The first preseason media poll of 2025 has dropped, and the results should have Western Carolina football fans anticipating what’s ahead.
The Catamounts have been ranked No. 18 in a preseason top 25 published Wednesday by HERO Sports. Western Carolina is one of only two Southern Conference teams included in the rankings, joining reigning champions Mercer (12th).
The national spotlight reflects continued respect for WCU’s trajectory under coach Kerwin Bell and expectations for a strong 2025. The Catamounts posted a 7-5 record a year ago, 6-2 against SoCon foes.
The HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25 Media Poll reflects ballots from four prominent FCS voices: Kevin Marshall (FCS Nation Radio), Zach McKinnell (The Bluebloods, FCS Football Central), Jamie Williams (FCS Fans Nation), and Sam Herder (HERO Sports). Rankings were determined by total points across the four ballots.
Western Carolina finished just outside of the top 25 in one of the main FCS polls at the end of last season. The Catamounts received votes in the Stats Perform Top 25.
Western Carolina will kick off the season with a marquee matchup against Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Aug. 30. The game will be under the lights at Whitmire Stadium, starting at 6 p.m.
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NCCU On The Outside Looking In – Barely
North Carolina Central didn’t make the Top 25, but the Eagles were among the teams “receiving votes” in the HERO Sports balloting. NCCU finished the 2024 season with an 8-3 record, 4-1 in the MEAC. Coach Trei Oliver’s team will be among the teams to watch in the conference again this fall.
Same Old, Same Old At The Top
Defending national champion North Dakota State received all four first-place votes. The rest of the top four includes familiar powerhouses Montana State, South Dakota State (2023 champion) and South Dakota.
Of interest to followers of North Carolina FCS football: Rhode Island (9th), Villanova (14th), Monmouth (T-21st) and Stony Brook (25th) from the CAA – the conference that Elon, Campbell and North Carolina A&T call home — made the rankings. Tennessee Tech from Gardner-Webb’s conference (OVC/Big South) was voted 20th.
Chattanooga and East Tennessee State from the SoCon received votes as did UT Martin (OVC/Big South).
HERO Sports Preseason FCS Top 25
1. North Dakota State (4 1st-place votes)
2. Montana State
3. South Dakota State
4. South Dakota
5. UIW
6. Tarleton State
t7. Illinois State
t7. Montana
9. Rhode Island
10. Idaho
11. UC Davis
t12. Mercer
t12. Sacramento State
14. Villanova
15. Jackson State
16. Southern Illinois
17. Lehigh
18. Western Carolina
19. Northern Arizona
20. Tennessee Tech
t21. Monmouth
t21. Stephen F. Austin
23. Harvard
24. Abilene Christian
25. Stony Brook
Received votes (ordered from most voting points to least): Richmond, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, North Dakota, Southern Utah, North Carolina Central, UT Martin
Get ready for the 2025 college football season
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