Aug.3, 2006 Duquesne, the only team to finish in the top five in each of The Sports Network's final I-AA Mid-Major Top 10 Polls, has been picked to finish third in this year's preseason poll.
Duquesne, which has finished 4th (2001), 2nd (2002), 1st (2003), 5th (2004) and 3rd (2005) since the inception of The Sports Network's final poll, was picked to finish behind Pioneer Football League members San Diego and Dayton in a vote of I-AA media.
San Diego, which is coming off an 11-1 season, is the preseason Mid-Major No. 1 for the first time in school history. San Diego received 12 of a possible 20 first-place votes and 186 points to earn the No. 1 position again. Dayton claimed the No. 2 spot with five first-place votes and 169 points.
Duquesne, which returns 14 position starters from last year's 7-3 squad, rounded out the top three with 140 points - including two first place votes.
Albany (No. 4) and Drake (No.5) fill out the Top 5.
Rounding out the Top 10 is No. 6 Central Connecticut State, No. 7 Monmouth, No. 8 Morehead State, No. 9 Marist and No. 10 Stony Brook.
The PFL and the Northeast Conference placed four teams in the poll, while Duquesne and Marist represented the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10 poll includes the 21 programs of the MAAC, NEC, and Pioneer Leagues, which play at a non-scholarship or limited scholarship level. An updated poll, which is based on the votes of selected media members and I-AA mid-major Sports Information Directors, will be announced each Monday during the regular season. The team voted first in the final I-AA mid-major poll will be the recipient of The Sports Network Cup.
The first Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10 poll of the regular season will be announced Monday, September 4th.
The Sports Network 2006 Preseason I-AA Mid-Major College Football Poll
| Team (First-place votes) | 2005 Record | Points | 2005 Final Rank |
| 1. San Diego (12) | 11-1 | 186 | 1 |
| 2. Dayton (5) | 9-1 | 169 | 2 |
| 3. DUQUESNE (2) | 7-3 | 140 | 3 |
| 4. Albany | 5-6 | 95 | NR |
| 5. Drake | 6-4 | 93 | 6 |
| 6. Central Connecticut State | 7-4 | 89 | 7 |
| 7. Monmouth | 6-5 | 87 | 8 |
| 8. Morehead State (1) | 8-4 | 80 | 4 |
| 9. Marist | 7-4 | 48 | 5 |
| 10. Stony Brook | 6-5 | 46 | 9 |
Others receiving votes (in order of points, minimum of five required): St. Francis (PA) 19, Jacksonville 14, Wagner 12, St. Peter's 5.
