Football | 7/31/2023 1:19:24 PM
SUNY Cortland, the defending Empire 8 Champion, is ranked No. 17, while Utica University is the first team outside of the top-25 receiving votes in the 2023
D3football.com preseason poll, unveiled on July 31. The D3football.com Top-25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly. Points are awarded on a 25-24-23-22-etc. basis.
The Red Dragons won their fourth Empire 8 title in 2022 and finished the season 9-2, while advancing to the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Cortland was ranked as high as 11th nationally and out-scored its opponents, 496-192. Utica had its best season in program history, earning an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, winning an opening round game, and finishing 2022 with a 10-2 mark.
The 2023 regular season for all seven Empire 8 institutions begins the weekend of Aug. 31-Sept. 2 and concludes on Nov. 11. Cortland will play No. 9 Ithaca in the annual Cortaca Jug on Nov. 11. The 2023 Empire 8 champion receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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