The Lindenwood Lions were picked to finish fourth in the conference preseason football poll. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer
The Ohio Valley Conference-Big South Football Association released its preseason poll this week.
The Lindenwood University football team earned 39 points and was picked to finish fourth, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Lindenwood went 5-7 and finished in sixth place last season.
Lindenwood football will begin the new season with a road game against St. Thomas on August 28. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Tennessee Tech was voted the favorite in the 2025 preseason poll for the 2025 campaign, after finishing in a four-way tie for the title last season. It was Tennessee Tech’s first conference championship since 2011.
The Golden Eagles picked up five of the nine first-place votes and 57 points to claim the top spot. That was one point ahead of UT Martin, who received two first-place votes and 56 points.
The Skyhawks have won or shared four-straight league football crowns (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024). Southeast Missouri, who also shared the Association title last year, picked up the other two first-place votes and 53 points and was tabbed third.
Lindenwood, who has completed the reclassification process to Division I and is eligible for the FCS Playoffs for the first time, was picked fourth, followed by Western Illinois (30), Eastern Illinois and Gardner-Webb (24 points apiece), Tennessee State (23), and Charleston Southern (18).
Lindenwood’s home opener this season is September 20 against Stony Brook. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
The 2025 season will begin on Thursday, August 28, when the Lions travel to St. Paul, Minn., to play St. Thomas.
The Association-portion of the 2025 season will start on Saturday, September 13 when Lindenwood travels to Charleston Southern. The first full weekend of Association play will be on Saturday, October 4 when eight teams are in action.
The nine OVC-Big South teams will once again play a full eight-game round robin schedule with the Association champion receiving an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.
2025 OVC-BIG SOUTH PRESEASON POLL
| Rank – School (first-place votes) | Points |
| 1 – Tennessee Tech (5 first-place) | 57 |
| 2 – Tennessee-Martin (2) | 56 |
| 3 – Southeast Missouri (2) | 53 |
| 4 – Lindenwood | 39 |
| 5 – Western Illinois | 30 |
| 6t – Eastern Illinois | 24 |
| 6t – Gardner-Webb | 24 |
| 8 – Tennessee State | 23 |
| 9 – Charleston Southern | 18 |
Note: points are based on a weighted system, with first-place votes receiving 8 points, followed by 7 points for second-place, and so on. Coaches could not vote for their own team.
2025 LINDENWOOD LIONS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | At | Opponent | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 28, 2025 (Thursday) | Away | St. Thomas | St. Paul, Minn. | |
| September 6, 2025 (Saturday) | Away | Appalachian State | Boone, N.C. |  |
| September 13, 2025 (Saturday) | Away | Charleston Southern | Charleston, S.C. | |
| September 20, 2025 (Saturday) | Home | Stony Brook | Hunter Stadium | |
| September 27, 2025 (Saturday) | Away | Miami (OH) | Oxford, Ohio | |
| October 4, 2025 (Saturday) | Home | Tennessee-Martin | Hunter Stadium | |
| October 18, 2025 (Saturday) | Home | Tennessee Tech | Hunter Stadium | |
| October 25, 2025 (Saturday) | Home | Gardner-Webb | Hunter Stadium | |
| November 1, 2025 (Saturday) | Away | Tennessee State | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| November 8, 2025 (Saturday) | Away | Western Illinois | Macomb, Ill. | |
| November 15, 2025 (Saturday) | Home | Eastern Illinois | Hunter Stadium | |
| November 22, 2025 (Saturday) | Away | Southeast Missouri State | Cape Girardeau, Mo. | |
Go Lions!!!
Season begins in a month. I can’t wait!
Lions should finish in the top 3.
If they can pull off an upset or two, they might win the league.
Don’t know anything about football, but I know our Lions are the best looking team in the country!!!
Very excitedd about LU football this year!
Sucks that the home opener is not til September 20.
Lions will be better than people think.
Home field advantage is great and getting better.