The Central College football team is picked to finish fourth this season in a tightly packed preseason coaches poll.

Dubuque received 4 of 9 first place votes and 60 total points. Defending champion Coe and Wartburg each got two first place votes and tied for second with 52 points, while Central was right behind with one first place vote and 50 points.

The Dutch went 8-2 in 2016 and were 6-2 in the Iowa Conference, good for a second place tie with Dubuque.

Central opens the 2017 season on September 2nd at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium against Whitworth of Washington.