The Skyhawks, the Big South-OVC co-champions a year ago, received five of the nine first-place votes and 61 points to claim the top spot. Overall, UT Martin has won or shared three straight conference championships, coming with a 15-2 league record over the past three seasons. Eastern Illinois, who finished last year ranked No. 24 in the FCS Coaches Poll, picked up two first-place votes and 53 points to be picked second, while Southeast Missouri earned the other two first-place votes and 51 points in being tabbed third.
Tennessee State was picked fourth (41 points) and followed by last year’s other co-champion Gardner-Webb (40), Charleston Southern (27), Tennessee Tech (24), Lindenwood (18) and newcomer Western Illinois (9).
The 2024 season will kick off on August 24 when Southeast Missouri takes on North Alabama in the FCS Kickoff Classic as part of Week Zero. Three other teams (Eastern Illinois, Gardner-Webb, and Lindenwood) open on Thursday, August 29, while the final five teams (Charleston Southern, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin, and Western Illinois) open the season on Saturday, August 31.
The first Association game of the season will take place on September 7 when UT Martin travels to Southeast Missouri. Big South-OVC teams will play an eight-game round-robin schedule this year, with the Association champion receiving an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.
2024 BIG SOUTH-OVC PRESEASON POLL
| Rk – School (first-place votes) | Points |
| 1 – UT Martin (5) | 61 |
| 2 – Eastern Illinois (2) | 53 |
| 3 – Southeast Missouri (2) | 51 |
| 4 – Tennessee State | 41 |
| 5 – Gardner-Webb | 40 |
| 6 – Charleston Southern | 27 |
| 7 – Tennessee Tech | 24 |
| 8 – Lindenwood | 18 |
| 9 – Western Illinois | 9 |
Courtesy: Big South-OVC
