The Phoenix have won three straight and have returned to the top tier of national rankings heading into Family Weekend.
Building upon a three-game winning streak, Elon University football team has returned to the top 25 nationally for the first time since spring 2021.
The jump into the national rankings follows a 35-31 win at No. 14 William & Mary on Saturday. The Phoenix have entered both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll and the AFCA Coaches poll at No. 23.
Elon has won three consecutive games since a 42-31 loss to SEC opponent Vanderbilt University in the season opener. The Phoenix followed that with a 26-0 win at Wofford College and a 30-24 home victory over Gardner-Webb University. All three of Elon’s wins came against teams that defeated the Phoenix in the most recent meetings between the programs.
On Saturday, Elon posted its largest come-from-behind victory in its 23-year FCS history, rallying from a 28-10 halftime deficit against William & Mary. The Phoenix trailed 31-16 after three quarters but scored the final 19 points for the win.
Elon has not been in the top 25 since being ranked No. 24 on Feb. 27, 2021. The Phoenix lost the ensuing game to Gardner-Webb 42-20 and had not been back in the polls since.
Elon welcomes No. 17/21 Richmond to Rhodes Stadium Saturday at 2 p.m. for Family Weekend. The Spiders are also 3-1 on the season with only a season-opening loss to Virginia 34-17. It will be the only FCS game in the country this weekend featuring two ranked foes. It will be the first time Elon has played as a ranked team against a ranked team since being ranked No. 24 on Sept. 28, 2019 – a 45-10 loss to No. 2 James Madison.