Heart Communications
Shelby Scott
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Grand View and Benedictine were each picked to take the titles for their divisions in the 2020 Heart Football Coaches’ Preseason Poll.
Grand View, last year’s North Division Champion, was selected as the favorite to claim the title this season after receiving five first-place votes and the maximum 50 points. Culver-Stockton claimed the final first-place tally and tied with William Penn as the second-place favorite after totaling 44 points each. Clarke landed in fourth place after collecting 37 points, followed by Peru State (34 points) and Graceland (31 points).
For the second year in a row, Benedictine was selected as the favorite to claim the South Division title after receiving three first-place votes and tallying 48 points. Baker, last season’s defending South Division champ, landed in second after receiving two first-place votes and a total of 43 points. Evangel claimed the final available first-place vote and landed in third place after earning 43 points. Missouri Valley and MidAmerica Nazarene finished tied for fourth, finishing with 35 points each, followed by Central Methodist who finished in sixth with 32 points.
The 2020 season is set to begin on September 12th with divisional competition slated to open on October 17th. The NAIA Football Championship Series has been delayed to Spring 2021 with official dates still to be determined by the national office.
North Division
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1 | Grand View (5) | 50 |
| T2 | Culver-Stockton (1) | 44 |
| T2 | William Penn | 44 |
| 4 | Clarke | 37 |
| 5 | Peru State | 34 |
| 6 | Graceland | 31 |
South Division
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1 | Benedictine (3) | 48 |
| 2 | Baker (2) | 47 |
| 3 | Evangel (1) | 43 |
| T4 | Missouri Valley | 35 |
| T4 | MidAmerica Nazarene | 35 |
| 6 | Central Methodist | 32 |