The 2026 KCAC Football Dr. Ted Kessinger Division Preseason Media Poll was released this week, revealing a clear hierarchy among the conference’s top programs.
Preseason Rankings Overview
Evangel University entered the poll as the unanimous favorite, collecting all 18 first‑place votes and a total of 108 points, while the Ottawa Braves earned 87 points to secure second place.
Ottawa’s 2025 campaign ended with a four‑game winning streak, finishing the division with a 4‑1 record that left them just one game behind Evangel’s perfect 5‑0 mark.
The poll’s findings echo the preseason coaches’ poll, which also positioned Evangel at the summit and the Braves in the runner‑up slot, underscoring a consensus among selectors.
Fourteen members of the Ottawa roster were recognized on the division’s preseason honors list, a testament to the program’s depth and the coaching staff’s impact.
Behind them, Tabor College claimed third with 72 points, followed by Bethel College, Bethany College and Avila University, setting a competitive landscape for the upcoming season.
With the poll completed, attention now turns to how the Braves will translate their preseason respect into on‑field performance, as they prepare to face a field that includes several programs eager to dethrone the established powers.