Fresh of a trip to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals last season, Slippery Rock was tabbed the preseason favorite in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division.

The Rock received six first-place votes in the PSAC-West preseason poll conducted by the conference’s coaches.

Slippery Rock returns plenty of talent after a 12-2 season, that included a 7-0 mark in conference play, notably PSAC West and Super Region One Offensive Athlete of the Year Brayden Long at quarterback and All-American tight end Kam Kruzelyak. Defensively, All-American defensive backs Josh Stokes and Eddie Faulkner IV return to bolster that unit.

“It’s nice to be picked first in the West but we know that preseason polls don’t mean anything,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said in a statement. “We have high expectations for our program and our goals have not changed. Our goals are always to win the division, win the PSAC title and compete for a national championship. Our guys are excited to get things going when camp starts next week.”

California was voted No. 2 after earning the most wins (6) in PSAC West play since the 2016 season and finishing 7-3 overall.

IUP also earned a first-place vote and was picked No. 3. The Crimson Hawks (6-5) had a 13th consecutive winning season a year ago after winning a PSAC championship in 2022.

Gannon finished third in 2023 with a 5-2 conference record (5-6 overall) and came in at No. 4 in this year’s poll. Seton Hill won four straight games to close out 2023 (6-5 overall record, 4-3 PSAC) and is ranked No. 5.

No. 6 Edinboro went 3-8 a year ago. Clarion was voted No. 7.

2024 PSAC Football West Division Preseason Poll

1. Slippery Rock (6)

2. California

3. IUP (1)

4. Gannon

5. Seton Hill

6. Edinboro

7. Clarion

*number of first-place votes in parentheses

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