July 22nd, 2026 9:00am
From RMAC Communications:
By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
DENVER, Colo. – Two-time defending champion Colorado State University Pueblo is again picked as the preseason favorite in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll released Wednesday in conjunction with the RMAC Football Kickoff event hosted at Metropolitan State University of Denver’s CAVEA Theater.
The league also announced its 2026 Preseason All-RMAC Football Team with 32 student-athletes earning recognition. Again this season, the RMAC’s preseason teams are determined by placing returning players in order of head coaches’ voting from the league’s 2025 All-RMAC Teams.
CSU Pueblo received eight of a possible nine first-place votes, and one second-place vote, to amass 80 of a possible maximum 81 points to lead the 2026 preseason poll. The ThunderWolves had three athletes named to the preseason team, led by wide receiver Marcellus Honeycutt Jr., who returns after earning Second-Team All-RMAC recognition last season.
Western Colorado University, which reached the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs last season, was picked second in the poll with one first place vote and 69 points. The Mountaineers led all teams with seven returning student-athletes, including two offensive linemen from the 2025 First Team All-RMAC, named to the Preseason All-RMAC Team.
Colorado School of Mines was picked third with 62 points and placed six student-athletes on the preseason team, including running back Max Barnes and tight end Black Smotherman, who both return after Second Team All-RMAC seasons a year ago.
Chadron State College was fourth in the poll, receiving the remaining first-place vote and 60 points after reaching the Division II playoffs last season. Colorado Mesa University rounded out the top half of the poll with 52 points. Both the Eagles and Mavericks placed four individuals on the Preseason All-RMAC squad.
The second half of the 10-team poll is led by New Mexico Highlands University with 38 points. The Cowboys are followed by South Dakota Mines (34 points), Black Hills State University (29), Fort Lewis College (16), and Adams State University (10).
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL (first place votes in parantheses)
Four 2025 First Team All-RMAC honorees return to lead the 2026 Preseason All-RMAC unit. Western Colorado offensive linemen Taylor Nichols and Joseph Shepardson, Black Hills State kick returner Bryce Coulson, and Colorado School of Mines long snapper Josh Hildebrand. They were joined by 14 returning Second Team All-RMAC selections, including New Mexico Highlands outside linebacker Dontaivious Nelson, who returns after earning the league’s Defensive Freshman of the Year honor last season.