The University of Delaware football squad is one of nine Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) teams that earned votes in the STATS preseason NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) poll announced Monday.

UD had 25 total votes and was among several teams also receiving votes in the poll, which was selected by a panel of 158 media members and sports information directors at NCAA FCS member schools. The CAA placed six schools in the top 25, the most of any conference in the nation.

The Blue Hens, now in their first full week of preseason drills, will continue practices Thursday, and Friday mornings beginning at 7:20 a.m. and will take part in the first full scrimmage of the preseason at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 13, at Delaware Stadium.

The inaugural Kids Day will be held at noon Sunday, Aug. 14, at the stadium, followed by Media/Photo Day at 4:45 p.m. Registration for the free Kids Day skill session is available at BlueHens.com.

Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State took the preseason top spot with 3,941 points and 152 first place votes while Sam Houston was second with 3,626 points and two first place votes, and Jacksonville State was third with 3,569 points and four first place votes.

Leading the list of CAA teams was preseason conference favorite Richmond at No. 4, followed by No.9 William and Mary, No. 12 James Madison, No. 22 New Hampshire, No. 23 Villanova and No. 24 Towson. UD, Maine and Stony Brook also earned votes but did not crack the Top 25.

The national FCS Coaches’ Poll was also announced Monday but the Blue Hens did not earn votes. North Dakota State gained all 25 first place votes to take the top spot. Richmond was fourth, William and Mary was picked 10th, James Madison was 11th, Villanova was 22nd, and New Hampshire and Towson earned votes.

UD will open the regular season on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the Hens host downstate foe Delaware State at 7 p.m. at Delaware Stadium. Great season and single game tickets are available online under “Tickets,” by phone at 302-831-2257, and in-person at the Bob Carpenter Center ticket office. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.