Here are the NSCAA Men’s NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 rankings as sanctioned and conducted by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America:
| Rank/Team | 1997 Record |
| 1. Cal State Bakersfield | 20-4-0 |
| 2. Lynn | 19-2-0 |
| 3. Southern Connecticut | 21-1-1 |
| 4. Truman State | 16-6-0 |
| 5. South Carolina-Spartanburg | 19-4-0 |
| 6. New Hampshire College | 17-2-1 |
| 7. West Virginia Wesleyan | 16-5-1 |
| 8. Seattle Pacific | 12-7-1 |
| 9. Franklin Pierce | 12-5-0 |
| 10. Tampa | 16-3-0 |
| 11. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville | 18-2-1 |
| 12. Alabama-Huntsville | 15-2-1 |
| 13. West Texas A&M | 12-6-0 |
| 14. East Stroudsburg | 17-6-1 |
| 15. Fort Lewis | 15-5-0 |
| 16. Dowling | 12-7-0 |
| 17. Lock Haven | 14-4-0 |
| 18. Cal Poly Pomona | 12-6-1 |
| 19. C.W. Post | 13-5-0 |
| 20. Mercyhurst | 11-5-1 |
| 21. Lander | 14-3-0 |
| 22. St. Leo (Fla.) | 12-4-0 |
| 23. Wisconsin-Parkside | 12-5-1 |
| 24. Southampton | 12-5-1 |
| 25. Cal State Dominguez Hills | 12-6-1 |