KANSAS — Evangel University was ranked No. 1 in the 2026 KCAC Football Dr. Ted Kessinger Division Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced Friday. The Kessinger Division Preseason Coaches' Poll was voted on by
coaches within the Kessinger Division only.
The Valor earned 25 total points and five first-place votes. Ottawa University was ranked No. 2 in the Kessinger Division, with 20 total points, followed by Tabor College with 17 total points and the lone remaining first-place vote. Bethel College earned the No. 4 spot in the preseason poll with 11 total points, with Bethany College right behind them in the No. 5 spot with 10 total points. Rounding out the Kessinger Division Preseason Coaches' Poll was Avila University with seven total points.
In the 2025 season, the final Kessinger Division standings were as follows:
- Evangel: 5-0
- Ottawa: 4-1
- Tabor: 3-2
- Bethel: 1-4
- Bethany: 1-4
- Avila: 1-4
2026 KCAC FOOTBALL DR. TED KESSINGER DIVISION PRESEASON COACHES POLL
| RANK |
TEAM |
TOTAL POINTS |
FIRST-PLACE VOTES |
| 1 |
Evangel University |
25 |
5 |
| 2 |
Ottawa University |
20 |
|
| 3 |
Tabor College |
17 |
1 |
| 4 |
Bethel College |
11 |
|
| 5 |
Bethany College |
10 |
|
| 6 |
Avila University |
7 |
|
—KCAC—