Official NWC Release

HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Northwest Conference office unveiled its annual preseason coaches' poll for the sport of football on Monday with Pacific Lutheran University picked to finish third in the league standings.

The Lutes earned 38 points and one first place endorsement, sitting third overall and four points shy of second place Whitworth University. Linfield University sits atop the poll with 47 points and five of the eight first place endorsements while in-state rival Whitworth has 42 points and a pair of first place nods.
 
Lewis & Clark College is fourth with 26 points while George Fox University and Pacific University are tied for fifth with 24 points. Crosstown rival University of Puget Sound is seventh with 15 points followed by Willamette University in eighth with eight points.
 
Pacific Lutheran won five of its final six games last season, closing the campaign with a 7-3 overall record and a 5-2 mark in conference action. 
 
The Lutes open the 2025 campaign on the road on Sept. 6 against California Lutheran University before hosting Simpson University the following week in the home opener at Sparks Stadium. PLU begin league play on Oct. 4, welcoming Willamette to Sparks Stadium in the annual homecoming game.