Bethune-Cookman debuted at No. 23 in the first Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) coaches poll which was released on Monday afternoon.  The Wildcats finished 10-3 and ranked 16th in the final FCS coaches poll in 2013.

Three time defending National Champions, North Dakota State, earned the top spot in the preseason poll.  Eastern Washington, Southeastern Louisiana, New Hampshire and Montana round out the Top 5.  Tennessee State (No. 17) joins B-CU as the only other HBCU program ranked in the Top 25.

The Wildcats kickoff the 2014 campaign on August 30th against in-state foe Florida International in Miami.

Preseason FCS Coaches Poll (August 4, 2014)

Team (First-Place Votes)     2013 Record      Points           2013 Final

1. North Dakota State (18)         15-0                  636                   1

2. Eastern Washington (6)          12-3                  615                   3

3. Southeastern Louisiana (1)     11-3                  542                   6

4. New Hampshire                     10-5                  510                   5

5. Montana                                10-3                  505                   8

6. Coastal Carolina                    12-3                  447                   7

7. Towson (1)                            13-3                  438                   2

8. Jacksonville State                 12-2                  425                   12

9. McNeese State                      10-3                  424                   9

10. South Dakota State             9-5                    332                   14

11. Eastern Illinois                     12-2                  314                   4

12. Fordham                             12-2                  305                   10

13. Villanova                             6-5                    287                   NR

14. Sam Houston State              9-5                    277                   13

15. Northern Iowa                      7-5                    263                   NR

16. Chattanooga                        8-4                    238                   25

17. Tennessee State                  10-4                  237                   17

18. Furman                                8-6                    188                   21

19. Montana State                     7-5                    170                   20

20. Maine                                  10-3                  169                   11

21. Youngstown State               8-4                    162                   19

22. William & Mary                     7-5                    159                   NR

23. Bethune-Cookman               10-3                  136                   16

24. Richmond                            6-6                    118                   NR

25. Northern Arizona                  9-3                    116                   15

Others receiving votes: Samford 95, Southern Illinois 59, Harvard 42, Charleston Southern 39, James Madison 30, Princeton 24, Southern Utah 20, Alcorn State 16, Liberty 16, Delaware 15, South Carolina State 15, Cal Poly 14, Missouri State 12, Sacred Heart 10, Wofford 8, Central Arkansas 7, Alabama State 6, Lehigh 6, Eastern Kentucky 4, Holy Cross 1, Illinois State 1, Jacksonville 1