WACO, Texas (Aug. 11) – The California (PA) football team was tabbed No. 15 in the preseason American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 poll on Monday afternoon, as the program was featured in the preseason rankings for the second time in four years.

The Vulcans finished with a 10-3 overall record last season and advanced to the Super Region One Championship for the fifth time in program history. Cal boasted an undefeated record in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play in 2024 to earn a berth in the PSAC Championship, its first appearance in eight years.

Last fall, Cal won four games decided by five points or less with a pair of fourth-quarter comeback victories in the NCAA Playoffs. The Vulcans debuted in the poll last year in late October and were ranked in the final four weeks of the regular season before closing the campaign at No. 12 in the final poll.

Cal was one of three programs from the PSAC featured in the preseason top-25 poll on Monday. Slippery Rock was slotted at No. 4 after advancing to the national semifinals in 2024 while making a sixth-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Playoffs. Kutztown was positioned at No. 7 in the preseason rankings after winning back-to-back PSAC Championships and appearing in the post-season for the fourth time in five years.

Super Region One boasts an additional two teams in the preseason rankings. Starting this fall, Super Region One features a new alignment with the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) returning to the region and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) shifting to Super Region Three. Charleston (WV) opens the year at No. 15 following back-to-back championships in the Mountain East Conference (MEC), while Virginia Union of the CIAA is slotted at No. 19 after appearing in the national quarterfinals last year while playing in Super Region Two.

Ferris State (MI)  was the preseason No. 1 team in the country with 30 of the 31 first-place votes after winning its third National Championship in four years. Harding (AR) was selected at No. 2 after losing to Ferris State in the national quarterfinals, while national runner-up Valdosta State (GA) was chosen No. 12 in the preseason poll.

Led by head coach Gary Dunn, the Vulcans begin the fall on Sept. 4 by hosting No. 14 Charleston at Adamson Stadium.