SENATOBIA - For the second time in less than a month, the reigning MACCC and National Community College Football champions Northwest have earned another top five preseason ranking.

Released Saturday evening by College Football Yearbook, the Rangers were tabbed third nationally in the JUCO Preseason Top 30, landing the highest ranking among any MACCC program. The rankings are comprised of teams from the NJCAA and the California Community College Athletic Association.

Hutchison (Kan.) lies ahead of Northwest in the top spot, while Riverside (Calif.) was chosen at No. 2 overall. Snow College (Utah) and MACCC runner-ups Mississippi Gulf Coast round out the top five at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

Only two more MACCC foes make up the remaining top 30, with East Mississippi at No. 7 and Hinds at No. 21.

Earlier this month, Northwest was ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls from JCGridiron.com, after the Rangers ran the table with a 6-0 record in a COVID-shortened 2020 season. The Rangers return a loaded roster from last season, highlighted by JCGridiron.com All-Americans Michael Hiers, Vance Van Every, Jaquerrious Williams, Jacoby Jones, Tyson Keys, Kylan Robinson and Jarvis Townsend. 

Northwest will kickoff the 2021 season on Thursday, September 2 against Copiah-Lincoln at Bobby Franklin Field.