Bolivar, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University football team continues to receive national recognition after their breakout 2016 campaign, coming in at #7 in the 2017 Street & Smith's Magazine NCAA Division II Football Preseason Top 25. The preseason ranking is the first in program history.

The Bearcats finished the 2016 season 10-2, earning their first ever conference championship and NCAA Playoff appearance. SBU returns several key players from an offense that ranked 10th in the NCAA Division II a season ago, led by GLVC Player of the Year TJ Edwards. Last season Edwards threw for 3,242 yards with 34 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions, while also gaining 685 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Edwards' two main receiving threats also return for the 2017 season. Kendrick Payne, a 1st Team All-GLVC selection a season ago, hauled in 1,075 yards and 13 touchdowns, while 2nd Team All-GLVC selection Cassian Foreman had 872 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns.

In total the Bearcats return 17 starters off of last year's squad, including Edwards, Payne, Foreman, Sammy Zeqiraj, Connor Still, D'Angelo Tucker, Brayden Byrd, Brycen Gagnon, Mygeish Dennis, and Quinlan Gaines who were all either 1st or 2nd Team All-GLVC honorees last season.

Below is the complete 2017 Street & Smith's Magazine NCAA Division II Football Preseason Top 25.

Street & Smith's NCAA D2 Preseason Top 25
1. Northwest Missouri
2. Grand Valley State
3. California (PA)
4. Emporia State
5. Ferris State
6. Texas A&M Commerce
7. Southwest Baptist
8. Colorado State-Pueblo
9. Bemidji State
10. Valdosta State
11. Indiana (PA)
12. Minnesota-Duluth
13. Shepherd
14. North Alabama
15. Azusa Pacific
16. Edinboro
17. Sioux Falls
18. Colorado School of Mines
19. Central Missouri
20. Assumption
21. West Chester
22. LIU Post
23. Winston Salem State
24. Colorado-Mesa
25. Texas A&M-Kingsville
*Super Region 3 Team in Italics