STEVE CARPENTER
HutchCC Sports Information
For the fourth-consecutive season, the Hutchinson Community College football teams opens a season ranked in the Top 5 of the preseason NJCAA rankings.
Released on Monday, the Blue Dragons open the 2022 season ranked No. 3 in the preseason rankings.
The Blue Dragons follow defending national champion New Mexico Military and No. 2 Iowa Western in the preseason rankings. Northwest Mississippi and Snow College are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
New Mexico Military received nine first-place votes. The Blue Dragons received three first-place votes.
Hutchinson will play one of the most challenging schedules in the nation in 2022 with five teams on its schedule ranked in the Top 15 and two other opponents receiving votes.
The Blue Dragons open the season with No. 13 Navarro on Saturday at Gowans Stadium. Iowa Central (Sept. 10) is ranked No. 11. Coffeyville (Sept. 24) and Butler (Oct. 1) are both receiving votes. Garden City (Oct. 22) is ranked No. 7. Independence (Nov. 5) is No. 10 and Iowa Western (Nov. 12) is ranked No. 2.
The 2022 Blue Dragons have five offensive starters, four defensive starters and two special teams' starters returning from last season, which finished at 9-2 and on a six-game winning streak. The Dragons have eight third-year players on the roster this season.
The Blue Dragons’ run of four-straight Top 5 preseason rankings began with a No. 5 ranking in 2019. The Dragons were preseason No. 1 in both 2020-21 and 2021. The Blue Dragons finished No. 3 in 2019, won the national champion in 2020-21 and placed third in 2021.
The Blue Dragons were picked to win the 2022 Jayhawk Conference championship in July.
Kickoff for Saturday’s 2022 season opener with No. 13 Navarro is at 1 p.m. at Gowans Stadium.
2022 NJCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. New Mexico Military Institute (9) 169
2. Iowa Western Community College 163
3. Hutchinson Community College (3) 159
4. Northwest Mississippi Community College 149
5. Snow College 130
6. East Mississippi Community College 106
7. Garden City Community College 92
8. Hinds Community College 89
9. Kilgore College 73
10. Independence Community College 63
11. Iowa Central Community College 50
12. Jones College 45
13. Navarro College 37
14. Monroe College 35
15. Lackawanna College 30
Receiving Votes: Butler, Coffeyville, Georgia Military, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Trinity Valley, Tyler.