IRVING, Texas – Entering its 11th campaign as a member of the American Athletic Conference, East Carolina has been tabbed seventh in the 2024 AAC Preseason Media Poll alongside Rice as voted on by members of the media the league announced Tuesday.
 
The league welcomed in new member Army to the circuit in July to offset the departure of SMU to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
 
ECU and Rice both picked up 219 points finishing ahead of North Texas (216 points). Memphis was selected as the overwhelming favorite after netting 409 points with 23 first place votes. UTSA (368 points/4 votes), Tulane (362 points/2 votes) and Army (236 points/1 vote) also garnered first place votes.
 

 
The top two teams in the final single-division regular-season standings will meet Dec. 6 in the 10th American Athletic Conference Football Championship, which will be aired on ABC at 8 p.m. (ET).
 


East Carolina is under the direction of sixth-year head coach Mike Houston who owns a 104-59 all-time mark and a 24-34 record with the program. The Pirates are set to open the 2024 season at home playing host to Norfolk State on Aug. 31. The contest, scheduled for 6 p.m. (ET), will be streamed on ESPN+. ECU hosts Appalachian State (Sept. 14/ 4 p.m.) while traveling to Old Dominion (Sept. 7/ 6 p.m.) and Liberty (Sept. 21/ 6 p.m.) during its non-conference slate. ECU begins conference play Sept. 28 hosting UTSA.



 

Season tickets are on sale with packages starting as low as $115 (depending on location) each and purchases may be made via ECU’s Online Ticket Center or by calling the Athletics Ticket Office at (252) 737-4500.



 

2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Football Media Poll


Team (First Place Votes) – Points


1. Memphis (23) – 409

2. UTSA (4) – 368

3. Tulane (2) – 362

4. South Florida – 339

5. Army (1) – 236

6. Florida Atlantic – 228

T7. East Carolina – 219

T7. Rice – 219

9. North Texas – 216

10. UAB – 192

11. Navy – 150

12. Tulsa – 95

13. Charlotte – 77

14. Temple – 40