OREGON – It’s not just the big schools in Oregon that are deserving of the spotlight as the college football season gets underway. A number of local small schools have high expectations entering the 2016 football season.

At the FCS level, the Portland State Vikings enter the season ranked No. 12 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 17 in the STATS FCS preseason poll. The Vikings will try to build off the preseason momentum and improve on last year’s surprising run that ended in the second round of the national playoffs.

Southern Oregon, last year’s runner-up for the NAIA national championship, is ranked No. 2 by the NAIA Coaches Poll. The Raiders did not receive a first place vote. Defending national champion Marian claimed all 14 first place votes. Marian beat Southern Oregon 31-14 in the national championship game in 2015.

Eastern Oregon came close to cracking the top 25 of the NAIA Coaches Poll, but came in at No. 26.

Finally, the Linfield Wildcats start the season ranked No. 2 by the d3football.com preseason top 25. The Wildcats garnered three first place votes and are only 30 points behind first place Mount Union. The Wildcats were ranked No. 2 last season when they were upset by No. 3 St. Thomas in the NCAA Division III semifinals.