The Central States Football League released its preseason poll this week and for the first time since 2011 Langston didn’t top the ranking.
Defending CSFL champion Arizona Christian picked up seven of 11 first-place votes and 52 total points and is favored to repeat.
Langston was close behind in the voting, with just three points less and received two first-place votes as well.
The Lions won their final five games in 2015 and look to carry that momentum into 2016.
Southwestern Assemblies of God picked the remaining two first-place votes and was third in the voting, followed by Wayland Baptist and Texas College.
Bacone tied for fourth in the league last year, and came in sixth in this season’s preseason ranking, ahead of Lyon College.
Langston travels to Arizona Christian on Oct. 1 to try to avenge its only loss in CSFL play last year, a 55-52 thriller.
2016 CSFL preseason poll
| Rank | Team | Points (First-place votes) |
| 1. | Arizona Christian | 52 (7) |
| 2. | Langston | 49 (2) |
| 3. | Southwestern Assemblies of God | 42 (2) |
| 4. | Wayland Baptist | 33 |
| 5. | Texas College | 24 |
| 6. | Bacone | 19 |
| 7. | Lyon | 12 |