Complete OAC Football Fall Preason Poll (.pdf)

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University football team was selected to finish sixth in the annual Ohio Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.

BW, who was picked third in the 2019 poll, was slated sixth with 43 points.  Defending OAC Champion the University of Mount Union was picked first with 81 points and nine first place votes.   John Carroll University landed in the second spot with 74 points and one first place vote.  Heidelberg University was slotted in the third spot with 64 points.  Rounding out the top five was Marietta College in fourth place with 52 points and Ohio Northern University in fifth with 48 points.

The Yellow Jackets and fifth-year head coach Jim Hilvert return 69 letterwinners and 21 starters from last year's squad that only was able to play in two games during the spring season.

"I do not believe that our performance last spring season or the sixth-place ranking indicates the kind of team we will put on the field this fall," said Hilvert. "I am confident in the team that we have, and I know these young men are excited about the opportunity to play this fall and show the league what they can do."

BW opens the 2021 fall campaign on Saturday, September 4 for its lone non-conference game against Hampden-Sydney (Va.) College.   OAC action is slated to begin with back-to-back road contests against Otterbein University on September 11 and Mount Union on September 18 at 1:30 p.m.  The home opener is scheduled for Saturday, September 25 against Heidelberg University at 1:30 p.m.   The season closes out with the 33rd annual Battle for the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl Trophy against John Carroll University at 1 p.m.