DURHAM, N.C. – Following a 10-win campaign that included a MEAC championship and an HBCU national title, North Carolina Central University is ranked 19th in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll, presented by FedEx Ground and unveiled on Monday.

In 2022, NCCU won its first MEAC football championship since 2016, and defeated No. 5 Jackson State University, 41-34, in an overtime thriller in the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The victory delivered the university's fourth HBCU national championship title, joining the company of those captured in 1954, 2005 and 2006.

The 2022 NCCU Eagles became just the third team in school history to win 10 games in a season and earned the program's highest NCAA Division I-FCS national ranking at No. 17 in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches' Poll.

Under the direction of 2022 MEAC Coach of the Year Trei Oliver, the Eagles celebrated non-conference FCS triumphs over North Carolina A&T, Tennessee Tech, No. 25 New Hampshire, and No. 5 Jackson State.

For the upcoming 2023 season, NCCU returns 12 All-MEAC performers, including five first team all-conference honorees. Headlining the group are senior quarterback Davius Richard, the 2022 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, and senior defensive back Khalil Baker, the 2022 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year.

NCCU's other All-MEAC returners are senior running back Latrell Collier, junior center Torricelli Simpkins III, senior kicker Adrian Olivo, junior receiver Devin Smith, junior defensive lineman Jaden Taylor, junior linebacker Jaki Brevard, senior defensive back Manny Smith, junior running back J'Mari Taylor, junior defensive lineman Christian Smith, and senior return specialist/defensive back Brandon Codrington.

A national media panel selects the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote. NCCU tallied 330 points to land at No. 19.

HERO Sports has NCCU ranked 13th in its FCS Preseason Top 25, while the Eagles are 24th in Athlon Sports' preseason poll.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.