Eastern Washington University football is ranked No. 11 in the Stats Perform Preseason Top 25 released Monday (Aug. 9).
 
The Big Sky Conference had five teams recognized in the preseason poll, including two in the top nine. Weber State came in at No. 6 followed by Montana at the No. 9 spot. After EWU came Montana State (No. 12) and UC Davis (No. 23) while Sacramento State received votes.
 
The Eagles will face off against Weber State, Montana and Montana State at home at Roos Field in 2021 and take on UC Davis on the road, but won't play the Hornets.
 
FCS National Champion Sam Houston claimed the No. 1 spot, while James Madison, South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Delaware rounded out the top five. The Missouri Valley Football Conference had the most selections with six, followed by the Big Sky Conference with five.
 
Eastern finished 5-2 overall in the unique 2020-21 spring season and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Division I playoffs where it lost to North Dakota State. The Eagles ended the season ranked No. 10 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll, marking the 16th time Eastern has finished the season nationally ranked, including 12 times since 2004. The other seasons were in 1985, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Seven times the Eagles have finished in the top four – fourth in 1997, 2012, 2014 and 2016; third in 2013; second in 2018; and first in 2010 after winning the NCAA Division I title.
 
The Eagles have already landed on the Athlon Sports Preseason Top 25, coming in at No. 19. They were picked to finish third by both the coaches and the media in the Big Sky Conference preseason polls and HERO Sports ranked the Eagles No. 16 in their preseason top 25.
 
Eastern Washington opens the 2021 fall schedule on Sept. 2 at UNLV. The complete schedule can be found HERE, and season tickets are on sale now at GoEags.com/tickets.

Stats Perform Preseason Top 25

1. Sam Houston
2. James Madison
3. South Dakota State
4. North Dakota State
5. Delaware
6. Weber State
7. Southern Illinois
8. North Dakota
9. Montana
10. Jacksonville State
11. Eastern Washington
12. Montana State
13. Monmouth
14. Central Arkansas
15. Southeastern Louisiana
16. Villanova
17. VMI
18. Chattanooga
19. Kennesaw State
20. Austin Peay
21. Northern Iowa
22. Nicholls
23. UC Davis
24. Missouri State
25. North Carolina A&T

Receiving Votes: Murray State, Richmond, ETSU, Sacramento State, Alabama A&M, Florida A&M, New Hampshire, Alcorn State, Holy Cross, Samford, UIW, Sacred Heart, Albany, Illinois State, Rhode Island, South Carolina State, Stephen F. Austin, Duquesne, Southeast Missouri
 
2021 EWU Preseason Honors and Rankings (as of 8/9/21)
 
Senior Co-Captains
QB Eric Barriere (3^rd Year), S Calin Criner (2^nd Year), DB Ty Graham (2^nd Year), RB Tamarick Pierce (2^nd Year), LB Jack Sendelbach (3^rd Year), OT Tristen Taylor (2^nd Year)
 
All-America
QB Eric Barriere – First Team Stats Perform
OT Tristen Taylor – Second Team Stats Perform
 
All-Big Sky Conference
QB Eric Barriere – All-Big Sky Preseason Team / Preseason Offensive MVP
OL Tristen Taylor – All-Big Sky Preseason Team
DL Mitchell Johnson – All-Big Sky Preseason Team
WR Talolo Limu-Jones – All-Big Sky Preseason Team
 
Award Watch Lists
QB Eric Barriere – Walter Payton Award
 
FCS Top 25 Preseason Rankings
19^th – Athlon Sports
16^th – HERO Sports
11^th – Stats Perform