(Peru, Neb.) – For the second year in a row, Grand View (Iowa) and Benedictine (Kan.) were each picked to take the titles for their divisions in the 2020 Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) Football Coaches' Preseason Poll.

The Heart coaches selected the Peru State football team to finish fifth in the North Division. Last season, the Bobcats finished 2-9 overall and 2-3 in the division and were tied for fourth with Clarke (Iowa).

Grand View received five first place votes and received a maximum of 50 points as the Vikings appeared atop the six-team North Division. Culver-Stockton (Mo.) claimed a first place tally and was picked for a tie for second with 44 points, matching William Penn's (Iowa) total. Claiming the fourth spot was Clarke while the Bobcats were picked fifth. Graceland (Iowa) are the pre-season sixth place pick for the North.

In the South Division, Benedictine nudged out the 2019 South winner, Baker (Kan.), by one vote – 48 to 47. Benedictine received three first-place votes while Baker had two. Close behind in third was Evangel (Mo.) who picked up one first-place vote while Missouri Valley and MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) were tied for fourth. Rounding out the south was Central Methodist (Mo.) in sixth.

The 2020 season will begin on Sept. 12 as the season was cut by two games due to the Covid-19 virus. Divisional competition is slated to open on Oct. 17. The NAIA Football Championship Series has been delayed to Spring 2021 with official dates still to be determined by the national office.

Peru State will begin its 2020 campaign on the road against Benedictine on the 12^th at 1 p.m. The Bobcats will then host MidAmerica Nazarene at 6 p.m. on September 19.

North Division

#	School (1^st Place Votes)	Points
1	Grand View (5)	50
2 Tie	Culver-Stockton (1)	44
2 Tie	William Penn	44
4	Clarke	37
5	Peru State	34
6	Graceland	31

South Division

#	School (1^st Place Votes)	Points
1	Benedictine (3)	48
2	Baker (2)	47
3	Evangel (1)	43
4 Tie	Missouri Valley	35
4 Tie	MidAmerica Nazarene	35
6	Central Methodist	32