CANTON, Ga. (August 20, 2024) – Coming off back-to-back second place finishes, Berry College will head into this season as the favorite to take the conference crown, finishing No. 1 in the 2024 SAA football preseason poll.
The Vikings picked up 47 total points and five first place nods to top the poll for the first time since the ranking started in 2021. Three-time defending SAA outright champion Trinity was a close second in the poll, earning 45 points and the remaining three first place votes. Centre was third with 36 points, followed by Rhodes (31) and Hendrix (25).
Voting was conducted among the SAA’s eight head coaches.
2024 FB PRESEASON POLL RESULTS
1. Berry - 47 (5)
2. Trinity - 45 (3)
3. Centre - 36
4. Rhodes - 31
5. Hendrix - 25
6. Sewanee - 18
7. Southwestern - 15
8. Millsaps – 7
Berry is ranked No. 25 in the D3football.com preseason poll after going 9-1 overall and 7-1 in league play last season. Their lone blemish was a 46-37 setback to Trinity. The Vikings led the SAA in scoring differential, putting up 53.4 points a game and allowing just 16.3 a contest. Running back Brandon Cade and safety Jake Whitten were both named preseason All-America by D3football.com. Since the start of the conference in 2012, Berry has won four league titles, most recently sharing the championship with Trinity in 2019.
Trinity rides a 29-straight fall SAA game winning streak into the season with their last loss coming at the hands of Berry in the 2019 opener. After a 10-2 overall record and trip to the second round of the NCAA Playoff last season, the Tigers landed at No. 13 in the D3football.com preseason poll. Kicker Tyler Huettel earned a spot on the second team preseason All-America squad.
Centre won its last five to close the 2023 season, finishing 6-4 overall and 6-2 in league play. The Colonels own two SAA championships, sharing the title with Berry in 2018 and wining it outright in 2014.
Millsaps and Belhaven will kick off the 2024 season on Thursday, September 5 in their annual Jackson crosstown rivalry. Conference play begins in week three with Southwestern visiting Hendrix.
Fans can follow the SAA football all season with live links at SAA-sports.com.
SAA Football Champions
2023 – Trinity (8-0)
2022 – Trinity (7-0)
2021 – Trinity (7-0)
2020 – no season
2019 – Berry/Trinity (7-1)
2018 – Berry/Centre (7-1)
2017 – Berry (8-0)
2016 – Berry/Washington U. (7-0)
2015 – Hendrix (7-1)
2014 – Centre (6-0)
2013 – Millsaps/Rhodes (5-1)
2012 – Birmingham-Southern/Millsaps (3-1)