BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- For the third year in a row, Notre Dame College football is at the top of the Mountain East Conference preseason poll, which is voted on by the MEC head coaches. NDC has brought home the last three conference titles. (Release)

"It's a great honor to be pick No. 1 in a very competitive conference," said head coach Mickey Mental. "We know we have a challenge every week and have to come ready to play."

In a shortened 2020 season played in the spring of 2021, the MEC divided the league into the North Division and South Division. NDC went undefeated in their four regular season contests and won the conference championship game against the top team from the South, Charleston, by a score of 51-34.

Along with Mental taking MEC Coach of the Year honors, NDC had a record breaking 22 players named to an All-MEC team last season, including 14 First Team members. Of the 22 all-conference honorees, 18 return for the fall 2021 season. Tanner Harding and Nathan Moore took home First Team Academic All-Region awards for the second consecutive campaign and they became the first Falcons since 2018 to be awarded Academic All-America honors.

The NCAA Division II Football Playoffs were canceled in 2020, but Notre Dame brings back plenty of players with postseason experience. In 2019, NDC had a record of 12-2 (9-1 MEC) and won two playoff games to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals.

The Falcons begin the season against Ashland University on Sept. 4. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. on Mueller Field.

To see the full 2021 schedule, click here.
 

2021 MEC Preseason Football Poll
1.	Notre Dame (10)	119
2.	Charleston (2)	112
3.	Frostburg State	101
4.	UNC Pembroke	91
5.	West Virginia State	79
6.	Fairmont State	62
7.	Wheeling	55
8.	Glenville State	54
9.	West Liberty	44
10.	Concord	43
11.	Alderson Broaddus	19
12.	West Virginia Wesleyan	13

() Indicates first-place votes