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Tahlequah Daily Press, Okla.
RANKED ROSTER: NSU not taking too much stock in No. 23 preseason ranking
- Story byTahlequah Daily Press, Okla.
- RANKED ROSTER: NSU not taking too much stock in No. 23 preseason ranking
After a strong 2025, Northeastern State University football starts the season ranked 23rd, but the players don't really care.
"To be honest, we don't really get into or focus on that," quarterback Donnie Smith said. "We just want to go out there and play our hardest and win. That's just a preseason thing; I am just focused on doing my best every day, getting the team into the playoffs and hopefully making it to the natty."
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They view the ranking as nice, but they know it isn't fully earned yet. Those in the RiverHawk locker room consider the ranking an extension from their hot finish to the end of last season.
NSU ended 2025 on a seven-game winning streak and a bowl victory, leaving high expectations for this year.
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Northeastern State University head coach Darrin Chiaverini talks to his team after Wednesday Aug. 19's practice.
"I told our guys that rankings mean nothing; that's respect for last year's team," head coach Darrin Chiaverini said. "It shows respect for our program, but our guys know we haven't earned that ranking yet. We have to go out and play winning football."
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Success can be viewed through different lenses, but after three years into Chiaverini's tenure, the RiverHawks are starting to have a place in the national spotlight.
After earning the recognition, the goal is growing into a better team and earning an even better ranking.
"Our confidence is up; we don't want to be sitting at 23. We want to progress higher and higher every day," defensive back Marvelous Owens said. "So we're going day by day, and trying to win the day every day."
Along with the top-25 selection, Owens and Smith also earned preseason recognition from around D2 athletics.
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Owens mug
Marvelous Owens
After earning All-American honors last year, Owens was named as a CFBNetwork Preseason All-American and a spot on the D2football.com top-100 team. Owens returns after picking off an NSU record seven passes and breaking up 11 other passes to lead the defensive unit. Heading into his second year with the RiverHawks, the senior wants to end the season on a high note.
"I just want to play faster, with better IQ," Owens said. "Just doing little things will get us back to where we were last year."
Smith was also named to the Top 100 team. Also in his second year in green, Smith set new school records in total offense, passing yards, completions, completion percentage and passing yards per game.
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"If they go out there and be who they are, they don't have to do more than what they do," Cheviarini said. "They will go out there and compete, play winning football and understand their assignment. They don't have to do more than what they've been doing in the past."
At this point in the summer, the RiverHawks are looking to wrap up training camp, with the first game on the horizon. NSU opens the season at home, Saturday, Aug. 29 vs. Delta State at noon.
"I thought we've had a very productive physical camp, Chiaverini said. "We have a lot of returners back from the bowl-winning team. I'm pleased with the progress of our program going into year three; I like where we are a week away from our first game."
