HOUSTON, Texas –  Southeastern was picked atop the 2021 Southland Conference Football Preseason Poll presented by Jostens, which were announced at the league's Media Day Presented by Levy Recognition and Ready Thursday at the Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria.
 
The preseason poll was voted on by the Southland head football coaches and sports information directors. The Lions were picked first in the preseason poll for the first time since the 2014 season, which was also the last time Southeastern won the conference championship.
 
"It's not where you start, it's where you finish," Southeastern head coach Frank Scelfo commented. "In 2019, we were picked eighth and we advanced to the playoffs. We know each week in this conference you have to come ready to play."
 
SLU returns 61 letterwinners from last season's squad that finished 4-3 overall and second in the Southland with a 4-2 league mark. The Lions placed a league-high 16 players – more than the previous three seasons combined - on the preseason All-Southland teams.
 
Southeastern was one of the last four teams out of the 16-team FCS playoff field in the spring. The Lions have finished each of the past two seasons ranked in the FCS polls, as SLU was ranked 20^th in the Stats Perform poll and 21^st in the AFCA FCS Coaches poll at the end of the 2020 season that was played in the spring of 2021.
 
Walter Payton Award recipient Cole Kelley leads a high-powered offense that returns the entire offensive line, as well as two of the most prolific receivers in program history in CJ Turner and Austin Mitchell, among other key contributors. Two-time All-American defensive back Ferlando Jordan leads a SLU defense that features six preseason All-Southland Conference contributors.
 
Southeastern received eight first-place votes, while Nicholls was picked second and earned four first-place votes. UIW, McNeese, Northwestern State and Houston Baptist followed in the poll.
 
The Lions will open fall practice on Aug. 6 in preparation for the 2021 season, which will see SLU host North Alabama at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium in the season opener.
 
2021 Southland Conference Football Preseason Poll
Team (First-place votes) – Total
1. Southeastern (8) – 48
2. Nicholls (4) – 43
3. UIW – 32
4. McNeese – 26
5. Northwestern State – 21
6. Houston Baptist - 10
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.