NORMAL, Ill. – As the calendar continues to move into summer, projections for the fall have already started as the Illinois State football team was picked No. 12 in the HERO Sports 2020 Preseason Top 25 Poll released by the organization Wednesday.
The Redbirds, who were ranked in every HERO Sports FCS Top 25 poll last season, are one of five Missouri Valley Football Conference programs to make this year's preseason list. Defending national champion North Dakota State was tabbed as the favorite once again, while South Dakota State and Northern Iowa were right behind in the second and third spots, respectively.