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2014 WIAC Football Preseason Poll
 
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team has been predicted to win its ninth Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in the last 10 years by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors, the WIAC announced Tuesday, Aug. 5.
 
The Warhawks enter the 2014 season as the defending WIAC and NCAA Division III champion. UW-Whitewater finished last season with a 15-0 record, defeating the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 teams en route to its fifth Stagg Bowl victory in the last seven seasons. The Warhawks downed top-ranked Mount Union (Ohio) 52-14 in the national title game.
 
UW-Whitewater, which is ranked No. 1 in the preseason by D3football.com, Lindy's Sports and USA Today Sports, is slated to return 15 starters (10 offense, five defense) from its 2013 team.
 
Seniors Brady Grayvold (Norway, MI/Norway), Jake Kumerow (Bartlett, IL/South Elgin) and Lucas Skibba (Plover/SPASH) have been tabbed preseason All-Americans by D3football.com.
 
Grayvold, a defensive back, led the WIAC and ranked eighth in the nation with a school-record nine interceptions a season ago. Kumerow, an honorable mention All-America selection by D3football.com at wide receiver, set school records in receiving yards (1,331) and touchdowns (19) last year. Skibba, an offensive lineman, also garnered D3football.com honorable mention All-America accolades after starting all 15 games and anchoring the line of scrimmage for the league's No. 2 scoring offense.
 
Senior quarterback Matt Behrendt (Westchester, IL/Nazareth Academy), who is Lindy's preseason pick as the nation's Offensive Player of the Year, also returns to guide the offense. Behrendt ranked among the top 10 in the country in passing yards (3,290) and touchdowns (40) a year ago.
 
Head coach Lance Leipold returns for his eighth season at the helm. Under his leadership, the Warhawks have reached the Stagg Bowl six times and have never finished outside of the top two in the conference. Leipold has amassed a career record of 94-6 for a staggering winning percentage of .940.
 
UW-Platteville has been tabbed as runner-up, while UW-Oshkosh has been picked to finish third. Both are ranked in the D3football.com Preseason Top 25 poll.
 
See below for the complete 2014 WIAC Preseason poll.

Team                                            2013 Record
1. UW-Whitewater                          15-0 overall, 7-0 WIAC
2. UW-Platteville                            10-2, 6-1
3. UW-Oshkosh                             8-2, 5-2
4. UW-Stevens Point                      5-5, 3-4
5. UW-La Crosse                           3-7, 3-4
6. UW-Stout                                  4-6, 2-5
7. UW-Eau Claire                           2-8, 2-5
8. UW-River Falls                          0-10, 0-7