HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Pacific Lutheran University football squad will be one of the top teams in the Northwest Conference this fall according to the annual preseason poll, with the Lutes picked to finish third. 

The Lutes (6-4, 5-2 NWC) racked up 33 points in the annual coaches' poll, placing third in the preseason poll. PLU sits 12 points shy of Linfield University (7-2, 6-1 NWC) for second place and owns a two point buffer on fourth place Lewis & Clark College (6-4, 3-4 NWC). 

Whitworth University (8-3, 7-0 NWC) was picked to repeat as champions with 47 points and five of the eight first place votes. Linfield was selected to place second with 45 points and three of the remaining first place endorsements. 

George Fox University (4-6, 4-3 NWC) is fifth with 29 points followed by Pacific University (3-7, 2-5 NWC) in sixth with 18 points. Crosstown nemesis University of Puget Sound (1-9, 1-6 NWC) is seventh with 11 points while Willamette University (1-9, 0-7 NWC) rounds out the rankings in eighth with 10 points.

The Lutes finished the 2024 campaign with a 6-4 record and was 5-2 in league play, finishing third in the league standings. PLU opens the 2026 season on Sept. 5, hosting California Lutheran University at Mount Tahoma Stadium before opening NWC action on the road on Oct. 3 against Willamette in Salem, Oregon.