While there is nothing new about preseason polls, there is always a sense of freshness when they begin rolling out over the summer. Broadly, D2 football fans learn a lot from them. They learn how coaches view the other teams in their conference. Whether there is any subterfuge involved is another question. But they learn which players they should probably keep an eye on.

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And when there is a media poll, they learn how the reporters covering those conferences see the race, which often differs from the program perspective. Conference polls will continue to trickle out through August, but three early ones caught my eye over the past two weeks: the CIAA, SIAC and MIAA. All three offered a treasure trove of surprises.

So, what do these early polls tell us about the state of D2 football heading into 2026? Let’s take a closer look.

SIAC: Edward Waters’ Surprising Rise

Context:

Edward Waters got off to a hot start in 2025, winning its first three games, including a last-second win against powerhouse Virginia Union. The Tigers started receiving votes in the FloCollege D2 Football Rankings and got a four-pepper rating in our Chaos Index. Unfortunately, it fell apart, and the team ended up going 5-5, losing four of its last five games.

The Story:

Still, the SIAC coaches and SIDs must’ve seen something in the Tigers’ performance, because one year after being picked to finish No. 8, they were picked to finish No. 1 in the conference this season, ahead of Benedict, Tuskegee, Albany State and Kentucky State.

What’s really interesting about this is that Albany State, Benedict and Kentucky State made the D2 playoffs last season. KSU bowed out in the first round, but Benedict defeated Wingate before losing to Albany State in the second round. Notably, Albany State went all the way to the quarterfinals before losing to Newberry.

For Albany State, there was substantial turnover, including head coach Quinn Gray departing for Florida A&M. Two players also ended up at FAMU: quarterback and SIAC Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Knowles and Second Team All-SIAC running back Tiant Wyche. Defensive back Tyrell Gainey left for Liberty.

Not coincidentally, Edward Waters senior RB Johntarrious Thomas, who rushed for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns, was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. EWU junior LB Trevon French was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

CIAA: Virginia Union Edges Defending Champion Johnson C. Smith

Context:

Johnson C. Smith went 10-2 last season, winning its first CIAA conference title since 1969. The Golden Bulls thus qualified for the D2 Football Playoffs but were knocked out by Frostburg State in the first round. JCSU lost only one regular-season matchup, at the hands of conference foe Virginia Union. VUU also made the playoffs and finished the season 9-3 after being knocked off by California (PA) in the first round.

The Story:

In spite of the successful season, the CIAA’s SIDs chose Virginia Union as the team most likely to finish No. 1 in the CIAA in 2026, with Johnson C. Smith coming in at No. 2. Fayetteville State finished third. What’s interesting is that the inaugural BCFP poll was released this year, covering Division I and D2 HBCU football schools. JCSU begins the season at No. 1 in that poll, while Virginia Union sits at No. 4.

VUU won CIAA conference titles in 2023 and 2024. Another interesting tidbit from CIAA Media Day was the announcement of a third-place game between the third- and fourth-place finishers in the conference. This is designed to improve their chances of earning at-large playoff bids.

MIAA: Coaches and Media Disagree on the Favorite

Context:

Early last season, it looked like Pittsburg State was shaken up. The program lost its first two games of the season to Ferris State and UCO, starting 0-2. The Gorillas have been one of the most consistent traditional powers in D2 football, going back to the early ’90s. They’ve gone to the national championship game five times in that span, winning two titles. However, just as they started to drop through the Top 25 rankings, Pitt State rattled off 10 straight wins, including downing Chadron State in the first round of the playoffs. They were eventually dispatched by national runner-up Harding.

Northwest Missouri State, of course, is the record holder for the most D2 national championships with six. GVSU, Valdosta State and Ferris State are tied for second with four apiece. After two down years in 2023 and 2024, Northwest Missouri State rebounded in 2025, going 9-3 and losing only to Minnesota State and Pitt State in the regular season. They also lost to Harding in the first round of the playoffs.

The Story:

No one would be wrong picking either of these teams as their preseason No. 1 in the MIAA, which is why it’s no surprise that the media and coaches split on the decision. While the coaches chose Pittsburg State, the media had Northwest Missouri State at No. 1.

SIAC Preseason Poll

1. Edward Waters
2. Benedict
3. Tuskegee
4. Albany State
5. Kentucky State
6. Allen
7. Miles
8. Fort Valley State
9. Savannah State
10. Clark Atlanta
11. Central State
12. Morehouse
13. Lane

CIAA Preseason Poll

1. Virginia Union University
2. Johnson C. Smith University
3. Fayetteville State University
4. Virginia State University
5. Winston-Salem State University
6. Livingstone College
7. Elizabeth City State University
8. Bowie State University
9. Bluefield State University
10. Shaw University
11. Lincoln University (Pa.)

MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Pittsburg State
2. Northwest Missouri
3. Central Oklahoma
4. Fort Hays State
5. Central Missouri
6. Emporia State
7. Nebraska Kearney
8. Washburn
9. Missouri Western
10. Missouri Southern

MIAA Preseason Media Poll

1. Northwest Missouri
2. Pittsburg State
3. Central Oklahoma
4. Central Missouri
5. Fort Hays State
6. Emporia State
7. Nebraska Kearney
8. Washburn
9. Missouri Western
10. Missouri Southern

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