Bearkats tabbed as preseason favorites
7/27/2016 10:37:00 AM | Football
LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Sam Houston State football program is the team to beat.
The Bearkats, coming off an 11-4 season and a run to the national semifinals, were picked as the favorite in the Southland Conference as voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors. The preseason poll, released Wednesday morning, opens the conference's annual media day at L'auberge Resort.
Sam Houston received eight first-place votes and 99 points total in the coaches poll as well as 99 points in the SID poll. The Bearkats lead all conference institutions with 14 all-conference selections including seven first-team honorees.
In both polls, McNeese was ranked second, garnering two first-place votes in the coaches' poll for 92 points and one first-place vote in the SID poll with 86 points. Central Arkansas, Lamar and Stephen F. Austin round out the top five in coaches' poll, tallying 79, 67 and 60 points respectively. Coaches and SID were not permitted to vote for their own team.
A season ago, Sam Houston boasted a 7-2 mark in league play, leading to a fifth straight trip to the FCS Playoffs. The squad returned to the semifinals for the fourth time in five years and is expected to once again contend for a national title, entering the season ranked second nationally by Athlon, Sporting News and Lindy's.
Sam Houston returns 16 starters including six on offense, eight on defense and two specialists from a team that stood No. 3 in last season's final STATS FCS poll. Over the past two seasons, the Kats have combined to post a 22-9 record, boasting 30 All-Southland Conference selections.
Among the 49 lettermen returning including first-team All-Southland selections running back Corey Avery and defensive end P.J. Hall. Second-team honoree Yedidiah Louis also is back, entering the season ranked sixth in team lore in career receiving with 142 catches for 1,797 yards.
With quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe under center full-time, Sam Houston will also look to replicate its eye-popping offensive numbers from a season ago. The Bearkats led the nation in total offense at 531.7 yards per game and first downs with 414.
The team reports on Aug. 4 in preparation for its 11-game regular-season schedule. After hosting Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sept. 3, the squad hits the road for four straight including the 91st “Battle of the Piney Woods” presented by H-E-B against Stephen F. Austin at Houston's NRG Stadium on Oct. 1 at 3 p.m.
Season tickets, which include admission to the Bearkats' five home games and matchup against the Lumberjacks in Houston, are currently on sale for as low as $110 by calling (936) 294-1729 or by visiting GoBearkats.com.
2016 Southland Conference Preseason Polls
Coaches' Poll
| Pl. | School (First-place votes) | Pts. |
| 1. | Sam Houston State (9) | 99 |
| 2. | McNeese (2) | 92 |
| 3. | Central Arkansas | 79 |
| 4. | Lamar | 67 |
| 5. | Stephen F. Austin | 60 |
| 6. | Southeastern Louisiana | 57 |
| 7. | Northwestern State | 45 |
| 8. | Abilene Christian | 40 |
| 9. | UIW | 29 |
| 10. | Nicholls | 26 |
| 11. | Houston Baptist | 11 |
Sports Information Directors' Poll
| Pl. | School (First-place votes) | Pts. |
| 1. | Sam Houston State (10) | 100 |
| 2. | McNeese (1) | 86 |
| 3. | Central Arkansas | 84 |
| 4. | Lamar | 67 |
| 5. | Stephen F. Austin | 66 |
| 6. | Northwestern State | 48 |
| 7. | Southeastern Louisiana | 42 |
| 8. | UIW | 39 |
| 9. | Abilene Christian | 37 |
| 10. | Nicholls | 26 |
| 11. | Houston Baptist | 10 |
