The 2019 Northern Colorado Bears football team represented the University of Northern Colorado in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by ninth-year head coach Earnest Collins Jr. and played their home games at Nottingham Field. They were a member of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 2–10, 2–6 in Big Sky play to finish in a five-way tie for ninth place. On November 24, 2019, Earnest Collins Jr. was let go after nine seasons, he finished at Northern Colorado with a record of 28–72.[1]
Preseason
Big Sky preseason poll
The Big Sky released their preseason media and coaches' polls on July 15, 2019. The Bears were picked to finish in thirteenth place in both polls.[2]
Media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Eastern Washington
536 (25)
2
UC Davis
510 (13)
3
Weber State
472 (4)
4
Montana State
417
5
Montana
396 (1)
6
Northern Arizona
302
7
Idaho State
285
8
Idaho
248
9
Cal Poly
196
10
Portland State
178
11
Southern Utah
160
12
Sacramento State
125
13
Northern Colorado
90
Coaches poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Eastern Washington
140 (10)
2
UC Davis
127 (2)
3
Weber State
124
4
Montana
104 (1)
5
Montana State
100
6
Northern Arizona
88
7
Idaho State
72
8
Idaho
65
9
Cal Poly
56
10
Portland State
42
11
Sacramento State
40
12
Southern Utah
38
13
Northern Colorado
19
Preseason All-Big Sky team
The Bears did not have any players selected to the preseason all-Big Sky team.[3]
Despite also being a member of the Big Sky, the game at Sacramento State will be a non-conference game and will have no effect on the Big Sky standings.