Defending Mid-States Football Association Mideast League champion University of Saint Francis is picked to finish second in the MSFA MEL in 2016.

NAIA champion Marian University and Saint Xavier University have been ranked No. 1 in the Mid-States Football Association Mideast and Midwest League pre-season polls. USF, ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Poll, rallied to win at No. 6 Marian 45-42 during the regular season.

Marian beat Southern Oregon 31-14 to capture its second NAIA title in four seasons and give the MSFA its fifth title in the last six campaigns. Marian finished 2015 with a 5-1 Mideast League mark and 12-2 overall.

The Knights received 10 first-place votes and 88 points to gain the No.1 spot among Mideast League teams in the pre-season rankings. USF, 6-0 in the MSFA MEL in 2015 and 11-1 overall, was second with the other three first-place votes and 81 points. Taylor University was third (56 points), followed by Siena Heights University (45), Concordia University (43), Lindenwood-Belleville (36) and Missouri Baptist (13).

Saint Xavier, 4-1 in the league and 7-3 overall, drew all 13 first-place votes and 78 points to head the Midwest League. University of St. Francis (Ill.) is the No.2 choice with 58 points, followed by Robert Morris University (51), Saint Ambrose University (47), Olivet Nazarene University (21) and Trinity International University (18).

Mideast League

1, Marian (5-1, 12-2), 10 first-place votes, 88 points

2, Saint Francis, Ind. (6-0, 11-1), 3, 81

3, Taylor (4-2, 7-3), 56

4, Siena Heights (2-4, 4-6), 45

5, Concordia (2-4, 5-6), 43

6, Lindenwood-Belleville (2-4, 4-6), 36

7, Missouri Baptist (0-6, 0-10), 13

Midwest League

1, Saint Xavier (4-1, 7-3), 13, 78

2, St. Francis, Ill. (4-1, 8-3), 58

3, Robert Morris (3-2, 6-4), 51

4, Saint Ambrose (3-2, 8-2, 47

5, Olivet Nazarene (1-4, 3-8), 21

6, Trinity International (0-5, 2-7), 18