CHARLOTTE - For the ninth time in the last 10 seasons, the Northwest football team will open the year ranked in the NJCAA preseason poll.

Northwest is slotted at No. 7 in the NJCAA preseason rankings, the organization announced on Monday afternoon. The Rangers have started every season ranked in the NJCAA polls since 2015, except for the 2020 season affected by COVID-19.

Earlier this summer, the Rangers were ranked 11th in the preseason polls from JCGridiron.com, which also factors in non-NJCAA affiliated programs in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA).

Northwest started the 2023 season ranked No. 3 in the polls, before closing out the year ranked No. 13 overall. The Rangers posted a 7-3 record last season and clinched its 10th straight conference playoff appearance, the longest postseason streak in program history.

Last year's national champion, Iowa Western, will start the season ranked at the top, followed by MACCC nemesis East Mississippi at No. 2, Hutchinson (Kan.) ranked third, Kilgore College (Texas) at No. 4 and Snow College (Utah) ranked fifth.

Other MACCC teams in the rankings include Copiah-Lincoln at No. 10, Mississippi Gulf Coast at No. 11 and Jones College, which is slotted at No. 14.

Northwest will hit the road to open the season on Thursday, August 29 against Pearl River. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 P.M. on Action News 5 Plus and Ranger TV.