NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The University of South Dakota football team has been picked to finish fourth in the Great West Conference in a vote of the league's coaches, the conference office announced Wednesday. Defending champion Southern Utah was chosen to repeat, while Cal Poly and UC Davis rounded out the top three.

"We always appreciate the Great West Conference coaches' opinion, but we have 95 players and 11 coaches in Vermillion who think we can win this thing," eighth-year head coach Ed Meierkort said.

The Coyotes received 13 points in the voting after posting a 4-7 record overall and a 1-3 mark in conference play in 2010. South Dakota returns 19 starters and 53 letterwinners for 2011. North Dakota was selected fifth with six points.

SUU and Cal Poly each had two first-place votes, while UC Davis garnered one first-place vote. The Thunderbirds edged Cal Poly 20-19 in total points. UC Davis had 17 points.

The Coyotes open the 2011 season at Air Force on Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. CT in Colorado Springs, Colo. South Dakota then returns home to host defending FCS national champion Eastern Washington in the DakotaDome Sept. 10 at 4 p.m.

2011 Great West Conference Preseason Football Poll 1. Southern Utah (2) 20 pts. 2. Cal Poly (2) 19 pts. 3. UC Davis (1) 17 pts. 4. South Dakota 13 pts. 5. North Dakota 6 pts.