PERU, NE - On Friday, July 21, the Heart of America Athletic Conference released its Heart North and South Football Coaches' preseason poll. Peru State was picked to finish second with 19 votes in the Heart North receiving one first place vote.
 
Grand View was selected to win its fifth straight Heart North Title. The Vikings had 24 votes and four first place votes. Grand View finished last season 13-1 and 5-0 in the Heart North. The Vikings made it to the NAIA Football Championship Series Semifinals a season ago.
 
The Bobcats finished with a 6-5 overall record and 4-1 record in the Heart North division last season under first year head coach Phil Ockinga, only falling to No. 2 Grand View with a second-place finish.
 
The Bobcats will face the Vikings late in the season on the road in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday, October 28, kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. inside Duke Williams Stadium.
 
Benedictine is picked to go back-to-back and win the Heart South again this season.
 
The Bobcats will face the Ravens on Saturday, September 16, in Atchison, KS, at O'Malley Field, kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
 
Peru State will have a new Heart foe in Missouri Baptist as it enters its first year in the Heart for football and will be in the South Division. The Bobcats and the Spartans will have their gridiron clash on Saturday, September 23, in St. Louis, MO, kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.
 
Peru State opens the season at home on Saturday, August 26, against Hastings College. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m in the Oak Bowl.
 
2023 Heart North Preseason Coaches' Poll
 
Place School (1st Place Votes) Total Votes
 
1st Grand View (4) – 24 Votes
 
2nd Peru State (1) – 19 Votes
 
3rd Culver-Stockton – 15 Votes
 
4th William Penn (1) – 14 Votes
 
5th Graceland – 13 Votes
 
6th Graceland – 6 Votes


 
2023 Heart South Preseason Coaches' Poll
 
Place School (1st Place Votes) Total Votes
 
1st Benedictine (5) – 25 Votes
 
2nd MidAmerica Nazarene (1) – 20 Votes
 
3rd Baker – 18 Votes
 
4th Missouri Valley – 11 Votes
 
5th Missouri Baptist – 10 Votes
 
6th Central Methodist – 6 Votes