LIBERTY, Mo. – The University of West Alabama football team received a fifth pre-season ranking on Tuesday as the Tigers were tabbed 25th in the 2010 D2Football.com Pre-Season Top 25 Poll.

UWA has received recognition in the four previous national pre-season polls. The Tigers were tabbed 12th in the AFCA Division II Pre-Season Coaches' Poll and the USA Today Pre-Season Poll. The Tigers are ranked 23rd in the Lindy's Preseason Top 25 and 24th in the Sporting News Preseason Top 25.

The Tigers were selected second by the Gulf South Conference head coaches in pre-season poll, marking the team's highest pre-season ranking since 1976. The Tigers previously entered as the top ranked team in 1976 and 1972. The Red and White earned 84 total points led by two first-place votes and four second-place nods.

Northwest Missouri State, fresh off of their third national championship a season ago, opens up 2010 as the pre-season favorite to win the national championship. The Bearcats finished 2009 with a 14-1 record. National runner-up Grand Valley State (Mich.) is ranked No. 2 followed by GSC foe North Alabama at No. 3. The University of Minnesota in Duluth and Central Washington round out the Top 5.

Valdosta State and Delta State enter the poll at No. 21 and No. 23 respectively to conclude the GSC representation in the rankings.

West Alabama opens the season on Saturday, Aug. 28 in the RockTenn Classic against NAIA member Shorter in Demopolis, Ala. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The Classic will be broadcasted on ESPN 104.9-FM with the broadcast beginning at approximately 6:15 p.m.