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).