Cullowhee, N.C. – Runner-up in the 2024 race for the Southern Conference crown and picked third by the league's head coaches in this year's preseason conference poll, Western Carolina football was ranked No. 18 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll released today. This season's rank is two spots higher than the 20th spot WCU found itself in at the outset of last fall.
 
It's just the third time since 1994 that Western Carolina has carried a preseason national ranking into its season opener, joining the 2024 team (20th) and the 1994 Catamounts, who were ranked 17th when they hosted Lenoir-Rhyne to open the season at home. Earlier this preseason, WCU was also slotted at No. 18 by the HERO Sports Top 25 back in late May, one of four SoCon teams to receive votes, including Mercer (12th-t), with both Chattanooga and ETSU ranking just outside the top 25. The AFCA Coaches Preseason FCS Poll has not yet been released.
 
WCU was one of just two teams from the Southern Conference listed among the preseason FCS Top 25. Preseason favorite and defending regular-season champion Mercer just missed the Top 10 with an 11th-place nod, while Chattanooga was among those receiving votes.

Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll (link)

Nine of the 13 NCAA FCS leagues were represented in the Top 25, led by the Big Sky with six ranked teams. Defending national champion North Dakota State, which received 54 of a possible 56 first-place votes, was picked as the preseason No. 1. It marked the eighth time NDSU gained preseason No. 1. Over the last 14 seasons, the Bison have captured 10 FCS championships, including a 35-32 win over Montana State in early January to cap the title run.  
 
National runner-up Montana State, the 2024 Big Sky Conference champion, was No. 2 in the preseason poll. SDSU and South Dakota were No. 3 and 4, respectively, while defending Southland Conference champion UIW followed at No. 5.
 
The Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll will be released each Monday during the regular season and one day after the FCS championship game, scheduled for Jan. 5 in Nashville, Tenn. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.
 
Western Carolina returned to workouts in uppers – helmets and shoulder pads – on Monday morning, finishing amidst drizzle before heavier morning showers moved into the area. The Catamounts are going full-contact in full pads for the first time this camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, beginning at 8:30 a.m. (practice times are subject to change).
 
A reminder that WCU's preseason football practices are open to the public. It is respectfully requested, though, that spectators observe from the stadium seating area and avoid being either on the field or on the sidelines for safety. Also, please be aware of the construction fencing around the West side of the stadium, which will limit access points as construction on the Western Skybox and Whitmire West projects continues this summer and into the fall season.
 
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll (2025 Preseason)
(2024 Record in Parentheses)
 
1. North Dakota State (14-2, 7-1 MVFC)
Points: 1,398 (54 of 56 first-place votes); Final 2024 Ranking: 1; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at The Citadel
 
2. Montana State (15-1, 8-0 Big Sky)
Points: 1,335 (1); Final 2024 Ranking: 2; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Oregon
 
3. South Dakota State (12-3, 7-1 MVFC)
Points: 1,266; Final 2024 Ranking: 3; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Sacramento State
 
4. South Dakota (11-3, 7-1 MVFC)
Points: 1,227 (1); Final 2024 Ranking: 4; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Iowa State
 
5. UIW (11-3, 7-0 Southland)
Points: 1,138; Final 2024 Ranking: 6; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 23 at Nicholls
 
6. Illinois State (10-4, 6-2 MVFC)
Points: 1,015; Final 2024 Ranking: 11; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Oklahoma
 
7. Montana (9-5, 5-3 Big Sky)
Points: 1,004; Final 2024 Ranking: 10; 2025 Season Opener: Sept. 6 vs. Central Washington
 
8. UC Davis (11-3, 7-1 Big Sky)
Points: 938; Final 2024 Ranking: 5; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 23 vs. Mercer (in Montgomery, Alabama)
 
9. Rhode Island (11-3, 7-1 CAA)
Points: 928; Final 2024 Ranking: 9; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Campbell
 
10. Tarleton State (10-4, 6-2 UAC)
Points: 912; Final 2024 Ranking: 13; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 23 at Portland State
 
11. Mercer (11-3, 7-1 SoCon)
Points: 824; Final 2024 Ranking: 8; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 23 vs. UC Davis (in Montgomery, Alabama)
 
12. Idaho (10-4, 6-2 Big Sky)
Points: 747; Final 2024 Ranking: 7; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Washington State
 
13. Villanova (10-4, 6-2 CAA)
Points: 737; Final 2024 Ranking: 12; 2025 Season Opener: Sept. 6 vs. Colgate
 
14. Lehigh (9-4, 5-1 Patriot)
Points: 493; Final 2024 Ranking: 20; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Richmond
 
15. Sacramento State (3-9, 1-7 Big Sky)
Points: 492; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. South Dakota State
 
16. Abilene Christian (9-5, 7-2 UAC)
Points: 436; Final 2024 Ranking: 14; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Tulsa
 
17. Jackson State (12-2, 8-0 SWAC)
Points: 336; Final 2024 Ranking: 18; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Hampton
 
18. Western Carolina (7-5, 6-2 SoCon)
Points: 335; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Gardner-Webb
 
19. Northern Arizona (8-5, 6-2 Big Sky)
Points: 312; Final 2024 Ranking: 22; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Arizona State
 
