SENATOBIA – Nearly a month after earning a No. 11 ranking in Street & Smith's annual college football publication, the Northwest football program has also garnered a No. 14 overall ranking by JCGridiron.com, the media outlet released on Friday morning.

Compiled by Brad Hoiseth for national recruiting service Rivals.com, the JCGridiron preseason rankings considered all 127 of the nation's two-year schools that feature football programs, including the 69 competing members of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA).

Defending NJCAA national champion Mississippi Gulf Coast checks in at No. 1 with Garden City (Kan.) close behind at No. 2 overall. Riverside City (Calif.) earned the third spot, while Jones College and Lackawanna (Pa.) rounded out the top five.

East Mississippi was the only other MACJC program ranked within the national top 30, checking at No. 8, while East Central, Copiah-Lincoln, Hinds, Pearl River and Itawamba received "On the Bubble" recognition.

Northwest is coming off an 8-3 season in 2019, which yielded a sixth straight postseason appearance and the eighth playoff berth in the last 10 seasons. The Rangers' postseason run came to a heartbreaking end with a 22-19 loss to eventual national champion Mississippi Gulf Coast in the MACJC Championship contest.

Since taking over the reins as head coach in 2016, Benjy Parker has guided the Rangers to a pair of bowl appearances and a 33-11 combined record and 19-5 within the MACJC.   

Northwest is tentatively scheduled to begin the 2020 campaign at Copiah-Lincoln on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Click here for this year's full schedule.