SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The final preseason poll of the 2008 NCAA FCS Football season has been released with the Eastern Illinois Panthers set to open the year at No. 18 in the FCS Coaches poll.

EIU finished last season at No. 15 in the final FCS Coaches poll with an 8-4 record and third straight NCAA FCS playoff bid. The Panthers open the 2008 season on Aug. 28 at Central Michigan. Their first game against an FCS opponent will be the home opener on Sept. 13 versus Indiana State.

Three-time defending champion Appalachian State was a unanimous pick with all 24 first place votes. 2007 FCS runner-up Delaware was No. 8 in the poll while the other national semifinalists from last season, Richmond and Southern Illinois landed at No. 6 and No. 11 respectively.

North Dakota State, which is no eligible for an FCS playoff bid, opens the year at No. 2 followed by James Madison, Northern Iowa and Massachusetts. Richmond was sixth with Montana, Delaware, Eastern Washington McNeese State rounding out the Top 10.

Southern Illinois led teams 11 through 20 followed by Youngstown State, Wofford, Cal Poly, Elon, New Hampshire, Georgia Southern, Eastern Illinois, Villanova and South Dakota State. SDSU will also be eligible for the FCS playoffs this season as they join the Missouri Valley Conference with North Dakota State.

Rounding out the Top 25 are Ohio Valley Conference member Eastern Kentucky, Western Illinois, The Citadel, Harvard and Central Arkansas. Other OVC schools also receiving votes are Jacksonville State and UT Martin.

2008 FCS Coaches Preseason Poll (August 21, 2008)

Team (1st votes) 2007 Record Points 2007 Final Ranking
1. Appalachian State (24) 13-2 600 1
2. North Dakota State 10-1 527 9
3. James Madison 8-4 513 7
4. Northern Iowa 12-1 508 5
5. Massachusetts 10-3 488 6
6. Richmond 11-3 456 4
7. Montana 11-1 444 12
8. Delaware 11-4 419 2
9. Eastern Washington 9-4 393 8
10. McNeese State 11-1 366 11
11. Southern Illinois 12-2 329 3
12. Youngstown State 7-4 320 17
13. Wofford 9-4 316 10
14. Cal Poly 7-4 275 NR
15. Elon 7-4 247 23
16. New Hampshire 7-5 231 14
17. Georgia Southern 7-4 185 18
18. Eastern Illinois 8-4 182 15
19. Villanova 7-4 148 NR
20. South Dakota State 7-4 135 22
21. Eastern Kentucky 9-3 105 13
22. Western Illinois 6-5 67 NR
23. The Citadel 7-4 60 NR
24. Harvard 8-2 42 20
25. Central Arkansas 6-5 41 NR

Other receiving votes (points in parentheses): Fordham (40), Northern Arizona (40), Delaware State (36), Liberty (33), Yale (32), Jacksonville State (30), South Carolina State (27), Sam Houston State (24), Montana State (23), Hampton (22), Hofstra (18), Furman (13), Holy Cross (9), San Diego (8), Grambling State (7), UT Martin (6), Towson (5), Coastal Carolina (5), North Dakota (5), Maine (4), Weber State (4), Jackson State (4), UC Davis (3), Dayton (2), Florida A&M (1), Prairie View A&M (1), Missouri State (1).