The Southern Conference released its preseason projections on Tuesday, indicating a clear hierarchy among the member schools as the 2026 football season approaches. Mercer topped the poll with 76 points and six first‑place votes, while Tennessee Tech and East Tennessee State University followed with 70 and 61 points respectively.
Preseason Honors
Brayden Smith of Mercer was crowned the conference’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, a distinction that reflects his explosive production last year, including 1,267 all‑purpose yards and a place on the Walter Payton Award Watch List.
Joshua Stoneking from Furman earned the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the nation with 14.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in 2025, also landing on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List.
The league’s coaches also finalized the preseason all‑conference teams, acknowledging Smith’s performances across the 2024 and 2025 campaigns and highlighting the depth of talent that will be on display.
Season Kickoff
The 2026 campaign is scheduled to begin on August 27, a date that will set the stage for teams to test the expectations set by the preseason poll and the newly recognized standout players.