TAMPA, Fla. — Keiser opens the 2026 Sun Conference football season as the preseason favorite, earning 49 points and seven first-place votes in the annual poll of the league’s eight head coaches.
The Seahawks enter 2026 as the reigning Sun Conference Champions after going undefeated in league play and finishing 12-1 overall. Keiser earned the No. 2 seed in the NAIA Football Championship Series, defeated Southeastern 44-16 in the Second Round and advanced past Marian (Ind.) following the Knights’ withdrawal. The Seahawks then defeated College of Idaho 36-27 in the semifinals before falling to No. 1 Grand View 22-16 in the national championship game. The appearance was Keiser’s fourth consecutive trip to the title game.
St. Thomas was voted second with 41 points and received the remaining first-place vote. The Bobcats finished 7-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play, earning an at-large berth in the NAIA Football Championship Series. St. Thomas saw its season end with a 42-35 loss at Carroll (Mont.) in the First Round.
Southeastern earned 38 points to place third after finishing 9-3 overall and 5-2 in Sun Conference action. The Fire received an at-large postseason berth and recorded the program’s first NAIA Football Championship Series victory with a 24-22 win over Reinhardt (Ga.) in the First Round. Southeastern then fell to conference rival Keiser in the Second Round.
Webber International was selected fourth with 29 points after finishing 5-6 overall and 3-4 in conference play. Florida Memorial followed closely in fifth with 28 points. The Lions posted a 4-6 overall record and went 4-3 against conference opponents.
Ave Maria earned 15 points to place sixth, followed by Warner with 14 points. Both programs finished 2-5 in conference play last season.
Thomas rounded out the 2026 preseason rankings in eighth place with 10 points.
| 2026 Sun Conference Football Preseason Poll |
| Rank |
Team |
Points
(first-place votes) |
2025 Conference Record |
2025 Overall Record |
| 1 |
Keiser |
49 (7) |
7-0 |
12-1 |
| 2 |
St. Thomas |
41 (1) |
5-2 |
7-4 |
| 3 |
Southeastern |
38 |
5-2 |
9-3 |
| 4 |
Webber |
29 |
3-4 |
5-6 |
| 5 |
Florida Memorial |
28 |
4-3 |
4-6 |
| 6 |
Ave Maria |
15 |
2-5 |
3-7 |
| 7 |
Warner |
14 |
2-5 |
2-8 |
| 8 |
Thomas |
10 |
0-7 |
0-11 |
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ABOUT THE SUN CONFERENCE
Now in its 36th year, The Sun Conference — a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1990 — is a leading member of the NAIA. The league’s 10 full-member institutions across Florida and Georgia compete in 24 championship sports. Under Commissioner Dustin Wilke, The Sun continues to raise the standard in collegiate athletics. Learn more at thesunconference.com.
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