August 6th, 2026 12:00pm
Defending divisional champions Kutztown (east) and IUP (west) lead the preseason polls in the PSAC.
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – For the third consecutive year, the Kutztown Golden Bears were selected No. 1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's Eastern Division Football Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
In 2026, Kutztown earned the maximum six first-place votes and are the three-time defending PSAC champions. The Golden Bears return eight starters from an offense that led the PSAC in scoring (42.9 points per game) and rushing (218.8 yards per game.) On defense, six starters are back from the 2025 team that was tops in the conference in points allowed (14.1) and overall defense (270.5 yards allowed per game.)
East Stroudsburg, voted No. 2 in the East, scored 32.8 points per game (fourth-most in the PSAC) and return seven starters on offense and six from a defense that allowed 331.2 yards per game, the third-best mark in the conference.
The No. 3 team in the poll is Shepherd, which ended the season on a seven-game win streak and returns All-PSAC East selections OL Josh Crummitt, WR Kordell Batten, and DB Makai Young.
West Chester earns the No. 4 spot and returns a healthy stable of running backs led by Future Robertson and Mikhail Johnson in addition to a solid interior core on the defensive line led by Jack Fry, Anthony Delle Donne, Debrick Johnson, and Seamus McCain back for their senior seasons.
Bloomsburg was voted No. 5 in the 2026 poll and returns 10 starters (including seven of its top eight tacklers) from what should be one of the most experienced defenses in the conference
Shippensburg comes in at No. 6 in this year's poll. The Raiders have a new head coach in Drew Gallardy, just SU's third head coach in the past 35 years. He is a 2010 alum of the program and former team captain under longtime head coach Rocky Rees.
Millersville ranks No. 7 and also has a new head coach, with Drew Folmar taking the reigns. Folmar, a Millersville Athletics Hall of Famer and former record-setting quarterback, had a long history of success as an offensive coordinator at the Division 1 level, most recently at Bucknell.
2026 PSAC Football Eastern Division Preseason Poll
EASTERN DIVISION
1. Kutztown (6)
2. East Stroudsburg
3. Shepherd (1)
4. West Chester
5. Bloomsburg
6. Shippensburg
7. Millersville
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – IUP's football team was selected No. 1 in the 2026 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's Western Division Football Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
In 2025, IUP boasted the best passing offense (317.9 yards per game) and the best rushing defense (just 97.4 yards allowed) and made an appearance in the 2025 PSAC Championship Game. The Crimson Hawks return seven starters on offense and five on defense from the team that won seven games a year ago.
Slippery Rock was voted No. 2 in this year's poll and collected three first-place votes. The Rock's rushing attack ranked second in the PSAC last season thanks in large part to returning RB JayJay Jordan, who ran for 1,375 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games. The Rock also returns its entire defensive line that was part of the sixth-ranked scoring defense (just 24.9 points allowed per game.)
California, voted as No. 3 in the 2026 poll, have been selected to the NCAA postseason in each of the last two seasons and advanced to the second round in 2025 with its first road playoff victory since the 2009 season.
Edinboro comes in at No. 4 with a new interim head coach, Eric Crandall, after tying with IUP for a share of the PSAC West regular season title (5-1 conference record.) Last fall, Crandall led the Fighting Scots defense that ranked third in the conference with just 22.3 points allowed.
No. 5 Clarion was the PSAC's top offensive team in 2025 at 433.3 yards per game and second-best in scoring at 34.7 points per game. For the third straight season, the Golden Eagles return nearly their entire starting offensive line, but will have to contend with replacing eight of 11 starters on defense.
The Griffins of Seton Hill were voted No. 6 and return just four starters on defense and six on offense. SHU returns a pair of quarterbacks who saw plenty of field time last season in Darrian Carter and Boden St Marie.
New to the Western Division is No. 7 Lock Haven, who moves to the West in 2026 after securing its first winning season in 44 years last fall under first-year head coach Joe Battaglia.
Voted No. 8 are the Gannon Golden Knights, who return a pair of All-PSAC West players in return specialist Damario Moore on offense and DB David Fairer on defense. Also back from injury is WR Donell "Tank" Mason, who was the 2022 PSAC West Freshman of the Year.
2026 PSAC Football West Division Preseason Poll
WESTERN DIVISION
1. IUP (5)
2. Slippery Rock (3)
3. California
4. Edinboro
5. Clarion
6. Seton Hill
7. Lock Haven
8. Gannon