Albany, Ga. – The Albany State University Golden Rams football team has earned national attention ahead of the 2025 season, receiving 26 votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Preseason Coaches Poll and securing the No. 10 spot in the BOXTOROW 2025 Preseason HBCU Football Media Poll.

The recognition reflects the program's growth and competitive consistency under head coach Quinn Gray, Sr., who is entering his third season leading the Golden Rams. In 2024, ASU finished 6-4 overall and 6-2 in SIAC play, earning multiple national rankings for both team and individual performances.

While preseason recognition is an honor, Coach Gray emphasized the team's commitment to proving themselves on the field.

"We're excited about the 2025 season and the opportunities we have to compete every week and earn our place. Being ranked in the preseason polls, as my good friend Willie Spears puts it, is like 'buying fake Jordans.' You pay half price for something that looks real but ultimately has flaws, and you didn't invest in the genuine article. We appreciate the recognition, but until we work hard enough to deserve those rankings, we will focus on creating our own reality rather than getting caught up in perceptions of who we are. Our true identity will be revealed at the end of the season."

The Golden Rams will open their 2025 campaign on August 30 in Raleigh, N.C., against Shaw University, followed by a pair of road games at Kentucky State and Florida A&M before making their home debut on September 27 against Allen University. With 47 returners and 52 newcomers, the team looks to build on last season's success and make an even stronger push for a championship run.

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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football with all teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.