STATS FCS Preseason Top 25

CONWAY - The Coastal Carolina football team is ranked #16 in the STATS FCS Preseason Top 25, a poll of the nation's FCS media and sports information directors.

Reigning national champion North Dakota State is the preseason favorite, receiving 152 of a possible 158 first-place votes. Sam Houston State is ranked #2, receiving two first-place votes, while CCU's week three opponent and last year's national runner-up Jacksonville State is ranked third. The Gamecocks received the other four first-place votes.

Two weeks after facing Jacksonville State (sept. 17), the Chanticleers will host another top 10 team as #7 Charleston Southern comes to Brooks Stadium on Oct. 1. Other CCU opponents that received votes for the 2016 preseason top 25 include Liberty (Nov. 17), Lamar (Sept. 3) and Bryant (Nov. 12)..

Coastal, ranked #16 in the final 2015 STATS FCS poll, has now been ranked in 46 consecutive ranking periods dating back to the final poll of 2012, the first year of the Joe Moglia era. Over the span of those 46 ranking periods, Coastal Carolina has been ranked among the top 10 35 times, including 24 times among the nation's top 5.

This marks the fourth consecutive year -- and sixth time in the program's 14 years -- Coastal Carolina has started the season ranked among the nation's top 10.

Coastal Football Goes In Full Gear
The Coastal Carolina football team donned full gear for the first time this preseason in a practice that last nearly two hours this morning.

"I thought we had a good day even though we were missing a few guys here and there," said head coach Joe Moglia. "I was pleased we kept our focus even though we knew that adding the full gear can tax you both mentally and physically. We will work in a few more live segments tomorrow which will help us in our valuation.

"Unlike the past, we have two full weeks between summer school ending last Friday and regular classes not starting until August 22. I am excited to see where our team stands in the coming days and see who accepts some challenges we have laid out."

Coastal will continue to practice just once over the next two weeks as they have eliminated traditional two-a-day sessions.

Coastal Carolina football season tickets are still available. Remember, fans can lock in to a special two-year fixed price for season tickets as Coastal will transition from Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Single-game tickets for the CCU's eight home games will begin to go on sale on Aug. 24.