HAMMOND - The preseason Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll was released on Monday and five Southeastern opponents – including four Southland Conference rivals – were among schools receiving votes.

A total of eight opponents on the Lions' 2009 schedule, including their first five opponents, are either ranked in their respective top-25 poll or received votes.

Central Arkansas was the top Southland team in the FCS poll at No. 12 followed by McNeese State (No. 15) and defending champion and 2009 preseason favorite Texas State (No. 21). Northwestern State and non-conference opponent South Dakota each received votes among a pool of 28 FCS coaches from across the country.

TAMU-C, which opens its season on Saturday at Angelo State, enters the season ranked No. 30 in the AFCA Division II preseason poll. Union, which finished 9-3 last season, is ranked No. 10 in the NAIA preseason poll while Ole Miss enters its Sept. 5 opener at Memphis ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 poll.

“It definitely shows our fans the caliber of teams that we're playing,” head coach Mike Lucas said. “Our non-conference schedule will be tough with two ranked teams coming into Strawberry Stadium right out of the chute. The Ole Miss game will mark the highest-ranked FBS team that we've played in school history and our (Sept. 26) game at South Dakota will be a very tough intersectional matchup.”