Coming off an NCAA Division III quarterfinal-round playoff appearance, Central College is ranked #14 in the D3football.com preseason poll. College Football America Yearbook also has the Dutch ranked, but at #8 in its NCAA Division III preseason top 30 rankings.

Coming in at #14 on D3football.com’s preseason poll, Central is ranked one spot behind Bethel University (Minn.). The Dutch defeated Bethel 61-35 in the opening round of the playoffs in Pella last year. At #8 in the College Football America Yearbook preseason rankings, Central sits behind the University of Saint John’s (Minn.) and 2021 playoff foe Wheaton College (Ill.).

The defending champion University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) is ranked #1, in both polls, with North Central College (Ill.) and the University of Mount Union (Ohio) ranked #2 and #3 in each of the rankings.

The College Football America Yearbook also listed wide receiver Jeff Herbers in its NCAA Division III Starting Lineup. Herbers was cited after a breakout junior season, in which he had 77 catches for 1,151 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also received the 2021 Claussen Award as the team’s most improved player. He set a school record with 16 catches in a 30-28 playoff win over Wheaton on November 27th.

The Dutch return nine starters with seven American Rivers all-conference performers from a squad that posted a 12-1 record, winning the school’s 32nd conference championship and gaining its 22nd NCAA playoff berth. Central was rated #6 in the final 2021 D3football.com poll. Jeff McMartin, last season’s AFCA Division III coach of the year, has 42 returning letterwinners as he heads into his 20th campaign with the Dutch.

The Dutch open the 2022 campaign September 3rd with the first of six home games, taking on St. Olaf College (Minn.).