FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) football coaches have selected Trine University to finish fourth in a tight conference race in the 2025 edition of the Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Thunder took their spot by securing 25 points in the poll. Point totals are determined by votes cast by the association's coaches, who cannot vote for their own team, with low point total receiving the top spot. Alma College, who won the title in 2023, and Hope College, the defending champions, finished in a near tie atop the poll. Both received four first place votes, while Alma had 10 points and Hope had 11.

Trine is surrounded in their fourth spot by Adrian College and Albion College. The Bulldogs finished last season in fifth place in the standings and secured 23 points in this year's poll. The Britons were third last season and secured 26 points in the poll.

The Flying Dutch were the undefeated champions in 2025 with the rest of the teams stair stepping down from there. Trine finished 4-3 in conference play and fourth in the standings.

The Thunder will enter the season with three of their six All-MIAA selections returning to the roster. Tristan Burrus is the lone returning first team selection, after earning a spot as a punt returner. Evan Kaehr and Cam McCarver both return after earning second team spots.

While not an All-MIAA player, the top rusher from the 2024 campaign returns in the form of Saleem Felder, who finished the season with 911 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns.