Don Hansen's Football Gazette has announced its pre-season Top 40, and the Southern Conference has three teams ranked in the pre-season Top 20. Defending I-AA Champion Appalachian State is ranked No. 1 in the preseason, while Furman is No. 9 and Georgia Southern is No. 11.   In addition, Wofford is also ranked at No. 35.

The Gazette covers NCAA I-AA, NCAA I-AA Mid-Major, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, and NCCAA. Hansen has been writing for College Football publications for over 25 years. The Gazette has subscribers throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Don Hansen's Football Gazette has been around since 1986.

The league's pre-season polls (coaches and media) and pre-season team will be announced in conjunction with SoCon Football Rouser on Tuesday, July 25.

1. APPALACHIAN STATE 12-3
2. NEW HAMPSHIRE 11-2
3. YOUNGSTOWN STATE 8-3
4. MONTANA 8-4
5. CAL POLY 9-4
6. ILLINOIS STATE 7-4
7. JAMES MADISON 7-4
8. NORTHERN IOWA 11-4
9. FURMAN 11-3
10. HAMPTON 11-1
11. GEORGIA SOUTHERN 8-4
12. McNEESE STATE 5-4
13. MASSACHUSETTS 7-4
14. EASTERN ILLINOIS 9-3
15. TEXAS STATE 11-3
16. NORTH DAKOTA STATE 7-4
17. COLGATE 8-4
18. COASTAL CAROLINA 9-2
19. WESTERN KENTUCKY 6-5
20. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 9-4

Also

35. WOFFORD 6-5