Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder football team is ranked eighth in the Division III preseason poll released by D3football.com this afternoon. The Thunder earns the recognition following a 2010 season in which the program posted a 10-2 record and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

Wheaton was ranked 11th in the final D3football.com poll of the 2010 season. This marks the sixth time that the Thunder program has been ranked in the website's preseason top-25 since D3football.com began its preseason poll in 2004.

The Thunder football team is slated to return 13 starters this season, with 71 total letterwinners from last year's playoff team. The Thunder will scrimmage 19th-ranked Wabash College on September 3 at McCully Stadium. Wheaton will open its 2011 campaign on September 11 at home against Albion College.

LINK TO THE D3FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL