The Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks were selected by the league coaches as the overall and south division preseason favorite in the NSIC in 2013. The Mavericks received 13 first place votes and amassed 223 points, 16 more than Minnesota Duluth (207), who garnered two other first place votes and was the coaches’ top choice in the north division. Winona State was picked third overall (191) while St. Cloud State (183) was fourth in the poll and garnered one first place vote.
As in the past five seasons, the NSIC football schedule will be broken into two divisions (north/south). Each team will play 11 conference games that will count towards the NSIC Overall Champion as well as seven divisional games that will count towards the NSIC North/South Division Championships. In all, three league championships will be awarded (Overall Champion, North Division Champion, South Division Champion). Ties will not be broken for overall or division champions.
The 2013 season kickoffs on Thursday, September 5 at 6 p.m. when Bemidji State invades Winona State.
NSIC Overall Preseason Coaches’ Poll
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NSIC Overall Preseason Coaches’ Poll
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Points | North Division | Points | |
| 1. Minnesota State (13) | 223 | 1. Minnesota Duluth (6) | 48 | |
| 2. Minnesota Duluth (2) | 207 | 2. St. Cloud State (2) | 42 | |
| 3. Winona State | 191 | 3. Northern State | 36 | |
| 4. St. Cloud State (1) | 183 | 4. Bemidji State | 34 | |
| 5. Sioux Falls | 159 | 5. U-Mary | 23 | |
| 6. Bemidji State | 140 | 6. Minot State | 21 | |
| 7. Wayne State | 137 | 7. Minnesota Crookston | 10 | |
| 8. Northern State | 128 | MSU Moorhead | 10 | |
| 9. Augustana | 125 | South Division | Points | |
| 10. Concordia-St. Paul | 96 | 1. Minnesota State (6) | 48 | |
| 11. U-Mary | 82 | 2. Winona State (2) | 44 | |
| 12. Southwest Minnesota State | 77 | 3. Sioux Falls | 32 | |
| 13. Upper Iowa | 63 | 4. Wayne State | 31 | |
| 14. Minot State | 57 | 5. Augustana | 27 | |
| 15. MSU Moorhead | 35 | 6. Concordia-St. Paul | 16 | |
| 16. Minnesota Crookston | 17 | 7. Southwest Minnesota State | 15 | |
| 8. Upper Iowa | 11 |