By Blake Moore
The Ohio Northern football program was projected to finish third in the Ohio Athletic Conference by coaches and media members at the 2018 OAC Football Media Day held at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

ONU received 61 points and 223 points from the conference coaches and the media, respectively, to finish third on each ballot.

Reigning NCAA Division III champion Mount Union was tabbed as the preseason favorite by both the media and coaches, collecting a unanimous 31 first-place media votes and nine first-place votes from the coaches.

John Carroll was chosen to finish second in both polls, tallying 274 points in the media poll and receiving 73 points and one first-place vote from the conference coaches.

"We should have high expectations, not just because of what we have done in the past, but because we have a good group of players coming back," said 15th-year head coach Dean Paul. "We have a few questions that need to be answered...but the key will be how quickly some of the guys emerge to answer the questions we have and how we develop our depth."

The Polar Bears finished 7-3 overall and 6-3 in OAC play in 2017, tying them with John Carroll and Heidelberg for second place in the conference standings one season ago.

Ohio Northern opens the 2018 season when they host Adrian (Mich.) on September 1 at 6 pm in Dial-Roberson Stadium.

Coaches Poll

Rank    School (First Place Votes)    Points
1.    Mount Union (9)    81
2.    John Carroll (1)    73
3.    Ohio Northern    61
4.    Baldwin Wallace    56
5.    Heidelberg    49
6.    Marietta    44
7.    Otterbein    32
8.    Wilmington    22
9.    Capital    19
10.    Muskingum    13

Media Poll
Rank    School (First Place Votes)    Points
1.    Mount Union (31)    310
2.    John Carroll    274
3.    Ohio Northern    223
4.    Heidelberg    206
5.    Baldwin Wallace    205
6.    Marietta    149
7.    Otterbein    140
8.    Muskingum    75
9.    Capital    74
10.    Wilmington    49