CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears picked up another national preseason ranking on Tuesday as Athlon Sports placed the Bears 11th in their 2020 preseason FCS Poll.
UCA, which finished 9-4 overall and 7-2 in Southland Conference play a year ago, was one of four SLC teams in the rankings. Nicholls State was 14th, followed by Sam Houston State at No. 16 and Southeastern Louisiana at No. 17.
The publication noted that then-sophomore quarterback
Breylin Smith set the school record with 3,704 passing yards in 2019 and tied the school mark with 32 touchdown passes. Underclassmen wide receivers
Tyler Hudson, the SLC freshman of the year, and
Lujuan Winningham combined for 20 of those touchdown receptions.
 Senior All-American cornerback
Robert Rochell also drew a mention for his 10 career interceptions, including five last season.
The Bears are slated to open the 2020 season on Saturday, Aug. 29 against Austin Peay in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff in Montgomery, Ala., which will be the first college football game played in the country. The Bears came from behind to beat the Governors 24-16 last September in Clarksville, Tenn., with Smith connecting twice with Winningham for fourth-quarter touchdowns.
ATHLON POLL
