COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For the seventh time in the last 10 years, the Northwest Rangers will open up the football season nationally ranked. The defending national champions come in at No. 10 in this year's NJCAA preseason poll released Monday afternoon.

Northwest is also ranked third in The Sporting News and sixth in JCGridiron.com's Dirty 30 preseason rankings. 

Coming off an 11-1 record, unprecedented six wins over nationally-ranked opponents, conference championship and national title, the Rangers will have to replace 15 starters this season, including a trio of All-Americans.

Fourteen Rangers off last year's team signed to continue their careers at the four-year level, 10 of those being FBS or FCS schools.

Northwest is one of five MACJC teams in the Top 20, joining No. 1 East Mississippi, No. 4 Gulf Coast, No. 7 Copiah-Lincoln and No. 19 Hinds. 

Northwest has made the MACJC playoffs in 26 out of the last 34 seasons and is poised for a return trip with another talented team under first-year head coach Benjy Parker.

The Rangers will kick off the 2016 campaign at No. 19 Hinds on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 6:30 p.m. Live video, audio and stats will be provided all season long at www.nwccrangers.com.