Football Receiving Votes in NAIA Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--Cumberland University football will open the 2026 season receiving votes in the Netting Professionals-NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll, released by the national office Monday.

The Phoenix are coming off a 7-4 campaign in 2025, finishing 3-3 in Mid-South Conference play. Cumberland went a perfect 5-0 at Nokes-Lasater Field and averaged 31.5 points and 397.3 yards of total offense per game.

Cumberland picked up several notable victories during the season, including a 35-33 win over then-No. 6 Campbellsville and a 40-37 overtime victory against Cumberlands. The Phoenix also set a program record for points in a 72-14 win over Faulkner.

The Phoenix are one of five Mid-South Conference programs represented in the preseason poll or receiving votes. Lindsey Wilson leads the conference at No. 6, followed by No. 14 Campbellsville and No. 20 Georgetown. Cumberland and Bethel are both receiving votes.

Two-time defending national champion Grand View (Iowa) begins the season at No. 1, receiving all 13 first-place votes after completing a 14-0 season in 2025. Keiser (Fla.) checks in at No. 2, followed by Benedictine (Kan.), College of Idaho and Montana Tech to round out the top five.

Cumberland enters 2026 after being selected fourth in the Mid-South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The preseason national poll is the first of seven coaches' polls scheduled for the 2026 season. Three national selection committee polls will follow before the final ARC rating on Nov. 15. The season concludes with the NAIA Football National Championship on Dec. 19 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Phoenix will open up the 2026 season on Thursday as Cumberland welcomes No. 16 St. Thomas to Nokes-Lasater. The game will be a blackout for Cumberland fans.

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