20. Southern Illinois (4-8, 2-6 MVFC)
Points: 310; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Thomas More
 
21. Tennessee Tech (7-5, 6-2 OVC-Big South)
Points: 284; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Cumberland
 
22. Monmouth (6-6, 4-4 CAA)
Points: 274; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Colgate
 
23. Stephen F. Austin (7-5, 4-3 Southland)
Points: 183; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 28 at Houston
 
24. Stony Brook (8-4, 5-3 CAA)
Points: 181; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 28 at San Diego State
 
25. Richmond (10-3, 8-0 CAA; now Patriot)
Points: 154; Final 2024 Ranking: 15; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Lehigh
 
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Harvard (8-2, 5-2 Ivy), 139; Southeast Missouri (9-4, 6-2 OVC-Big South), 127; Southern Utah (7-5, 6-2 UAC), 123; UT Martin (9-5, 6-2 OVC-Big South), 92; North Dakota (5-7, 2-6 MVFC), 88; Eastern Kentucky (8-5, 6-2 UAC), 80; Chattanooga (7-5, 5-3 SoCon), 69; ETSU (7-5, 5-3 SoCon), 68; South Carolina State (9-3, 5-0 MEAC), 35; New Hampshire (8-5, 6-2 CAA), 22; Tennessee State (9-4, 6-2 OVC-Big South), 21; Southeastern Louisiana (7-5, 6-1 Southland), 19; North Carolina Central (8-3, 4-1 MEAC), 18; Youngstown State (4-8, 2-5 MVFC), 16; Duquesne (8-3, 5-1 NEC), 2
 
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll Voting Panel – Stats Perform: Craig Haley. Big Sky Conference: Riley Corcoran, Tyson Rodgers, Larry Weir. CAA Football: Roger Brown, Matt Harmon, Rob Washburn. Ivy League: JJ Klein, Craig Larson. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference: Kendrick Lewis, Patricia Porter-Mayfield. Missouri Valley Football Conference: Kyle Grooms, Dom Izzo, Randy Reinhardt. Northeast Conference: Sarah Boissonneault, Brian Cleary. OVC-Big South Football Association: Mike Bradd, Kyle Schwartz, Mark Simpson. 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: Curtis Ford, Ronnie Johnson. United Athletic Conference: Brian Morgan, Benjamin Ray, Jake Withee. National Representatives: Sean Anderson, Stan Becton, Zack Carlton, Gene Clemons, Joe DeLeone, Matt Dixon, Steven J. Gaither, Sam Herder, Emory Hunt, Doug Kelly, Kyle Kensing, Brandon Lawrence, Zach McKinnell, Jon Passman, Omar Rashon Borja, Ryan Roberts, Timothy Rosario, Kent Schmidt, Phil Sokol, Reggie Thomas, Ralph Ventre, Jamie Williams.

Both season and single-game tickets for the five home dates in #CatamountCountry 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. Season tickets remain the best bet for securing tickets to each of WCU's highly-anticipated six home dates as preseason ticket sales remain brisk.
 
2025 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Tues., Aug. 5 – Practice #6 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Wed., Aug. 6 – Practice #7 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Thurs., Aug. 7 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 8 – Practice #8 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sat., Aug. 9 – Practice #9 – 9:00 am – 11:00 am (scrimmage, full pads)
Sun., Aug. 10 – Team Photo Day – 2 pm; Practice #10 – 3 pm – 5 pm (helmets only)
Mon., Aug. 11 – Practice #11 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Mon., Aug. 11 - Kerwin Bell on 2025 Catamount Fall Sports Preview - Facebook LIVE
Tues., Aug. 12 – Practice #12 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 13 – Practice #13 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 14 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 15 – Practice #14 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Fri., Aug. 15 – WCU Freshman Student Convocation
Sat., Aug. 16 – Practice #15 – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (scrimmage, full – student day)
Sun., Aug 17 – Athletics Welcome Back Event at Catamount Soccer – 12:30 pm
Sun. Aug. 17 – Catamount Football Team Building Event – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Mon., Aug. 18 – First Day of Classes at WCU – No Practice (Off-Day)
Tues., Aug. 19 – Begins in-season practice schedule – 4:30 pm
 
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).
 
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Tues., Aug. 5 – Catamount Soccer vs. Charleston Southern (Exhibition), 4 p.m. **
Fri., Aug. 8 – Catamount Soccer vs. Queens University (Exhibition) – 6 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 11 - 2025 Catamount Fall Sports Preview Coaches Show – 6 p.m. (Facebook LIVE)
Thurs., Aug. 14 – Catamount Football Ladies Night – Whitmire Stadium – 5 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 14 – Catamount Soccer vs. Appalachian State (Season Opener, ESPN+) – 6 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 17 – Catamount Soccer vs. High Point – 1 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 22 – Catamount Volleyball vs. UNC Pembroke (Exhibition) – 6 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 30 – Catamount Football vs. Gardner-Webb – 6 p.m. (Postgame Fireworks)
Sun., Aug. 31 – Catamount Soccer vs. Tennessee (First Bank Beach Night) – 6 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 9 – Catamount Volleyball vs. UNC Asheville (First Bank Beach Night) – 6 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 12 – The Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – Sequoyah National in Cherokee, N.C.
Sat., Sept. 13 – Catamount Football vs. Elon – 2:30 p.m. (White Out Whitmire! Wear White!)