Update: Mav football ranked No. 7 in country for D II

After being ranked second in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association earlier this month, UNO's squad was predicted to finish No. 7 in NCAA Division II football.The Mavericks still trail MIAA rivals Northwest Missouri State, who came in third in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll, which was released Aug. 12.

Valdosta State (Ga.), the defending national champion, was ranked at the top of DII football, with Grand Valley State (Mich.) coming in second.

Northwest Missouri State and Nebraska-Omaha were also joined in the Top 25 by MIAA conference member Pittsburg State, which polled No. 17. Washburn, Missouri Western and Central Missouri - also MIAA schools - all received votes in the season's first coaches' poll.

One of Nebraska's other state schools, Chadron State, out of Chadron, Neb., also made the Top 25, coming in ninth in the poll.

UNO will open its 2008 season against university rival Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. at Caniglia Field. The game is free for students with a MavCard and will also be televised statewide on NETV.