With winning comes expectations.

Slippery Rock University football knows all about that.

Despite losing 16 seniors — most of whom started — to graduation, The Rock is picked to share the PSAC West division championship with Indiana (Pa.) University this season in a preseason poll of the league’s coaches.

“That’s all on reputation,” Rock coach Shawn Lutz said. “We lost a ton. That doesn’t matter, though, because we know we still have a target on our backs.

“I believe IUP has the most talent in our division this year. They’re the team to beat.”

SRU is 22-1 in its last 23 PSAC West games, the lone loss coming at home to IUP last season. The Rock is 25-3 against the division since the beginning of the 2017 season.

IUP was on track to win the PSAC West after its 48-21 upset win at SRU, but dropped decisions of 38-34 and 21-17 to California (Pa.) and Edinboro, respectively, down the stretch. The Crimson Hawks return Preseason All-American receiver Duane Brown, who had 55 catches for 802 yards a year ago. IUP averaged 35.2 points per game last season.

Defensively, linebacker Connor Kelly and defensive backs Charles Ingram and Darius Bruce are among the top returnees. Head coach Paul Tortorella, entering his sixth season, is 38-9 with the Crimson Hawks.

California received two first-place votes in the preseason poll. The Vulcans return 17 starters from last year’s 9-1 team and seventh-year head coach Gary Dunn is 43-13 with the program.

Noah Mitchell will be a fourth-year starting quarterback for the Vulcans. He was PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year last season and enters this year tied for the school record with 69 touchdown passes. Mitchell needs 521 yards to break the California record for career passing yards that’s stood for three decades. Tyson Hill, one of his favorite receivers, is a senior this year as well.

Five Butler County players are on the Vulcans’ roster. Gabe Miller (Seneca Valley) is a junior linebacker who had 39 tackles last season. His brother, Josh, is a sophomore linebacker who had 10 stops in limited action. Matt Charlton (Freeport) is a junior offensive lineman.

Zach Slomers (Butler) is a redshirt freshman at wide receiver and Nolan Dworek (Seneca Valley) is a freshman running back.

Gannon is picked to finish fourth in the West. Led by third-year head coach Erik Raeburn, the Golden Knights were 5-6 last year. The team has 10 starters back on offense, nine on defense.

RB Melvin Blanks rushed for 1,187 yards in 2021 and is one of four All-PSAC West players returning. The others are defensive end Nick White, right guard Montana Nietert and safety Chris Farnsworth.

Edinboro and Seton Hill are tied for fifth in the poll. The Fighting Scots were 4-6 last season, the Griffins 5-6.

Jack Nulph is entering his third year as head coach at Edinboro. The Scots led all of college football with 12 blocked kicks in 2021. They return quarterback Isaac Bernard, only a sophomore, and leading rusher Anfreenee Williams, a junior.

Fourth-year head coach Dan Day has 16 starters returning at Seton Hill. The Griffins allowed only 17.6 points per game last year, but averaged a league-worst 96.7 yards in penalties per game. Nine of those defensive starters return.

Mercyhurst and Clarion both have new head coaches this year and are picked to finish at the bottom of the league. Ryan Riemedio takes over for retired Marty Schaetzle with the Lakers and Raymond Monica is taking over with the Golden Eagles.

Seneca Valley graduate Jacob Holl is a senior linebacker at Mercyhurst and led the team with 103 tackles last season. He had five quarterback sacks and forced three fumbles as well. He is one of six All-PSAC selections returning to the Laker lineup, joining tight end Jason Armstrong, running back David Alize, defensive end Ayron Thompson, defensive lineman Jehrod Gregory and linebacker Thomas Zacharyasz.

Clarion only has three returning starters on offense, but one is All-PSAC West selection Khalil Owens at running back. Junior safety Drew Blon was second on the team with 71 tackles in 2021.

Two Butler County products, sophomore defensive back Connor Lyczek (Seneca Valley) and sophomore linebacker Brady McKee (Freeport) are on the Golden Eagle roster. Lyczek had 19 solo tackles in eight games and McKee totaled five tackles in four games last year.