(valley-football.org) For the third time in the past four seasons, South Dakota State has been picked by a voting panel of league coaches, school communications directors, and media as the team to beat in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2026. The Jackrabbits earned 28 of 36 possible first-place tallies and 312 total points. National runnerup Illinois State was picked second as the Redbirds earned three first-place votes and 256 total points. Youngstown State is the third choice, with 235 total points.
The Penguins were last picked as high as third in 2017, while the Redbirds were last picked as high as second in the league’s preseason poll in 2015.
Five different MVFC schools (South Dakota State, Illinois State, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Southern Illinois) received at least one first-place vote. That ties a record — five teams earned first-place votes in 1993, 2001, and 2008 previously.
In conjunction with the announcement of the league’s preseason poll, the Conference has announced its 2026 Watch List, which is below.
| 2026 MVFC Preseason Poll | PTS |
| South Dakota State (28) | 312 |
| Illinois State (3) | 256 |
| Youngstown State | 235 |
| North Dakota (2) | 211 |
| South Dakota (2) | 196 |
| Southern Illinois (1) | 186 |
| Northern Iowa | 99 |
| Indiana State | 80 |
| Murray State | 45 |
