The Ohio Northern football team received votes in the 2018 D3football.com preseason poll, released on Thursday. This marks the 15th time in the last 17 seasons that the Polar Bears have been been mentioned in a national poll.

The Polar Bears received 14 points in the poll, which is the 36th-most among the 48 schools mentioned in the poll. A year ago, Northern received 11 votes and were ranked No. 22 in the 2016 preseason D3football.com poll.

Ohio Northern went 7-3 overall and tied for second in the OAC with a 6-3 mark in 2016.

Ohio Northern returns 14 starters, six All-Conference honorees and 38 lettermen from last year's squad and will open its 2018 season on Sept. 1 at home against Adrian (Mich.) under 15th-year head coach Dean Paul.