Elon, N.C. – The Elon University football team made its first appearance of the 2024 season in the FCS national rankings, being voted No. 22 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 media poll.
 
Following a 41-19 win over North Carolina Central, Elon received 216 vote points to climb into the top 25. The Phoenix had been the first team outside of the top 25 in both the preseason and week one poll.
 
Elon is ranked for the first time since earning a No. 25 ranking on Oct. 2, 2023 after defeating then-No. 5 William & Mary. The No. 22 ranking is Elon's highest since ending the 2022 season at No. 17.
 
No. 22 Elon will host Western Carolina Saturday for the home opener at 6:00 p.m. inside Rhodes Stadium. The contest will be the 61^st in the program's FCS history playing as a ranked team. Elon has won 10 of its last 11 games at home, defeating four ranked opponents among those contests.