Preseason Rankings
The South Atlantic Conference released its preseason football poll, positioning the Wingate Bulldogs as the clear favorites heading into the 2026 campaign.
Wingate earned two first‑place votes and five second‑place votes, edging out Newberry Wolves, who received five first‑place nods but fell to second in the final tally, after finishing the previous season 9‑3 overall and 7‑2 in conference play.
Defending champions Newberry Wolves sit just behind, boasting a record‑setting 12‑2 season and a national semifinal berth, with Coach Todd Knight honored as D2Football.com National Coach of the Year.
Lenoir‑Rhyne secured third place, collecting two first‑place votes and finishing the prior season at 6‑5 overall with a 5‑4 conference record.
Carson‑Newman followed in fourth, earning 59 points and a solitary first‑place vote despite a 6‑3 conference slate that placed them in a three‑way tie for third.
Emory & Henry rounded out the top five with 56 points, while Catawba, known for its high‑powered offense, claimed sixth with 46 points, averaging 459.5 yards and scoring over 35 points per game.
Anderson and Mars Hill were projected seventh and eighth respectively, with UVA Wise and Tusculum slated ninth and tenth, setting the stage for a competitive fall schedule.
The 2026 season kicks off on August 27, featuring non‑conference matchups for six of the ten programs, promising early tests before conference play begins.