Sporting News released their Top-25 on May 25, 2016.[3] Two teams from the conference were ranked in the top 25: #1 Northwest Missouri State and #24 Emporia State.vOn June 15, 2016, the Lindy's NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 was released, where four teams placed in the top 25 from the conference: #1 Northwest Missouri State, #12 Emporia State, #22 Central Missouri, and Pittsburg State and #25.[4]
On August 2, MIAA Media Days was held at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City. Northwest Missouri was chosen as #1 and Central Missouri was chosen as #2 for both Coaches and Media polls. The schools were ranked as follows:[5]
MIAA Coaches
1.
NW Missouri (10)
2.
Central Mo. (1)
3.
Pittsburg St. (1)
3.
Emporia St.
5.
Central Ok.
6.
Fort Hays St.
7.
Mo. Western
8.
Washburn
9.
Northeastern St.
10.
Mo. Southern
11.
Nebraska–Kearney
12.
Lindenwood
( ) first place votes
MIAA Media
1.
NW Missouri (39)
2.
Central Mo.
3.
Pittsburg St.
4.
Emporia St.
5.
Fort Hays St.
6.
Central Ok.
7.
Mo. Western
8.
Washburn
9.
Lindenwood
10.
Northeastern St.
11.
Mo. Southern
12.
Nebraska–Kearney
( ) first place votes
On August 15, the American Football Coaches Association released the Preseason Division II Poll.[6] Northwest Missouri State, the 2015 National Champions, was selected to finish first,[7] Central Missouri was ranked at No. 20,[8] and Emporia State was selected at No. 24.[9] Central Oklahoma, Fort Hays State, and Pittsburg State all received votes.
On August 25, D2football.com released its Top 25 poll, which includes four MIAA schools. NW Missouri State was ranked 1st, Central Missouri 10th, Emporia State 12th, and Pittsburg State 24th.[10]
Schedule[]
The first week of conference play began on Thursday, September 1, 2016 and ends on Saturday, November 12, 2016. The schedule is subject to change.[1]
Week 1[]
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 1, 2016
7:00 pm
No. 1 Northwest Missouri State
No. 24 Emporia State
Welch Stadium • Emporia, KS
NWMSU 41–14
6,821
September 1, 2016
7:00 pm
Missouri Southern
Fort Hays State
Lewis Field Stadium • Hays, KS
FHSU 22–10
4,134
September 1, 2016
7:00 pm
Central Oklahoma
Lindenwood
Hunter Stadium • St. Charles, MO
LWU 49–26
3,132
September 1, 2016
7:00 pm
Nebraska–Kearney
Missouri Western
Spratt Stadium • St. Joseph, MO
MWSU 44–21
6,017
September 1, 2016
7:00 pm
No. 20 Central Missouri
Pittsburg State
Smith Stadium • Pittsburg, KS
UCM 34–27
9,311
September 1, 2016
6:00 pm
Northeastern State
Washburn
Yager Stadium • Topeka, KS
WU 38–19
5,775
#Rankings from AFCA Poll. All times are in Central Time.
Week 2[]
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 8, 2016
7:00 pm
Fort Hays State
No. 16 Central Missouri
Walton Stadium • Warrensburg, MO
UCM 34–17
7,279
September 8, 2016
7:00 pm
Pittsburg State
Central Oklahoma
Wantland Stadium • Edmond, OK
PSU 45–31
6,218
September 8, 2016
7:00 pm
Emporia State
Nebraska–Kearney
Cope Stadium • Kearney, NE
ESU 34–7
4,663
September 8, 2016
7:00 pm
Lindenwood
Northeastern State
Wantland Stadium • Tahlequah, OK
NSU 35–31
2,104
September 8, 2016
7:00 pm
Washburn
No. 1 Northwest Missouri State
Bearcat Stadium • Maryville, MO
NWMSU 41–7
7,501
September 10, 2016
6:00 pm
Missouri Western
Missouri Southern
Hughes Stadium • Joplin, MO
MSWSU 51–14
4,274
#Rankings from AFCA Poll. All times are in Central Time.
Week 3[]
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 17, 2016
2:00 pm
Missouri Southern
Emporia State
Welch Stadium • Emporia, KS
ESU 49–21
5,304
September 17, 2016
7:00 pm
Central Oklahoma
Fort Hays State
Lewis Field Stadium • Hays, KS
FHSU 34–20
3,520
September 17, 2016
6:00 pm
No. 14 Central Missouri
Missouri Western
Spratt Field • St. Joseph, MO
UCM 38–34
6,533
September 17, 2016
1:30 pm
Nebraska–Kearney
No. 1 Northwest Missouri State
Bearcat Stadium • Maryville, MO
NWMSU 52–14
8,550
September 17, 2016
1:00 pm
Northeastern State
Pittsburg State
Smith Stadium • Pittsburg, KS
PSU 38–37 OT
11,495
September 17, 2016
6:00 pm
Lindenwood
Washburn
Yager Stadium • Topeka, KS
WU 34–29
6,721
#Rankings from AFCA Poll. All times are in Central Time.
Week 4[]
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 24, 2016†
1:00 pm
Emporia State
No. 13 Central Missouri
Walton Stadium • Warrensburg, MO
ESU 37–31 2OT
7,995
September 24, 2016
6:00 pm
Missouri Western
Central Oklahoma
Wantland Stadium • Edmond, OK
UCO 31–21
3,120
September 24, 2016
6:00 pm
Pittsburg State
Lindenwood
Hunter Stadium • St. Charles, MO
PSU 50–19
3,088
September 24, 2016
6:00 pm
No. 1 Northwest Missouri State
Missouri Southern
Hughes Stadium • Joplin, MO
NWMSU 45–21
5,267
September 24, 2016
2:00 pm
Washburn
Nebraska–Kearney
Cope Stadium • Kearney, NE
WU 47–44 3OT
4,028
September 24, 2016†
1:00 pm
Fort Hays State
Northeastern State
Wadley Stadium • Tahlequah, OK
FHSU 34–7
2,526
#Rankings from AFCA Poll. All times are in Central Time.