STFX X-Men top 2023 pre-season football coaches' poll

(HALIFAX, N.S.) According to the AUS football coaches, the STFX X-Men are the team to beat this year.

The reigning two-time conference champions took the top spot in the annual AUS coaches' poll, receiving 16 points and four first-place votes.

The Bishop's Gaiters, who finished second in the 2022 regular season, earned second place in the poll with 13 points.

The Mount Allison Mounties, 2022 AUS finalists, followed with 10 points, Saint Mary's Huskies with six and Acadia Axemen with five.

This marks the sixth year for the AUS football pre-season coaches' poll, which is voted on by the league's five head coaches. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

Last season, the STFX X-Men went undefeated, finishing the regular season 8-0 before topping the Mount Allison Mounties 21-14 in the AUS Loney Bowl to be crowned conference champions for the second straight season and advance to the national semi-final.

The Bishop's Gaiters will look to improve on last season's 4-3 regular season record, which earned them a second-place spot headed into playoffs. The Gaiters were upset 15-12 by the Mount Allison Mounties in semi-final action.

The Mount Allison Mounties finished the 2022 regular season in third place, with a 4-4 record, upsetting the Gaiters in the conference semi-finals and finally falling to the X-Men in the conference championship game.

Saint Mary's will look to improve on last season's 3-4 record, after narrowly missing the 2022 playoffs.

The Acadia Axemen are looking to turn things around after a winless 2022 season and return to their former glory. Prior to the hiatus forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Axemen boated a perfect 8-0 season in 2019, moving on to win the conference championship.

The 2023 regular season kicks off this weekend with a pair of games: the Acadia Axemen visit Mount Allison Mounties Saturday, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. ADT in Sackville, N.B., while the Bishop's Gaiters head to STFX for a 3 p.m. ADT kickoff in Antigonish, N.S.

The Saint Mary's Huskies have a bye in week one.

To plan ahead for the entire 2023 AUS football schedule, click here. All games will also be webcast live at www.AUStv.ca.