The 2026 United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll has just been released, and it brings good news for the Sun Belt Conference. The league’s recent surge on the national stage is evident in the way three of its programs — Kentucky, Marshall, and West Virginia — are positioned near the top of the national conversation.
Kentucky enters the new campaign riding a 10‑4‑5 record from the previous season, a mark that helped the Wildcats secure their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in eight years. Their consistent deep runs have made them a staple of the conference’s success.
Marshall, known as the Thundering Herd, has been a fixture in the rankings since the poll first included them on October 19, 2019. The team closed out the 2025 season with a 12‑4‑5 record and earned its seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth, a testament to the program’s durability.
West Virginia, the Mountaineers, posted a 13‑5‑3 record last year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Their qualification marked the sixth time in the past seven seasons that the program has reached the tournament, underscoring the Mountaineers’ steady growth.
What This Means for 2026
The preseason rankings place the Herd at No. 17, a reflection of both their past achievements and the optimism surrounding the squad’s returning talent. Meanwhile, the Wildcats and Mountaineers are expected to be among the contenders for the conference title and beyond.