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 seventh.

East Central was first in the poll with 114 points and six first-place votes, with Oklahoma Baptist and Ouachita Baptist tied for second with 107 points. Ouachita Baptist had three first-place votes, while Oklahoma Baptist had two. 

Harding came in fourth with 94 points and a first-place vote, while Arkansas Tech received 76 points for fifth place. Southeastern was placed sixth with 68 points, while Northwestern received 66 points for seventh. 

Southern Arkansas was selected eighth with 51 points, while Henderson State came in ninth with 34 points. Southern Nazarene and Southwestern tied for 10th with 32 points each, and Arkansas-Monticello rounded out the poll in 12th with 11 points.

The Rangers will open the season on Sept. 4, when they travel to Lawton for the Aggie Duels hosted by Cameron University.

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