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WESTERVILLE -- Nothing ever seems to change with Ohio Athletic Conference football.
National power Mount Union, under the direction of fourth-year head coach Geoff Dartt, was picked to win another OAC title in 2023 in a vote by league coaches Wednesday.
The Purple Raiders have won 33 OAC titles, all since 1985.
Mount Union received nine of 10 first-place votes to collect 81 points, followed by John Carroll with 70 points. Baldwin Wallace finished third with 66 points and one first-place vote, followed by Heidelberg with 59 points and Marietta with 47 points. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.
Graduate students quarterback Braxton Plunk and wide receiver Wayne Ruby Jr. and junior linebacker Rossy Moore were listed on the OAC Players to Watch List for the Purple Raiders.
The Purple Raiders won their sixth straight OAC title and 33rd overall and appeared in their 22nd NCAA championship game in 2022. They will be vying for their NCAA Division III-record 14th championship this season.
Mount Union will open the season at Defiance College on Sept. 2.
OAC PRESEASON POLL
(first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Mount Union (9) 81
2. John Carroll 70
3. Baldwin Wallace (1) 66
4. Heidelberg 59
5. Marietta 47
6. Ohio Northern 37
7. Muskingum 33
8. Wilmington 24
9. Otterbein 20
10. Capital 13