LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Slippery Rock University’s football team was selected No. 1 in the 2025 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s Western Division Football Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference’s head coaches.
 
In 2024, The Rock accumulated a 12-2 overall record and advanced all the way to the NCAA semifinals. Slippery Rock collected four first-place votes in the 2025 poll and returns plenty of talent, including All-American left tackle Joe Cooper.
 
IUP was voted No. 2 in this year’s poll with three first-place votes. The Crimson Hawks were 7-3 overall in 2024 and boasted the West’s best defense in multiple categories, including scoring (14.4 PPG) and total yards allowed (258.9 per game.)

California, voted as No. 3 in the 2025 poll, are the defending PSAC West champions, finishing undefeated in conference play for only the fifth time in school history.
 
Gannon finished tied for third in the PSAC West in 2024 with a 3-3 conference record and comes in at No. 4 in this year’s poll for the fourth consecutive year.
 
Seton Hill has a new head coach in Kevin May, who spent the last six seasons as the Griffins’ defensive coordinator. The Griffins are ranked No. 5 in the 2025 poll and return All-PSAC First Teamers RB Ky’Ron Craggette and LB Ritchie McCormack.
 
No. 6 Edinboro has a new head coach in Matt Scott and brings back eight starters on the offensive side of the ball, including four of the five offensive line spots, as they look to improve on last year’s 3-8 overall record.
 
The Golden Eagles of Clarion were voted No. 7 in the 2025 poll but return eight starters from an offense that ranked sixth in the conference with 364.9 total yards per game. Two All-PSAC defensive players (DT Owen Kling and LB Griffin Buzzell) return to anchor that unit.

2025 PSAC Football West Division Preseason Poll

1. Slippery Rock (4)
2. IUP (3)
3. California
4. Gannon
5. Seton Hill
6. Edinboro
7. Clarion

*number of first-place votes in parentheses



For more information, please reference:
 
2025 PSAC Preseason Notes
2025 PSAC Quick Facts (courtesy of each institution)