Rowan University has been selected as the favorite to win the 2005 New Jersey Athletic Conference Football Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s seven head coaches. The 2004 NJAC Champion Profs will be seeking their 15th conference crown since 1971. 

The Profs finished the 2004 season with a 10-3 overall record and advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. Rowan received all seven of the first place votes cast by the coaches. Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Jay Accorsi, the Profs have posted an overall record of 27-7.   

Rowan returns 11 all-conference players including the 2004 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year in junior quarterback Mike Orihel. In addition, the Profs return a pair of first-team wide receivers in seniors Phil Silva and Sakeen Wright. 

SUNY Cortland, which finished the 2004 season with a 5-4 overall record, was selected to place second. Under the direction of ninth-year head coach Dan MacNeill, the Red Dragons have posted an overall record of 45-36. Cortland returns seven all-conference players including a trio of junior first-team defenders in  defensive lineman Adam Haas, linebacker Matt Montpetit, and safety Stef Sair. 

The coaches' dark horse selection, Montclair State University, was picked to finish third. The 2003 NJAC Champions have accumulated a 152-72-2 overall record during the tenure of 23-year head coach Rick Giancola. The Red Hawks return eight all-conference players including the reigning NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Year in sophomore linebacker Sal Fama.

Western Connecticut University, which posted an overall record of 5-5 in its first year as a member of the NJAC, was tapped to place fourth. Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach John Burrell, the Colonials have posted an overall record of 18-12. Western Connecticut returns nine all-conference players including two members of the first-team offense in senior wide receiver Vinny Sheperis and senior offensive lineman Steve Beecher. 

The 2004 NJAC runners-up with a 7-2 overall record, The College of New Jersey, was selected to place fifth. Under the leadership of 29th-year head coach Eric Hamilton, the Lions have posted an overall record of 172-102-6. TCNJ returns three all-conference players including a pair of senior co-captains in offensive lineman Ramie Roye and safety Miles Shanklin.

Kean University, led by third-year head coach Charlie Cocuzza, was tapped to place sixth. The Cougars return seven all-conference players including the 2004 NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year in sophomore quarterback A.J. Roque.   

William Paterson University, led by first-year head coach Mike Miello, was selected to place seventh. The Pioneers return four all-conference players including junior fullback Thomas Murphy.

NJAC league play will get underway on Saturday, September 10 when TCNJ hosts Cortland and Western Connecticut hosts William Paterson. 

The NJAC Champion receives the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA National Championship Tournament.