BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Defending Patriot League co-champion Lehigh and Richmond were selected among the FCS Preseason Top 25 when Stats Perform announced the results of their preseason poll on Monday.
 
The Mountain Hawks placed No. 14 in the preseason top 25 after head coach Kevin Cahill guided his squad to a No. 20 finish and an FCS Playoff win against Richmond, the program’s first postseason victory since 2011, last season. Lehigh was selected to finish the League’s preseason poll and placed a League-high seven student-athletes on the preseason All-League Team, including preseason defensive player of the year Matt Spatny (Sr. DL), an Associated Press (AP) honorable mention All-America selection in 2024.
 
Richmond enters its first season in the Patriot League ranked No. 25 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25, after finishing 15th in the final 2024 poll. Head coach Russ Huesman has guided the Spiders to the FCS Playoffs in each of the last three seasons, advancing to the second round twice. Richmond was voted second in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, with five preseason All-League honorees.
 
The Spiders travel to Bethlehem, Pa., to meet the Mountain Hawks to open the 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 30. Live coverage from Goodman Stadium begins at noon on ESPN+.
 
STATS PERFORM RELEASE
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.