MIAA Football Media set for July 27, Wise and Klein to represent Lopers

For the second year in a row, MIAA Football Media Day will be hosted by a member school, as Washburn University will host the event on July 27, one month out from the official kickoff of the NCAA Division II football season.

UNK Football, off a 6-5 season (4-5 MIAA), will be at the podium at 11:15 a.m. to wrap up Session 1. Missouri Western, Central Missouri, Northwest Missouri, and Central Oklahoma will all appear in the morning session, and Washburn, Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Missouri Southern, and Pittsburg State will appear in the afternoon session.

Entering his fourth year as head coach, Ryan Held will represent the Lopers alongside redshirt senior linebacker Parker Wise (Kearney) and redshirt senior offensive lineman Carter Klein (Pleasanton). Wise was second team All-MIAA in the 2025 season, leading the team with 70 tackles last fall, alongside 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. At center last year, Klein was named second team All-MIAA last year, after being named honorable mention All-MIAA in 2024.

Pleasanton’s Carter Klein (left) and Kearney’s Parker Wise (right) will represent UNK alongside Head Coach Ryan Held at MIAA Football Media Day on July 27. (UNK Athletics / Courtesy)

Washburn hosts 2026 MIAA Football Media Day at their Indoor Athletic Facility, which boasts a 200-meter, six-lane, banked track as well as a 110-yard synthetic turf practice field. Last year, Emporia State hosted Media Day. Previous to last year, it was held in Kansas City.

Last year, Central Oklahoma was first in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, while Pittsburg State was first in the MIAA Football Preseason Media Poll. Northwest Missouri, who tied Pitt State for the 2025 MIAA Championship, was sixth in the coaches poll and fifth in the media poll. Central Oklahoma would finish third.

UNK was eighth in the Coaches Poll and seventh in the media poll. The Lopers tied for sixth with Emporia State in league standings.

The Full MIAA Football Schedule can be found at theMIAA.com/football. Fans can also watch MIAA Football Media Day exclusively at The MIAA Network website.