Football | 8/6/2026 2:35:00 PM
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference released its 2026 Football Preseason Poll on Thursday, with Gannon selected to finish eighth in the PSAC Western Division.
The 2026 season also features a new-look conference alignment, with Lock Haven shifting from the Eastern Division to the PSAC West, while Lackawanna College joins the conference as its 18th member institution and begins play in the Eastern Division.
Indiana (Pa.) was picked to win the PSAC West after receiving five first-place votes. Last season, the Crimson Hawks finished atop the Western Division standings before falling to Kutztown, 28-23, in the PSAC Championship Game. IUP also earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament, where it was eliminated by Assumption in the opening round.
Slippery Rock earned the remaining three first-place votes to claim the No. 2 spot, while California (Pa.) was selected third, followed by Edinboro, Clarion, Seton Hill, Lock Haven, and Gannon.
"We are obviously disappointed with how the 2025 season ended, so we're anxious to get started and put that behind us," said head coach
Erik Raeburn. "We're excited for the 2026 season. We know we have another difficult schedule in the PSAC, but we're looking forward to getting off to a much better start than we did a year ago."
In the Eastern Division, 2025 NCAA Division II semifinalist Kutztown was selected as the preseason favorite for the third consecutive season, earning six of the seven first-place votes. The Golden Bears finished the 2025 season ranked No. 3 nationally after capturing their third consecutive PSAC Championship before falling to No. 2 Harding in the NCAA Division II semifinals.
Shepherd received the remaining first-place vote and was picked to finish third, while East Stroudsburg was selected second. West Chester was tabbed fourth, followed by Bloomsburg, Shippensburg, and Millersville.
The 2026 PSAC Football Championship Game will be played on November 14, with the top seed from the Western Division hosting the top seed from the Eastern Division.
The Golden Knights open the 2026 season on Saturday, August 29, with a road trip to Davenport in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Gannon's home opener is set for Saturday, September 19, when it welcomes Bloomsburg to McConnell Family Stadium for a 12 p.m. kick-off. The game will also serve as Senior Day.
The Golden Knights then open PSAC Western Division play on Saturday, September 26, hosting Lock Haven at 1 p.m. during Homecoming Weekend at McConnell Family Stadium.
2026 PSAC Football Preseason Poll
Western Division
- IUP (5)
- Slippery Rock (3)
- California (Pa.)
- Edinboro
- Clarion
- Seton Hill
- Lock Haven
- GANNON
Eastern Division
- Kutztown (6)
- East Stroudsburg
- Shepherd (1)
- West Chester
- Bloomsburg
- Shippensburg
- Millersville
