Optimism is running high for the Ohio Northern football program entering the 2018 season.

The Polar Bears were 7-3 overall and finished second in the Ohio Athletic Conference with a 6-3 record under 15th-year head coach Dean Paul in 2017.

Paul and his staff welcome back 14 starters and 38 lettermen from last year's squad that posted its 21st upper division finish in the Ohio Athletic Conference in the past 22 seasons.

"Our goal, as always, is to continue to improve and be a very competitive team on a national level and in the best Division III conference in the nation," Paul said. "We were only two plays away from being 8-2 and in playoff consideration last year. On the other hand, we won a couple of very tight games that could have gone either way.

"We need to continue to build depth and stay healthy at some key positions to be successful. It is a very exciting time in the OAC with so much parity. Our players know that every OAC game will be highly competitive and hard fought, which makes doing the little things well every day so important to our success."

The Polar Bears feature six All-Conference players among their 14 returning starters and two special teams returnees.

ONU welcomes back eight starters on offense, six on defense and an All-Conference punter from last year's team.

Northern received votes in the D3football.com preseason poll.

The Polar Bears have been mentioned in a national poll in 15 of the past 17 seasons.

The Ohio Northern faithful are encouraged that another season in the national spotlight can happen in 2018.