The 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Football Media Day unfolded on July 17 in Nashville, Tennessee, bringing together coaches, players and media to preview the upcoming season.
Preseason Predictions Favor the Skyhawks
UT Martin entered the spotlight as the preseason favorite, capturing six of eight first‑place votes in the league’s annual order‑of‑finish poll.
The Skyhawks boast a remarkable streak, having claimed or shared four of the last five OVC championships from 2021 through 2024, underscoring their sustained dominance.
Coach Jason Simpson, now in his 21st year at the helm, guided the team through a rigorous offseason, while running back Tommy Ansley and defensive lineman Broderick Tommie, Jr. represented the program on the media day stage.
Adding to the buzz, twelve UT Martin athletes earned spots on the OVC Preseason Players to Watch list, a testament to the depth of talent returning to the roster.
A New Chapter for OVC Football
The conference also announced that football will revert to traditional OVC branding in 2026, with eight institutions — including Charleston Southern, Eastern Illinois, Gardner‑Webb, Lindenwood, Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee State, UT Martin and Western Illinois — slated to compete.
While the branding shift signals a return to heritage, the underlying competitive landscape remains unchanged, with each school poised to battle for the coveted conference title.
Fans can expect a season filled with rivalry and resurgence, as the Skyhawks aim to extend their recent run of success and the broader OVC looks to rebuild its football identity.