July 21, 2008

The Carson-Newman football team is ranked 7th in the nation according to a poll in USA Today's College Football Preview.

Grand Valley State is No. 1 in the poll, followed by North Alabama, who will visit Jefferson City on Thursday, September 4 for one of the marquee matchups in NCAA Division II this season.

Nebraska-Omaha, Northwest Missouri and defending national champion Valdosta State round out the top five. Catawba College is ranked No. 11 and is the only other South Atlantic Conference team to make the poll.

Carson-Newman was 10-1 in 2007, and shared the SAC title with Catawba. The Eagles open the 2008 campaign at Concord (W. Va.) on Aug. 28.