COLORADO SPRINGS - Colorado School of Mines is the preseason football favorite in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, with their annual coaches' poll announced Wednesday.

Winner of five consecutive RMAC titles, Mines received seven of 10 first-place votes for 79 points overall to lead Western Colorado (74 points, 3 first) and CSU Pueblo (66 points) in the poll. The Orediggers (14-1 in 2023) advanced to a second straight NCAA Division II national championship game appearance last year, going a perfect 9-0 in the RMAC along the way for a second consecutive year. 

Under second-year head coach Pete Sterbick, the Orediggers return numerous key pieces from the 2023 squad including four all-Americans in punter Blake Doud, receiver Max McLeod, linebacker Adrian Moreno, and cornerback Jackson Zimmermann. Mines brings back 11 all-RMAC selections overall among 12 returning starters.

Mines opens preseason training camp on Aug. 9 and will begin the season at home Sept. 5 against West Texas A&M. The season unofficially kicks off this Friday as Sterbick, McLeod, and Moreno attend the RMAC Football Media Day in Denver; following @minesfootball on X (formerly Twitter) and @minesfb on Instagram for complete coverage.
 

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2024 RMAC Preseason Football Coaches' Poll
1. Colorado School of Mines (7) - 79
2. Western Colorado (3) - 74
3. CSU Pueblo - 66
4. Colorado Mesa - 50
5. Black Hills State - 49
6. South Dakota Mines - 42
7. Chadron State - 39
8. Adams State - 21
9. New Mexico Highlands - 18
10. Fort Lewis - 12