Lights ranked No. 27

The Montana State University-Northern football team received high marks in the Frontier Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Lights are also getting attention nationally.

Northern received 11 votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll, released Monday night. The 11 votes puts Northern at No. 27 officially to start the season.

A pair of Frontier Conference teams will start the season ranked in the Top 25, including Northern's season-opening opponent, Carroll College. The Fighting Saints will come to Havre on Aug. 24 ranked No. 2 in the NAIA. Defending national champion Saint Xavier starts the year ranked No. 1.

Eastern Oregon is the other Frontier school ranked. The Mountaineers, who went 8-3 a year ago, but missed out on the NAIA playoffs, will start the year with its highest ranking ever, at No. 16. EOU opens the season Sept. 1 at Montana Tech.