DETROIT – For the second-straight year, the defending Mid-American Conference West Division champion Northern Illinois University football team was tabbed to finish third in the division in the poll released Thursday during the 2016 MAC Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Huskies, who tied an NCAA record with six straight division titles with their 2015 crown, tallied 112 points, garnering three first-place votes in the 2016 poll. NIU finished one point behind Toledo (113). Western Michigan was picked to win the division with 144 points and 19 first-place votes. Central Michigan (98) was fourth, Ball State (44) fifth and Eastern Michigan (35) sixth, rounding out the West.

Bowling Green, which has been the Huskies’ opponent in each of the last three MAC Championship games, is the MAC East favorite for 2016. The Falcons, who tallied 136 points with 12 first-place votes, edged out Ohio for the top spot.

NIU Head Coach Rod Carey said the Huskies do not let preseason polls affect their belief in the team and what it can achieve.

“I don’t think we don’t get fazed by (the poll),” Carey said. “It’s out there, people see it, we see it and then we move on. It’s not something that affects our daily life. We’ve got work to do and if you’re worried about what other people are saying, you’re not worried about the work you’ve got in front of you.”

NIU returns 16 starters, six on offense, six on defense and four specialists, from last year’s squad, including All-America cornerback Shawun Lurry and MAC Special Teams Player of the Year Aregeros Turner. The Huskies return their leading passer, rusher and receiver from last year and three starting offensive linemen. In addition to six division titles, the Huskies have made a MAC-record eight-straight bowl appearances, dating back to 2008.

The Huskies open the 2016 season Sept. 3 at Wyoming.