BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University football team was tabbed for a seventh-place finish in the South Division and 13th place overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason coaches' poll released on Tuesday.
SMSU reports for training camp under fourth-year head coach,
Scott Underwood, on Tuesday, Aug. 12, followed by its first practice on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
With the addition of the University of Jamestown to the NSIC this fall, the league will be split into North and South divisions for the first time since 2022.
"We are very excited for the start to the 2025 season. We return multiple players on each side of the football that have competed in our program for the past three and four seasons," Underwood said. "Our player's commitment to working and improving is at its highest level with 18 seniors providing veteran leadership that is needed to compete in the NSIC."
Minnesota State, selected to win both the NSIC South Division and overall championship, received 11 first-place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) and recorded a total of 167 points in the overall poll. Augustana was second overall with three first-place votes and 153 points. Minnesota Duluth was third with 139 points followed by Bemidji State (130) and Sioux Falls (129), rounding out the top five. UMD and BSU both earned 33 points to tie for first-place in the North Division poll.
Wayne State was picked to finish sixth overall with 106 points, followed by MSU Moorhead with 96 points, Northern State was ranked eighth with 84 points while Winona State (77) and Minot State (67) round out the top 10. Concordia-St. Paul earned 50 points for 11th, followed by UMary (35), SMSU (27) and Jamestown (14).
In the NSIC South Division Poll, MSU earned 36 points including a six first-place votes, followed by Augustana with 30 points and one first-place vote. Sioux Falls earned 26 points for third place, followed by Wayne State (22), Winona State (15), Concordia-St. Paul (12), and SMSU (six).
Augustana junior quarterback Gunnar Hunsley earned NSIC South Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors, with Wayne State junior defensive end Carter Sitzman earned NSIC South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
MSU Moorhead senior quarterback Jack Strand earned NSIC North Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors, with Northern State junior linebacker Jake Adams earned NSIC North Preseason Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
SMSU senior offensive tackle
Tyler Nebelung (Ramsey, Minn.) and sophomore safety
Parker Knutson (Sartell, Minn.) were tabbed a 'Player to Watch' in the NSIC for the Mustangs.
Nebelung has started every game during his three-year career and served as a team captain last season.
"Tyler is a three-year starter who is physical in the run game and displays athletic footwork in pass protection," Underwood said. "A steady and confident influence on our offense side of the ball as well as a strong work ethic as he balances being a two-sport student-athlete and a member of our leadership council."
Knutson started all 11 games in 2024 and finished the season with a team-high five interceptions, a team-leading 13 pass break-ups and one recovered one fumble. He ranked fifth on the squad with 39 tackles including 2.5 for loss. Knutson's five interceptions is the most by a Mustang player since the 2010 season and ties for the fifth highest in program single-season history.
"Parker had a breakout, redshirt season leading the team in several categories," Underwood said. "He has strong instincts coupled with a competitive edge that helps guide and direct our defense. His versatility allows us to play him in multiple spots and schemes as we look forward to him having a successful sophomore season."
The Mustangs open the regular season on Saturday, Sept. 6, hosting MSU Moorhead for the annual Ag Bowl with kickoff slated for 5 p.m.
