For the fourth straight season, the Lenoir-Rhyne football team has been nationally ranked in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Preseason Poll. The Bears check in at No. 25 in the poll, and were a preseason No. 19 a season ago. The Bears finished the 2022 campaign with an 8-3 mark and return all eight of their all-conference selections from a season ago.

LR was recently tabbed for a third place finish in the SAC preseason coaches’ poll, trailing only Newberry and Wingate. Wingate is the preseason No. 21 team in the nation while Newberry checks in one spot above LR at No. 24 to give the SAC three ranked teams.

The Bears kick off the 2023 season on Saturday, September 2 when they host St. Augustine’s at 6 p.m.