McLEAN, Va. — Georgia Southern football will begin the 2008 campaign ranked 17th, according to The College Football Special Edition of USA Today Sports Weekly. The College Football Special Edition is available at newsstands throughout July.
The Eagles were one of five Southern Conference teams ranked in the pre-season 'Top 25', joining: Appalachian State (1st), Elon (8th), Wofford (12th) and The Citadel (23rd). Georgia Southern returns 13 starters and 37 letterwinners off last year's 7-4 team that fell one game shy of a SoCon regular season championship.
The Southern Conference's five representatives equaled the Missouri Valley's total and was just one shy of the six CAA teams included in the pre-season rankings.
Georgia Southern begins the 2008 campaign on Aug. 30 at the University of Georgia. The home opener at Paulson Stadium will take place on Sept. 6 against Austin Peay, kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.
To buy tickets, call the Georgia Southern Athletics ticket office at 800-GSU-WINS.

1. Appalachian State
2. North Dakota State
3. Montana
4. James Madison
5. Massachusetts
6. Cal Poly
7. Richmond
8. Elon
9. Northern Iowa
10. Eastern Washington
11. McNeese State
12. Wofford
13. Southern Illinois
14. South Dakota State
15. Youngstown State
16. Villanova
17. Georgia Southern
18. Yale
19. Delaware
20. Northern Arizona
21. Fordham
22. New Hampshire
23. The Citadel
24. Harvard
25. Sam Houston State

Compiled by
Andy Gardiner