Cullowhee, N.C. – Following Western Carolina's season-opening clash with nationally-ranked NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) foe NC State, Western Carolina climbed three spots in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 media poll to No. 17 this week as the media unveiled its weekly ranking.
 
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches Poll, the second most widely used and respected weekly tabulation for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), will be released around 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
 
The FCS-ranked Catamounts thrice led over ACC-foe North Carolina State last Thursday night in opening the 2024 season. WCU scored first as Jake Young cashed in a Ken Moore Jr., 51-yard interception return with his first career receiving score on an eight-yard strike from Cole Gonzales who threw for 211 yards and a pair of scores while adding a team-best 75 rushing yards. WCU also carried a four-point, 21-17, lead into the fourth quarter before the Wolfpack managed to pull away with 21 unanswered points.
 
Elsewhere around the Southern Conference, Chattanooga slipped from No. 9 to No. 11 and Furman dropped from No. 12 to No. 15 in the media tabulations. Mercer remains just outside of the Top 25, second among the others receiving votes with Samford falling out of favor in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
 
Additionally, two nonconference foes on WCU's schedule in the coming weeks also appeared in Monday's release with Montana sliding one position into fourth and Elon continuing to receive votes, the first team outside of the Top 25.
 
WCU entered 2024 ranked in the preseason for the first time since 1994.
 
Western Carolina (0-1) opens the home portion of its 2024 schedule this Saturday, Sept. 7, hosting the Campbell Camels with an adjusted 1 p.m. kickoff at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. WCU looks to "White Out Whitmire" with fans encouraged to wear their white Catamount gear to the game as the football team will wear its white Nike uniforms for the home opener. The first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive a free commemorative "White Out Whitmire" T-shirt as the department begins its celebration of 50 Years of Catamount football at Whitmire Stadium, presented by First Bank.
 
Dubbed the "Ingles Southern Conference Game of the Week," Saturday's affair will be broadcast regionally through the Nexstar Media Group (check local listings) and simulcast through ESPN+ (paid subscription required). Fans can also listen to the game through the Catamount Sports Network with pregame beginning at Noon along five CSN affiliate frequencies: in Sylva, 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC "The River" (wrgc.com); 104.9 FM and 1050 AM WFSC "Franklin's First Voice" in Franklin (1050wfsc.com); and 1310 WISE Sports Radio in Asheville (wisesportsradio.com); and through free, live streaming audio online at CatamountSports.com.
 
The best game day atmosphere in the SoCon roars back to life on Saturday with parking lots opening at 8 a.m., with alcohol-permitted tailgating beginning at 10 a.m. The Catamount Club's "Purple Zone" pregame event begins at Noon for qualifying Club members. Fans will want to be inside the stadium early for the pregame festivities including the first performances of the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band and spirit squads. One of the top traditions in the NCAA FCS is WCU's Freshmen Run, celebrating its 13th season as WCU's Class of 2028 runs through the tunnel to lead the Catamounts onto the field.
 
Saturday's game is presented by Ingles with Asheville media partners 99.9 FM Kiss Country and Star 104.3.
 
There is still time to purchase season tickets for all five of Western Carolina's home games in #CatamountCountry. For a third straight year, WCU has eclipsed the previous benchmark for tickets and revenue from season ticket sales.
 
Single-game tickets and game day parking permits for each of WCU's home dates remain on sale now through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, or by phone at (828) 227-2401. Fans can also purchase tickets and game day parking in advance online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Game day parking is $15 in advance and $20 on game days.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports, FB.com/WesternCarolinaFootball), Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsfb).

This Week in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Mon., Sept. 2 – Catamount Football Weekly presented by Stanberry Insurance at Rodgers Bros (7 p.m.)
Thurs., Sept. 5 – Catamount Women's Soccer – vs. Gardner-Webb (CAC, 7 p.m.)
Fri., Sept. 6 – The Bob Waters Memorial – Sequoyah National Golf Club (Cherokee, N.C.)
Sat., Sept. 7 – 2024 Catamount Football home-opener, vs. Campbell (1 pm, updated)
 
 
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll (Sept. 2)
 
1. South Dakota State (0-1, 0–0 MVFC), 1,363 points (36 of 56 first-place votes)
Previous Ranking: 1; Week 1: 44-20 loss at Oklahoma State; Week 2: UIW
 
2. North Dakota State (0-1, 0-0 MVFC), 1,330 (11)
Previous Ranking: 2; Week 1: 31-26 loss at Colorado; Week 2: Tennessee State
 
3. Montana State (2-0, 0-0 Big Sky), 1,288 (8)
Previous Ranking: 4; Week 0: 35-31 win at New Mexico; Week 1: 31-7 win at Utah Tech; Week 2: Maine
 
4. Montana (1-0, 0-0 Big Sky), 1,239 (1)
Previous Ranking: 3; Week 1: 29-24 win over Missouri State; Week 2: at North Dakota
 
5. Villanova (1-0, 0-0 CAA), 1,144
Previous Ranking: 6; Week 1: 24-17 win over then-No. 25 Youngstown State; Week 2: at Colgate
 
6. South Dakota (1-0, 0-0 MVFC), 1,128
Previous Ranking: 5; Week 1: 45-3 win over Northern State; Week 2: at Wisconsin
 
7. Idaho (0-1, 0-0 Big Sky), 1,098
Previous Ranking: 7; Week 1: 24-14 loss at Oregon; Week 2: at Wyoming
 
8. Sacramento State (0-1, 0-0 Big Sky), 881
Previous Ranking: 8; Week 1: 42-24 loss at San Jose State; Week 2: at Fresno State
 
