KANSAS — Evangel University was unanimously selected No. 1 in the 2026 KCAC Football Dr. Ted Kessinger Division Preseason Media Poll, the conference announced Monday. Eighteen media members participated in the Kessinger Division Preseason Media Poll.
The Valor secured all eighteen first-place votes and a total of 108 points. Ottawa University secured the No. 2 spot with 87 total points, followed by No. 3 Tabor College with 72 total points. Bethel College was ranked No. 4 in the preseason poll with 44 total points, with Bethany College not far behind them with 40 total points in the No. 5 spot. Rounding out the 2026 Kessinger Division Preseason Media Poll was Avila University in the No. 6 spot with 27 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 MEDIA POLL
| RANK |
TEAM |
TOTAL POINTS |
FIRST-PLACE VOTES |
| 1 |
Evangel University |
108 |
18 |
| 2 |
Ottawa University |
87 |
|
| 3 |
Tabor College |
72 |
|
| 4 |
Bethel College |
44 |
|
| 5 |
Bethany College |
40 |
|
| 6 |
Avila University |
27 |
|
—KCAC—