ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Valley Football Conference revealed its annual Preseason All-MVFC teams and preseason poll Monday, as voted on by the league’s head coaches, sports information directors and media.

Heading into the 2024 season, 11 Panthers picked up preseason all-conference recognition as the team was tabbed to finish eighth.

Two-time defending national champion South Dakota State was picked to repeat as MVFC champions with 42 of 44 first-place votes.

The Preseason All-MVFC list is composed of first and second teams, as well as an honorable mention team with 99 total players selected from the league’s 11 teams.

Offensive lineman Jared Penning was selected as UNI’s lone first-team honoree after being named All-MVFC and earning multiple All-America nods to end last season.

A pair of defenders make up UNI’s second-team selections in defensive lineman Cannon Butler and linebacker Tucker Langenberg. This is the first preseason honor for both athletes.

Eight Panthers were named to the honorable mention list: running back Tye Edwards, wide receivers Desmond Hutson and Sergio Morancy, tight end Layne Pryor, defensive lineman Carter Hewitt, linebacker Ben Belken, defensive back Jonathan Cabral-Martin and punter Noah Pettinger.

Pettinger was named All-MVFC Honorable Mention in 2023, while Morancy earned preseason honors from the conference last year.