDWEST CONFERENCE

Macalester (4-6): The Scots, who have been a football independent since leaving the MIAC in 2001, return to conference play this fall as a member of the Midwest Conference. Coaches in the conference preseason poll picked the Scots to finish fourth in the Midwest's North Division (behind St. Norbert, Ripon and Carroll). The Scots have 14 returning starters among 51 returning lettermen. Quarterback Samson Bialostok, who accounted for 2,000 rushing/passing yards and 13 touchdowns, and junior LB Ryan Fleming, who led the Scots with 88 tackles last season, headline the returners.

JOEL RIPPEL