9. Central Arkansas (0-1, 0-0 UAC), 850
Previous Ranking: 11; Week 1: 34-31 loss at Arkansas State; Week 2: at Lindenwood
 
10. Southern Illinois (0-1, 0-0 MVFC), 807
Previous Ranking: 10; Week 1: 41-13 loss at BYU; Week 2: at Austin Peay
 
11. Chattanooga (0-1, 0-0 SoCon), 738
Previous Ranking: 9; Week 1: 69-3 loss at Tennessee; Week 2: at Georgia State
 
12. UIW (1-0, 0-0 Southland), 698
Previous Ranking: 14; Week 1: 28-7 win over Northern Colorado; Week 2: at South Dakota State
 
13. William & Mary (1-0, 0-0 CAA), 666
Previous Ranking: 15; Week 1: 41-7 win over VMI; Week 2: at Coastal Carolina
 
14. Richmond (0-1, 0-0 CAA), 658
Previous Ranking: 13; Week 1: 34-13 loss at Virginia; Week 2: Wofford
 
15. Furman (0-1, 0-0 SoCon), 523
Previous Ranking: 12; Week 1: 76-0 loss at Ole Miss; Week 2: Charleston Southern
 
16. UAlbany (1-0, 0-0 CAA), 502
Previous Ranking: 16; Week 1: 27-21 win over LIU; Week 2: at West Virginia
 
17. Western Carolina (0-1, 0-0 SoCon), 459
Previous Ranking: 20; Week 1: 38-21 loss at NC State; Week 2: Campbell
 
18. UC Davis (0-1, 0-0 Big Sky), 437
Previous Ranking: 18; Week 1: 31-13 loss at California; Week 2: Texas A&M-Commerce
 
19. Lafayette (0-1, 0-0 Patriot), 332
Previous Ranking: 17; Week 1: 30-13 loss at Buffalo; Week 2: at Monmouth
 
20. Tarleton State (1-1, 0-0 UAC), 308
Previous Ranking: 21; Week 0: 26-23 win over McNeese; Week 1: 45-3 loss at Baylor; Week 2: at HCU
 
21. Illinois State (0-1, 0-0 MVFC), 295
Previous Ranking: 19; Week 1: 40-0 loss at Iowa; Week 2: at North Alabama
 
22. Nicholls (0-1, 0-0 Southland), 204
Previous Ranking: 23; Week 1: 25-17 loss at Louisiana Tech; Week 2: at LSU
 
23. North Dakota (0-1, 0-0 MVFC), 175
Previous Ranking: 24; Week 1: 21-3 loss at Iowa State; Week 2: Montana
 
24. Weber State (0-1, 0-0 Big Sky), 171
Previous Ranking: 22; Week 1: 35-3 loss at Washington; Week 2: Portland State
 
25. Youngstown State (0-1, 0-0 MVFC), 133
Previous Ranking: 25; Week 1: 24-17 loss at then-No. 6 Villanova; Week 2: Valparaiso
 
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Elon (0-1, 0-0 CAA) 120; Mercer (1-0, 0-0 SoCon) 117; Florida A&M (2-0, 0-0 SWAC) 99; UT Martin (0-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) 98; Abilene Christian (0-1, 0-0 UAC) 74; North Carolina Central (1-0, 0-0 MEAC) 73; Eastern Illinois (0-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) 59; Eastern Washington (1-0, 0-0 Big Sky) 41; Northern Iowa (1-0, 0-0 MVFC) 29; Austin Peay (0-1, 0-0 UAC) 19; Alabama State (0-1, 0-0 SWAC) 10; Rhode Island (1-0, 0-0 CAA) 9; Southeast Missouri (1-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) 8; Harvard (0-0, 0-0 Ivy) 4; Lamar (0-1, 0-0 Southland) 4; West Georgia (1-0, 0-0 UAC) 2
 
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Voters – Stats Perform: Craig Haley, Gary Reasons. Big Sky Conference: Doug Kelly, Tyson Rodgers, Larry Weir. Big South-OVC Football Association: Mike Bradd, Kyle Schwartz, Mark Simpson. CAA Football: Roger Brown, Matt Harmon, Rob Washburn. Ivy League: JJ Klein, Craig Larson. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference: Kendrick Lewis, Alysse Scripter. Missouri Valley Football Conference: Dom Izzo, Mike Kern, Randy Reinhardt. Northeast Conference: Sarah Boissonneault, Brian Cleary. Patriot League: Eric Malanoski, Ryan Sakamoto. Pioneer Football League: Cody Bush, Larry Hansgen. Southern Conference: Scott Keeler, Andrew Miller, Ralan Wardlaw. Southland Conference: Matthew Bonnette, James Dixon, James Hill. Southwestern Athletic Conference: Ronnie Johnson, Joshua Padilla. United Athletic Conference: Brian Morgan, Benjamin Ray, Jake Withee. National Representatives: Sean Anderson, Stan Becton, Zack Carlton, Gene Clemons, Riley Corcoran, Joe DeLeone, Steven J. Gaither, Sam Herder, Emory Hunt, Kyle Kensing, Brandon Lawrence, Zach McKinnell, Brian McLaughlin, Jon Passman, Omar Rashon Borja, Ryan Roberts, Kent Schmidt, Phil Sokol, Reggie Thomas, Ralph Ventre, Jamie Williams.