The 2014 season opener is right around the corner and the Empire 8 Conference coaches agree that St. John Fisher College is the team to beat, as the Cardinals' claimed the top spot in the Football Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Fisher received the maximum of eight first-place votes and racked up 64 total points to earn the role of preseason favorite.  Salisbury University sits second with 53 points, while defending champion Ithaca College totaled 52 points and one top nod on the way to the third position in the annual coaches' survey.

Fisher, also ranked No. 9 in the national D3football.com poll, will open the 2014 season at 12 p.m. on Saturday, as the Cardinals host the Cardinals of Otterbein University.
 
Empire 8 Conference Preseason Poll/Release