NEW YORK – The University at Albany football ranks 23rd in the Athlon Sports Preseason FCS Top-25, announced Tuesday.  It is the second preseason poll in which the Great Danes have appeared ahead of the 2020 season.
 
UAlbany finished 2019's record-setting campaign 15th in the final Athlon Sports Poll, their highest-ever poll ranking across all FCS outlets.  Last week, the Danes landed 24th in the HERO Sports FCS Preseason Poll.
 
Including the Great Danes, five CAA institutions were represented in the poll, headlined by 2019 national runner-up James Madison (4), alongside Villanova (8), New Hampshire (15), and Towson (25).  UAlbany is scheduled to play James Madison and Villanova at home in 2020 in back-to-back games, and New Hampshire on the road later in the season.
 
Three-time defending national champion North Dakota State took the top spot in the poll.
 
The Great Danes went 9-5 overall in 2019 and finished second in the CAA behind a 6-2 conference record.  UAlbany won its first-ever FCS Playoff game, 42-14 over Central Connecticut State, before falling in the second round at Montana State.