OKLAHOMA CITY – Texas Wesleyan has been picked to repeat as the Sooner Athletic Conference football regular-season champion, earning the top spot in the 2026 SAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll for the second consecutive season.

The Rams received 62 points and seven first-place votes in the poll, which was voted on by the league's head coaches. Texas Wesleyan finished the 2025 season in a three-way tie for the SAC regular-season championship with a 7-5 overall record and a 7-1 mark in conference play. The Rams earned the SAC's automatic berth into the NAIA postseason before falling in the opening round.

Louisiana Christian was picked second with 55 points and one first-place vote after sharing the 2025 regular-season title. The Wildcats finished 8-3 overall and 7-1 in SAC play.

OUAZ claimed the No. 3 position with 51 points after also sharing the conference championship last season. The Spirit posted an 8-1 overall record and went 7-1 in conference play.

Wayland Baptist was fourth with 44 points and one first-place vote after finishing fourth in the SAC in 2025 with a 6-3 overall record and a 5-3 conference mark.

Nelson was fifth with 32 points, followed by Panhandle State with 29, Langston with 28, Texas College with 14 and Arkansas Baptist with eight.

The preseason poll was announced as part of the SAC's 2026 Fall Sports Virtual Media Days, which began Monday. The virtual media days are being presented on the Urban Edge Network and feature SAC head coaches and selected student-athletes discussing their upcoming seasons with SAC Assistant Commissioner Jim Powers.

Football media day is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20, beginning with the preseason poll release at 9 a.m. CT. Conference programs will then take part in scheduled media sessions throughout the day.

Texas Wesleyan's football session is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT and will feature head coach Fran Johnson along with players Evenn Head and Cole Francis.

The complete football media day schedule is:

• 9 a.m. — Preseason Poll Release
• 9:30 a.m. — Arkansas Baptist: Richard Wilson, Tavion Rupert, Vernon Grant III
• 10 a.m. — Texas College: Jarrail Jackson, Broderick Brown
• 10:30 a.m. — Langston: Calvin Miller, Steele Wasel, Kano Davis
• 11 a.m. — Nelson: Jared Hudgins, Judah Holtzclaw, Xavier Garcia
• 11:30 a.m. — Panhandle State: Cory Miller, David Zeller, CJ Holmes
• Noon — Wayland Baptist: Marcos Hinojos, Donte Hurt, Brennen Davis
• 12:30 p.m. — Louisiana Christian: Ben McLaughlin, Gavin Lilley, Jaden Jones
• 1 p.m. — OUAZ: Rielly Murphy, Justice Sosnicki, Corey Floyd Jr.
• 1:30 p.m. — Texas Wesleyan: Fran Johnson, Evenn Head, Cole Francis

The virtual media days spotlight conference head coaches and selected players discussing their upcoming seasons with SAC Assistant Commissioner Jim Powers. Daily programming begins at 9:30 a.m. CT, with the preseason poll announcements serving as the opening feature for each highlighted sport.

2026 SAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Texas Wesleyan                    62 points      (7) first-place votes)
2. Louisiana Christian              55                    (1)
3. OUAZ                                         51
4. Wayland Baptist                    44                    (1)
5. Nelson                                       32 
6. Panhandle State                   29
7. Langston                                  28
8. Texas College                        14
9. Arkansas Baptist                   8