RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – SWOSU Football was picked to finish seventh in the 2026 Great American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, released Tuesday in conjunction with GAC Football Media Day.
 
Defending conference champion Harding was the unanimous preseason favorite, receiving all 11 first-place votes after winning its third consecutive GAC title and advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game last season. Ouachita Baptist was picked second, followed by Southern Arkansas and Henderson State.
 
The Bulldogs finished just one point behind East Central in the poll as the highest-ranked Oklahoma school. SWOSU went a perfect 5-0 against in-state opponents during the 2025 season.
 
Head coach Andrew Rice enters his third season leading the Bulldogs after guiding SWOSU to its first winning campaign since 2015 a year ago. The Bulldogs finished 6-5, set a new program record with 2,347 rushing yards, and placed a school-record 12 players on All-GAC teams.
 
Seventeen starters return for the Bulldogs in 2026, including First Team All-GAC wide receiver Baylor Nash; Second Team selections Red Martel (running back), John-Paul Louie (offensive line), and Ethan McBee (kicker); and Third Team honorees Braydn Henry (offensive line) and Shane Armstrong (linebacker).
 
The 2026 season opens Thursday, Sept. 3, with a road matchup at Arkansas Tech before the Bulldogs host Harding in their home opener on Thursday, Sept. 10. SWOSU will play six home games this season, including Homecoming against Arkansas-Monticello on Oct. 31 and SWOSU Saturday against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Nov. 14.
 
Day two of GAC Football Media Day continues Wednesday, July 22, at FireLake Arena, with SWOSU scheduled to appear at 2 p.m. Head coach Andrew Rice will be joined by Baylor Nash and Wyatt Rohmer. GAC Commissioner Will Prewitt will open the day's coverage at 12:45 p.m., and the event will be streamed live on the GAC's YouTube channel.
 
Full Preseason Poll Results
 

1. Harding (11) – 121
2. Ouachita Baptist (1) – 103
3. Southern Arkansas – 99
4. Henderson State – 95
5. Arkansas Tech – 78
6. East Central – 68
7. SWOSU – 67
8. Southeastern Okla. – 53
9. Arkansas-Monticello – 38
10. Oklahoma Baptist – 30
11. Southern Nazarene – 24
12. Northwestern Okla. – 16