CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BigSouthSports.com) - Charleston Southern was picked third in the annual Big South Conference Preseason Football Poll as announced Tuesday at the league's annual Media Day.

The Bucs received one first place vote, six third place votes, six fourth place votes, four fifth place votes, and three sixth-place votes to receive 79 total points in the poll conducted by the league's head coaches and a media panel.

Reigning Big South Champion and 2018 quarterfinalist Kennesaw State received 14 first place votes in being installed as the preseason favorites, while Monmouth received five first-place votes in finishing second in the poll. Campbell (73), Gardner-Webb (67), Hampton (64), and Presbyterian (21) rounded out the annual preseason poll.

North Alabama is not included in the poll due to not being eligible for the Big South Championship and not counting as a conference opponent this season.

Charleston Southern enters a new coaching era this season as Head Coach Autry Denson takes the sidelines in 2019. Denson was hired as the head coach in January and hit the ground running, securing a nationally ranked recruiting class, while also preparing the Buccaneers with a fast-paced spring season.

The Bucs are coming off back-to-back seasons that were uncharacteristic of the program as CSU struggled to continue the success of the 2015 and 2016 years. CSU advanced to the FCS Playoffs in each of those two seasons, including the program's first berth in the Quarterfinal round in 2015. CSU's national-ranking streak was also snapped in 2017 after 35 weeks sitting in the Top-25 polls.

CSU reports for fall camp on August 1 and is slated to open practice on August 2. The Bucs kick off the season on Saturday, August 31 at Furman.

The preseason favorite has gone on to win at least a share of the conference championship in 14 of the Big South's 17 years of football.