Last season Eastern Illinois played its way into the final FCS Coaches Top 25 rankings ending the season at No. 24 in the final poll.
The Panthers will need to do so again in 2024 as EIU was the third team listed among those also receiving votes in this year's preseason FCS Coaches Top 25, presented by Hudl, released today (August 12).
EIU went 8-3 last season and opens the 2024 season on August 29 against Illinois. The Panthers were selected to finish second in the preseason Big South/OVC Football poll and were also ranked as the third team receiving votes in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 poll.
Defending national champion South Dakota State was picked as the preseason No. 1 followed by North Dakota State, Montana, Montana State and South Dakota.
The top ten was rounded out by Villanova in sixth, Idaho, Chattanooga, Furman and Sacramento State.
Southern Illinois led off the next ten ranked schools in 11th followed by Richmond, Central Arkansas, UAlbany, Incarnate Word, William & Mary, UC Davis, Lafayette, Western Carolina and Illinois State.
The final five schools in the preseason ranking were Tarleton State, North Dakota, Youngstown State, Nicholls and Florida A&M.
Eastern Illinois was the third team also receiving votes in the preseason poll with UT Martin one spot behind in 28th overall. Gardner-Webb and Southeast Missouri were the other two schools from the Big South/OVC that received preseason votes.
