The University of Indianapolis has been crowned the preseason favorite in the 2026 GLVC Coaches Poll, collecting 63 points and seven of the eight possible first‑place votes. The announcement underscores the program’s dominance after a 11‑2 record and a fifth league crown last year.
Head coach Chris Keevers enters his eighth season with a career record of 11‑2 overall and an unblemished 8‑0 mark in conference play. Under his guidance the team finished the previous season ranked No. 10 in the AFCA poll and climbed as high as No. 8, while also securing its fourth straight NCAA Division II playoff berth before falling to Minnesota State in the second round.
Key Returners and Offensive Firepower
UIndy will return 13 starters, five on offense and six on defense. Running back Garrett Sherell, a 2025 All‑GLVC First Team selection, headlines the offensive returnees, while defensive standouts Alvin Contreras and Eli Liapis, also first‑team honorees, anchor the backfield.
The team’s depth was further highlighted when senior quarterback Dylan Hair and wide receiver Nathan Ryan, both 2025 All‑GLVC Second Team selections, were confirmed as additional offensive leaders. Their experience adds stability to a unit that aims to build on last year’s success.
Conference Landscape
Truman State received the remaining first‑place vote and posted 58 points, finishing second in the poll. Coach Kellen Nesbitt earned 2025 GLVC Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Bulldogs to an 8‑4 overall record and a 7‑1 conference slate. The Bulldogs also secured their fifth NCAA DII playoff bid in program history, first since 1994, before losing to Indianapolis in the opening round.
Upper Iowa placed third with 46 points, marking the program’s most wins in a single season and capturing its first postseason victory with a nine‑point triumph over Hillsdale in the Albanese Candy Bowl. The team returns five starters, including Michael Mulherin and RJ Wells, who are coming back from injury.
Missouri S&T rounded out the top four with 40 points, also returning 17 starters — ten on offense and four on defense. Performers Evan Wells, Reid Weber and Austin Mahoney, all 2025 All‑GLVC Second Team selections, headline the team’s offensive resurgence.
The preseason poll not only reflects the competitive balance within the GLVC but also sets the stage for a season where tradition meets new ambitions. With high expectations placed on UIndy and a refreshed roster across the conference, fans can anticipate tightly contested matchups and emerging storylines.