Waco, Texas – The Elon University football team earned 30 votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Preseason Top 25 poll, as announced today. The Phoenix were among other teams receiving votes.
FULL AFCA COACHES POLL
A year ago, Elon had just one vote in the AFCA preseason poll but climbed to as high as No. 15 in the country heading into the FCS playoffs. The Phoenix ended the year ranked No. 18 in the final AFCA rankings.
Elon's schedule has been selected as one of the most difficult in the country in 2023 and the AFCA poll confirms those expectations. Eight of the team's 10 FCS opponents are ranked or receiving votes in the poll, including each of Elon's first six FCS foes. The Phoenix opens the season with Wake Forest, an ACC team receiving votes in the FBS preseason polls.
Elon will face five ranked teams in 2023, including No. 4 William & Mary, No. 16 Richmond, No. 19 North Carolina Central, No. 21 Delaware and No. 24 Gardner-Webb. North Carolina A&T, Campbell and Villanova all earned votes but did not reach the top 25.
In total, five Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Football teams were ranked in the top 25 and another four earned votes, paced by Elon.
Defending FCS National Champion South Dakota State was to pick No. 1 in the preseason poll, garnering 24 of the 25 first-place votes. North Dakota State was No. 2 and earned the only other first place vote, followed by Montana State, William & Mary and Holy Cross.
SINGLE-GAME/SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Single-game tickets went on sale Monday for each of Elon's five home games in the 2023 season. Fans can purchase either single-game tickets or season tickets by visiting
ElonTickets.com or calling 336-278-6750. E-mail
elontickets@elon.edu for more information.
ELON ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF PHOENIX FAN FEST
Phoenix Fan Fest is the latest addition to the Elon football tailgating scene and will be open for all five home games during the 2023 season. Pregame entertainment will begin four hours prior to kickoff and will include tailgate games, face painting, inflatable games and bounce house, and a jumbo video screen to watch College Gameday and games around the country. For more information,
CLICK HERE.
WAKE FOREST TAILGATE INFORMATION
The Elon football team opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Wake Forest with a kick-off time scheduled for 7 p.m. The Phoenix Club and the Office of Alumni Engagement will be sponsoring a pregame tailgate from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on the southeast corner of Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium (between the baseball and tennis complexes). President Connie Ledoux Book will welcome new Director of Athletics Jenn Strawley during the tailgate and all Phoenix alumni, parents and fans are invited to the tailgate. Pricing for the tailgate is $20 and fans can get a game ticket and admission to the tailgate for just $50.
CLICK HERE to register today!
