UCA ranked 15th in preseason poll

The University of Central Arkansas football team was picked No. 15 Monday in the STATS FCS preseason football poll.

The Bears, who finished 10-3 last season, went 8-1 in Southland Conference play. Sam Houston State, ranked No. 3, is the only other Southland team in the Top 25.

UCA returns the majority of its league-best defense from a season ago, which held opponents to 21.7 points per game and 72.8 rushing yards per game. The Bears reached the second round of the FCS playoffs, losing on the road to Eastern Washington, which is No. 5 in the preseason poll. UCA’s other loss last season was to Samford, which is 19th in the preseason poll.