Another national media outlet has put Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne football in its preseason Division II top 25 rankings.
Wingate is listed 18th in the D2Football.com rankings, while Lenoir-Rhyne is 23rd. The Bulldogs and Bears also appear in the American Football Coaches Association preseason top 25, released last week – Wingate at 21 and Lenoir-Rhyne at 25.
Both the ‘Dogs and Bears compete in the South Atlantic Conference and are expected to contend for the Piedmont Division crown. Wingate finished 11-3 a year ago, advancing to the D2 playoff quarterfinals and finishing 12th in the final D2Football poll. Lenoir-Rhyne was 8-3 a year ago but unranked at season’s end.
Newberry, which plays in the SAC also, is missing from the D2Football poll. The Wolves are 24th in the AFCA preseason rankings.
Opening day is less than two weeks away for both teams. Wingate will host Albany State on Thursday, Aug. 31, while Lenoir-Rhyne will start Saturday, Sept. 2 at home against St. Augustine’s.
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D2Football.com Preseason Top 25
| Rank | Team | Record | Last |
| 1 | Ferris State | 14-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Grand Valley | 12-1 | 2 |
| 3 | Pittsburg State | 12-1 | 5 |
| 4 | Colorado Mines | 13-3 | 3 |
| 5 | Northwest Missouri | 10-3 | 7 |
| 6 | Angelo State | 12-1 | 6 |
| 7 | Minnesota State | 10-3 | 11 |
| 8 | West Florida | 12-2 | 4 |
| 9 | Delta State | 11-2 | 9 |
| 10 | Bemidji State | 10-3 | 16 |
| 11 | Ouachita Baptist | 11-1 | 13 |
| 12 | IUP | 10-2 | 10 |
| 13 | Shepherd | 13-2 | 8 |
| 14 | Ashland | 10-2 | 14 |
| 15 | Harding | 9-2 | 18 |
| 16 | Slippery Rock | 10-3 | 15 |
| 17 | Emporia State | 9-3 | 22 |
| 18 | Wingate | 11-3 | 12 |
| 19 | West Georgia | 8-2 | 21 |
| 20 | Benedict | 11-1 | 17 |
| 21 | Indianapolis | 9-2 | 20 |
| 22 | Virginia Union | 9-2 | 19 |
| 23 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 8-3 | NR |
| 24 | Davenport | 8-3 | 25 |
| 25 | CSU-Pueblo | 8-4 | 24 |
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More SAC Headlines from NC Football News
- Circle your calendars: Composite 2024 college football schedule for North Carolina
34 programs. 303 total games. 186 contests played within our state’s borders. Let’s go! - Top returning QBs to watch in North Carolina this season
Twelve signal callers who could put up big numbers across all four NCAA divisions in 2024 - 2-Minute Drill: Barton RB heads to Canada; WCU QB in elite company; Mars Hill needs a game
News, notes, rumors and quick-hitters from the world of football in the Old North State: - 2-Minute Drill: Lenoir-Rhyne RB commits to Mercer, WSSU RB earns scholar-athlete award
News, notes, rumors and football quick-hitters from around the Old North State - First-ever Barton football player signs with NFL team
WR Kameron Johnson signs as undrafted free agent, while teammate Jordan Terrell receives mini-camp invite
