Harvard Ranked 22nd in Preseason by Beyond College Sports Network

Zach Hodges and the Crimson are heavy favorites to win another Ivy League title in 2012 (Harvard Athletics)

In another preseason national ranking, Harvard has been tabbed 22^nd by the Beyond Sports College Network.

Earlier in the week Harvard was ranked 25^th by The Sports Network FCS Top College Football Poll in an announcement made Monday. The Crimson has been ranked 19^th in the preseason by Lindy's, 22^nd by Athlon Sports and 23^rd by both Phil Steel's College Football Preview and College Sports Madness.

Harvard opens its season at home Sept. 15 against San Diego.

The Crimson, which averaged 37.4 points per game in 2011, finished the season at 9-1 overall, undefeated in the Ivy League  (7-0) and ranked 16^th by TSN and 14^th in the Coaches Poll, is a heavy favorite to repeat as Ivy League champions. Harvard returns 17 starters and 47 letterwinners with an offensive line featuring four preseason All-Ivy selections.

A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the Top 25 each season. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.

During the regular season, the Top 25 will be released every Monday afternoon, except for the final weekend of the regular season, when it will be released Sunday morning, Nov. 18, prior to the selection of the FCS playoff field.

The Sports Network will release a final Top 25 following the FCS championship game, which will be held Jan. 5 in Frisco.