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
- 2024 NC College Football Defensive Leaders: Tackles-For-Loss, Sacks, Interceptions
Wingate’s Fleming tallied most TFLs; Brevard’s Dorsey led in sacks; WCU’s Lowery had most INTs. - All-North Carolina Passing Leaders: Jalen Ferguson, Joey Aguilar break 3,000 yards in 2024
UNC Pembroke’s Colin Johnson topped the state with 36 touchdown passes - D2 Portal News: Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne pick up FCS transfer quarterbacks
Luke MacPhail (Wingate), Max Blanc (LR) will join two of state’s top D2 programs - D2 Stat Champions: Lenoir-Rhyne, Wingate, UNC Pembroke kickers stayed busy in 2024
Highlighting the season’s top place-kicking performances in NC Division II football - Wingate football captures 2024 Fabulous 15 championship
Bulldogs’ special season included conference title, monster defense, consensus All-American Marquise Fleming
