The Valparaiso University football team has been picked to finish 10^th in the 11-team Pioneer Football League, according to a preseason polling of the league’s head coaches. The league released the poll on Monday and will announce its preseason All-PFL team on Tuesday.

The Crusaders took a step forward during the 2016 season, finishing with their highest PFL win total since 2003 and equaling their highest overall win total since 2007.

After winning the 2016 regular season title and advancing to the second round of the FCS Championship, San Diego was tabbed the league’s preseason favorite for the seventh consecutive year. The Toreros received 99 points in the poll, narrowly ahead of second-place Dayton, which collected 92.

The Crusaders are projected to finish ahead of Davidson and just behind Stetson in the league standings. The Crusaders had wins over both the Wildcats and the Hatters a year ago, in addition to beating Jacksonville, which is picked to finish fifth this year.

The upcoming 2017 season marks the 25th year for the Pioneer Football League – the nation’s only non-scholarship, football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. The league will feature 11 teams each playing an eight-game schedule to determine the league champion and recipient of the automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Championship.

Valpo kicks off the 2017 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Montana at 2 p.m. CT at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 9 against Duquesne, while PFL play kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Drake.