SIOUX FALLS - The University of Sioux Falls is the pick of coaches to repeat as Great Plains Athletic Conference football champions.

Sioux Falls received 11 of 12 first-place votes in the preseason poll. Coaches cannot vote for their own team. The Cougars received 121 points in the ranking system, edging out Morningside College by 11 points.

The rest of the top five is Dakota Wesleyan, Nebraska Wesleyan and Hastings.

The rest of the poll is Northwestern, Midland Lutheran, Doane, Dana, Concordia, Briar Cliff and Dordt.

Sioux Falls is moving from NAIA competition to NCAA Division II, but will have a three-year transition period in which the Cougars will remain a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference for the upcoming and 2010-11 seasons.

Dakota Wesleyan University was the surprise of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, finishing in a tie for third-place with a 7-3 record in 2008.

The poll was conducted and released as part of the 10th Annual GPAC Football Media Day, which was held at the Stoney Creek Inn in Sioux City, Iowa.

After the Tigers it was Nebraska Wesleyan University (86) in fourth, Hastings College (84) in fifth and Northwestern College (76) in sixth place. Midland Lutheran College (64), Doane College (51), Dana College (32), Concordia University (30), Briar Cliff University (26) and Dordt College (17) rounded out the bottom half of the predicted standings.