The preseason prognostications have begun for the upcoming 2020 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision campaign. HeroSports.com released its first top-25, which included the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The Mocs are listed among the nine teams who are also receiving votes in the online publication's poll. Chattanooga is coming off a 6-6 season under first-year head coach Rusty Wright. UTC finished third in the Southern Conference with a 5-3 league tally, and was in the race down to the final game of the season.
Other SoCon teams include No.
14 Furman, No. 21 The Citadel and Wofford, who is also receiving votes. James Madison, who hosts the Mocs on Sept. 12, is No. 5 in the rankings.
The 53 returning lettermen from the 2019 campaign is the most on record at UTC. There are 22 seniors on the current roster, which is the most for the Mocs since 1998. There are 24 returners on the offensive side of the ball, 26 on defense and three specialists. A total of 18 starters are back, including nine on offense, eight on defense, along with the long snapper and kicker.
Don't forget to get your season tickets for the five-game 2020 home schedule. Action kicks off on Sept. 19 at Finley Stadium against North Alabama. Click the "Tickets" tab at the top of the page to purchase or renew today.
2020 HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll
1) North Dakota State
2) South Dakota State
3) Northern Iowa
4) Sacramento State
5) James Madison
6) Weber State
7) Montana
8) Villanova
9) Montana State
10) Central Arkansas
11) Kennesaw State
12)) Illinois State
13 Austin Peay
14) Furman
15) Delaware
16) Princeton
17) New Hampshire
18) Eastern Washington
19) North Carolina A&T
20) Florida A&M
21) The Citadel
22) Southern Illinois
23) Sam Houston State
24) Albany
25) Yale
Also receiving votes (alphabetical):
Alcorn State, Chattanooga, Dartmouth, Elon, Nicholls, Portland State, SEMO, UT Martin, Wofford