Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football finished ranked No. 23 in the final Stats Perform FCS Top 25 rankings released on Monday, Jan. 8. The Catamounts also closed the 2023 season among those receiving votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches poll.
 
WCU debuted in the national rankings at No. 23 in the Stats Perform FCS poll on Sept. 18, and the Catamounts were among the national rankings for 10 straight media polls. The squad also sat among the coaches poll for eight consecutive polls, sliding out of the Top 25 into the receiving votes category at the season's end.
 
Western Carolina finished the year with a 7-4 overall record marking the most victories since a seven-win season back in 2017. The Catamounts also posted a five-win Southern Conference record at 5-3 matching a program-best five league wins and the best since 2017.
 
The Catamounts were among four teams from the Southern Conference in the final media poll. Furman was ranked a league-best seventh, followed by Chattanooga (14), Mercer (17), and WCU (23).
 
National champion South Dakota State (15-0) was the No. 1 pick in both polls, receiving all 53 first-place votes in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and each of the 23 head coaches votes in the AFCA Coaches poll. Montana (13-2) and North Dakota State (11-4) were both second and third with South Dakota finishing fourth in the media poll and tied with Idaho for fourth in the coaches poll, with UAlbany ranked fifth in the media tabulation.
 
Western Carolina football turns its attention to offseason training and spring football which follows the traditional National Signing Day on the first Wednesday of February – this year, Feb. 7, 2024. WCU also looks to officially release the squad's 2024 schedule and season ticket and parking information in the coming weeks.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports) and Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB).