FAMU football lands spot in the FCS Coaches Poll preseason rankings, only HBCU in top 25
Florida A&M football is still getting national recognition.
On Monday, the American Football Coaches Association released its preseason top 25 poll for the Football Championship Subdivision.
The Rattlers will enter 2024 ranked 25th in the FCS Preseason Coaches Poll.
Despite being picked to finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s East Division, FAMU is the SWAC’s and HBCU football’s only representative in the FCS Preseason Coaches Poll.
Reigning FCS Champions South Dakota State leads the preseason rankings. The Rattlers also received one first-place vote in the FCS Preseason Poll.
The Rattlers’ top-25 ranking comes a season after winning the program’s first SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl title to claim FAMU’s 16th Black College Football National Championship.
FAMU finished the 2023 season ranked 10th in the coaches poll after going 12-1.
First up for FAMU football: Norfolk State in Atlanta's MEAC/SWAC Challenge
FAMU’s 2024 football season begins on Aug. 24 at Atlanta’s Center Parc Stadium, where the Rattlers will face the Norfolk State Spartans in Week 0’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
FAMU will play in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge for the first time since 2013, where it defeated Mississippi Valley State 27-10 as members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. This season will be FAMU’s first time representing the SWAC in the annual game between the two NCAA Division I HBCU conferences.
Fans can watch the FAMU-Norfolk game on ABC.
Aug. 24 will be James Colzie III’s head coaching debut with the Rattlers. Colzie replaces Willie Simmons, who left FAMU after six years to coach the Duke Blue Devils’ running backs.
In January, Colzie was promoted from assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach to lead the Rattlers, concluding a monthlong stint as the interim head coach. Colzie has been on FAMU’s staff since 2022.
Currently, the Rattlers are in preseason training camp.
They will have their 16th practice on Tuesday and have their third and final preseason scrimmage on Saturday.
Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Schedule
Aug. 24 vs. Norfolk State in MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta* at 7:30 p.m., ABC
Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Sept. 7 at Miami, 6 p.m., ACC Network
Sept. 21 at Troy, 7 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
Sept. 28 vs. Alabama A&M, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Oct. 5 at Alabama State, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
Oct. 19 at Jackson State, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN Network
Oct. 26 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., ESPN Network
Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (HOMECOMING), 4 p.m., ESPN+
Nov. 9 at Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
Nov. 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m., HBCU GO
Nov. 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman in Florida Classic, Orlando*, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Network
Nov. 30: FCS Playoffs Begin
Dec. 7: SWAC Championship, LOCATION/TEAMS TBA, ESPN2
Dec. 14: Celebration Bowl, Atlanta*, TEAMS TBA, 12 p.m., ABC
BOLD = SWAC
* = Neutral Site
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football earns a top-25 ranking in the FCS Coaches Poll
