RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Great American Conference has released the annual 2026 preseason coaches poll, voted on by the conference coaches. The Northwestern Rangers enter the year picked 11th.

Harding finished first in the poll with 114 points and four first-place votes, with Oklahoma Baptist in second with 111 points and six first place votes. Ouachita Baptist was the only other team to receive a first-place vote, as they were selected third with 96 points and two first-place votes.

Southwestern came in fourth with 94 points, while Arkansas Tech received 86 points for fifth place, and Henderson State and East Central tied for sixth with 62 points. Southern Nazarene received 46 points in eighth, while Southern Arkansas got ninth with 43.

Southeastern finished in 10th with 42 points, while Northwestern received 24 points for 11th place, and Arkansas-Monticello rounded out the poll in 12th with 12 points.

The Rangers will open the season on August 28th, as they travel to Joplin, Missouri to take on Southwest Baptist at 11 a.m. and Missouri Southern at 7 p.m.

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