Preseason FCS Football Poll Released

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The first official preseason poll of the FCS football season has been released with defending Ohio Valley Conference Champion Eastern Illinois ranked No. 23 in the FCS Coaches poll.  EIU ended the 2012 season ranked No. 25 in that poll.  This season EIU has been tabbed as the OVC preseason favorite with Top 25 rankings in Lindy’s and Sporting News preseason magazines.

The Panthers went 7-5 last season including a 6-1 record in the OVC as they won their sixth OVC title since 2000 and made their 14th overall FCS playoff appearance.  EIU will be led on offense by Walter Payton Award candidates Erik Lora and Jimmy Garoppolo.  The defense features seven returning starters with preseason All-OVC selections Nick Beard and Pat Wertz.

EIU opens the 2013 season on August 31 at San Diego State.  The home opener for EIU is Sept. 14 against Illinois State in the Mid-America Classic.  The Redbirds are ranked No. 10 in the FCS Coaches preseason poll.  Season and single game tickets are now on sale by calling 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com

Defending two-time National Champion North Dakota State has been named the preseason No. 1 receiving 23 of 26 first place votes.  Montana State, Sam Houston State and Eastern Kentucky received the other first place votes.  Montana State was second in the preseason poll followed by Eastern Washington, Sam Houston State and Wofford.  Eastern Kentucky was No. 19.

Central Arkansas led the next five schools in the top ten followed by South Dakota State, New Hampshire, Villanova and Illinois State.  Cal Poly, Towson, Stony Brook, Richmond, James Madison, Northern Iowa, Lehigh, Northern Arizona, Eastern Kentucky and Bethune-Cookman filled in preseason spots 11-20.

Coastal Carolina, Montana, Eastern Illinois, Youngstown State and Chattanooga completed the preseason top 25.  Due to transition to the FBS programs from Appalachian State, Charlotte, Georgia Southern and Old Dominion are not eligible for the FCS playoffs or FCS Coaches poll.

Other teams on the 2013 EIU schedule listed among the schools also receiving votes included: Tennessee State (28th), Jacksonville State (39th), Southern Illinois (44th), Tennessee Tech (47th) and UT Martin (48th).

Preseason 2012 FCS Coaches Preseason Poll  (August 6, 2013)

Team (No. 1 Votes)              2012 Record       Points        Final 2012 Ranking

1. North Dakota State (23)         14-1                  645                   1

2. Montana State (1)                  11-2                  591                   5

3. Eastern Washington               11-3                  549                   4

4. Sam Houston State (1)           11-4                  534                   2

5. Wofford                                 9-4                    450                   7

6. Central Arkansas                   9-3                    428                   10

7. South Dakota State               9-4                    410                   17

8. New Hampshire                     8-4                    386                   13

9. Villanova                               8-4                    381                   16

10. Illinois State                         9-4                    379                   9

11. Cal Poly                              9-3                    348                   11

12. Towson                               7-4                    347                   15

13. Stony Brook                        10-3                  326                   12

14. Richmond                            8-3                    274                   18

15. James Madison                   7-4                    235                   21

16. Northern Iowa                      5-6                    218                   NR

17. Lehigh                                 10-1                  198                   14

18. Northern Arizona                  8-2                    196                   20

19. Eastern Kentucky (1)            8-3                    188                   19

20. Bethune-Cookman               9-3                    159                   23

21. Coastal Carolina                  8-5                    140                   24

22. Montana                              6-2*                  135                   NR

23. Eastern Illinois                     7-5                    120                   25

24. Youngstown State               7-4                    107                   NR

25. Chattanooga                        6-5                    104                   NR

Others receiving votes: Wagner (87), Colgate (67), Tennessee State (52), Harvard (48), Delaware (47), The Citadel (39), Liberty (39), Arkansas Pine-Bluff (35), Indiana State (27), Stephen F. Austin (19), McNeese State (16), Penn (13), Alcorn State (12), Jacksonville State (11), Samford (10), Norfolk State (7), Alabama State (7), UC Davis (7), Southern Illinois (6), Maine (5), Albany (5), Tennessee Tech (5), UT Martin (4), Gardner Webb (4), Sacramento State (3), Hampton (3), San Diego (2), Jackson State (1), Missouri State (1), Brown (1)

* Final 6 games of 2012 vacated

Note: The following programs are ineligible for the Coaches Poll due to their transition to the FBS- Appalachian State, Charlotte, Georgia Southern and Old Dominion.