MINNEAPOLIS – After rolling to the 2023 conference title and earning a berth in the MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance, Michigan State has been installed as the favorite in Division I of the Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference (UMLC), according to the preseason coaches poll.

The Spartans (6-6) had a slow start to the ’23 campaign, losing four of the first six games, but rallied late in the season to make the UMLC title game and stifled Minnesota (8-5), 11-3, in the championship tilt.

Michigan State was awarded six of the nine first-place votes in the poll.

Aided by a pair of first-place tallies, the Golden Gophers were slotted second, seven points behind the Spartans. Minnesota won seven-straight games down the stretch before running into Michigan State in the conference finals.

Purdue (7-9) checks in at No. 3 in the preseason poll while Illinois (6-9) rounds out the top four.

Miami (Ohio) (3-6) snagged the last first-place vote in the poll, helping solidify the Redhawks in the No. 6 spot.

2024 UMLC Division I Preseason Coaches Poll