EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette football has been selected 17^th in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll announced on Monday morning.
 
The reigning Patriot League champions are coming off a 9-3 mark in 2023 when they advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Lafayette was ranked as high as No. 16 in 2023 and finished the season at 21^st in the Stats Perform poll and 19^th in the AFCA Coaches poll.
 
The Leopards were a unanimous selection to make a repeat run for the Patriot League championship when the conference's preseason predictions were announced on July 24. Nine players (six on offense and three on defense) earned Preseason All-Patriot League honors including the Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and preseason All-American Jamar Curtis. The junior running back is the nation's leading returning rusher at 132.7 yards per game, rushing for 1,400 yards in 2023.
 
On the whole, Lafayette returns eight starters on each side of the ball. The Leopards opened training camp July 29 and will begin the season exactly one month later at Buffalo in a Thursday night affair.