Tartans Selected to Finish Second in 2024 PAC Football Preseason Poll

(LATROBE, Pa.) – The Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) held its annual football media day on Tuesday, where the Carnegie Mellon University football team was selected to finish second in the 2024 PAC preseason poll with 417 points while collecting eight first-place votes. Media day was held at the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Center on the campus of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Grove City College garnered 29 first-place votes and a total of 444 points to headline this year's preseason poll. Washington and Jefferson College was third with two first-place votes and 378 points, followed by the Cardinal and Gray. Case Wester Reserve was selected fourth with 335 points while Westminster College received two first-place votes for 310 points and picked fifth.

Joining third-year Tartan head coach Ryan Larsen at media day was graduate student outside linebacker Logan Young as the two participated in a question-and-answer session with the other 10 PAC schools.

Larsen started with remarks on how and his coaching staff will approach the start of the 2024 season after putting together one of the most successful two-year stretches in program history with a combined mark of 21-2 during the time frame.

Young ended the 2023 season as the Tartans' second leading tackler with 65, including 28 solo stops, while tying for the team lead in interceptions for the second consecutive season adding three.

The linebacker touched on his decision to return for his fifth-year and the importance of having six others join him in offensive lineman Hunter Campbell, inside linebacker Robert Coury, outside linebacker Thomas Coury, quarterback Ben Mills, running back Tre Vasiliadis and defensive back Adrian Williams.

Carnegie Mellon will open its 2024 season on Saturday, September 7, when the Tartans travel to Greenville, Pennsylvania to play the Tomcats of Thiel College. Kick is set for 1:00 p.m. on the turf at Stoeber Field at Alumni Stadium.

View full interview with Coach Larsen and Logan Young.

2024 PAC Preseason Poll:
1. Grove City (29 first-place votes): 444 points
2. Carnegie Mellon (8): 417 points
3. Washington & Jefferson (3): 378 points
4. Case Western Reserve: 335 points
5. Westminster (2): 310 points
6. Allegheny: 219 points
7. Geneva: 192 points
8. Saint Vincent: 154 points
9. Waynesburg: 133 points
10. Thiel: 129 points
11. Bethany: 61 points