GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman is ranked 14th in the HERO Sports 2024 FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll that was released today.

Coming off a 10-3 campaign a year ago that included a Southern Conference championship and FCS quarterfinal round playoff appearance, the Paladins are projected to return 10 starters this fall under head coach Clay Hendrix, who is entering his eighth year at the helm of the program.

Furman, which fell 35-28 in overtime at Montana in last year's quarterfinal playoff, finished the 2023 season ranked seventh.

Reigning champion South Dakota State is ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll, followed by North Dakota State, Montana, and Montana State.  South Dakota rounds out the preseason top five.

Chattanooga (10th) leads a trio of SoCon teams in the poll that also includes Furman and Western Carolina (16th).

The Paladins defeated Chattanooga twice last fall, taking down the Mocs, 17-14, in Chattanooga in the regular season to claim the SoCon crown, and later, 26-7, in FCS second round playoff action at Paladin Stadium.

Furman knocked off Western Carolina, 29-13, in Cullowhee, in 2023, when the Catamounts were ranked eighth in the FCS.

Furman kicks off its 12-game 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Ole Miss.

2024 HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25
1. South Dakota State (3 1st-Place Votes)
2. North Dakota State
3. Montana
4. Montana State
5. South Dakota
6. Villanova
7. Idaho
8. Sacramento State
9. Southern Illinois
10. Chattanooga
11. Central Arkansas
12. UIW
13. Richmond
14. FURMAN
15. UAlbany
16. Western Carolina
17. William & Mary
18. Tarleton State
19. Delaware
20. Lafayette
21. UC Davis
22. Weber State
23. Youngstown State
24. Illinois State
25. Eastern Illinois

Received votes (ordered from most voting points to least): Nicholls, Elon, UT Martin