Rock Hill, S.C.----The South Atlantic Conference announced the preseason SAC Football poll Monday morning, along with the Player to Watch list. Wingate has been chosen as the preseason favorite in the poll done by the league head coaches. In addition, the six Players to Watch for the 'Dogs are Tyson Brown, Jesse Clinesmith, Xavier Jackson, Brandon Perry, Ethan Wallace and Jaden White.

The Bulldogs picked up 72 points to finish first in the preseason poll, with two first-place votes. Wingate finished just ahead of second-place Newberry, who had five first-place votes. Lenoir-Rhyne is third with a pair of first-place votes, followed by fourth-place Carson-Newman with one first-place vote. Emory & Henry is fifth, with Catawba, Anderson, Mars Hill, UVA Wise and Tusculum rounding out the poll.

The Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons, going 9-3 in 2025 with a 7-2 record in league play. Wingate earned a bid to the NCAA D2 playoffs for the second straight season and sixth time in the last eight years. The 'Dogs hosted a play-off game for the fifth time in program history in 2025. The Bulldogs have won at least eight games in each of the last nine fall seasons, leading the SAC in overall wins and league victories over the last nine years.

Wingate opens the season with three straight road games. The season opener is set for Thursday, Aug. 27 at UNC Pembroke at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs travel to Delta State Sep. 5 at 7 p.m., then open SAC play at Carson-Newman Sep. 12 at 1 p.m. Wingate's first home game is Saturday, Sep. 19, hosting Newberry at 6 p.m. on Hall of Fame Weekend and Patriots' Day. The 'Dogs are back at home the following weekend, hosting UVA Wise at 6 p.m. Wingate hosts Tusculum Oct. 10 before a trip to Lenoir-Rhyne Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. The 'Dogs welcome Anderson to Irwin Belk Stadium Oct. 31 on Homecoming weekend, followed by a home game against Emory & Henry Nov. 7 at 1:30 p.m. The regular season wraps up Nov. 14 at Mars Hill.

2026 SAC Preseason Football Coaches' Poll

Rank	School (1st Place)	Score
1	Wingate (2)	72
2	Newberry (5)	67
3	Lenoir-Rhyne (2)	64
4	Carson-Newman (1)	59
5	Emory & Henry	56
6	Catawba	46
7	Anderson	31
8	Mars Hill	27
9	UVA Wise	16
10	Tusculum	12

Preseason Players to Watch

Wingate
Xavier Jackson, WR, R-Jr., Kennesaw, Ga.
Jesse Clinesmith, TE, R-Jr., Chinquapin, N.C.
Ethan Wallace, RB, R-Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.
Brandon Perry, DB, Sr., Indian Trail, N.C.
Tyson Brown, DE, R-Jr., Rome, Ga.
Jaden White, DB, R-Sr., Flowery Branch, Ga.

Anderson
Kenny Brown, WR, R-Jr., Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Darren Lloyd, RB, R-So., Florence, S.C.
Tre Broughton, TE, Jr., Piedmont, S.C.
Scotty Miley, DL, R-So., Catawba, N.C.
Carter Wit, DB, R-Jr., Johns Creek, Ga.
Chase Brightharp, OLB, R-Jr., Trenton, S.C.

Carson-Newman
Josh Adams, RB, So., Monroe, Ga.
Terry Lemon, LB, Jr., McDonough, Ga.
Martavis Mason, DL, Sr., Ninety Six, S.C.
Isaiah Cane, DB, Sr., Antioch, Tenn.
Cruz Temple, LB, Sr., Abbeville, S.C.
Jay'Den Williams, OL, So., Moultrie, Ga.
Bennett Smith, K, Jr., Cleveland, Tenn.

Catawba
Bennett Galloway, RB, R-Jr., Chapin, S.C.
Sean McFarland, OL, Jr., Waxhaw, N.C.
Braylon Baker, DE, So., Harrisburg, N.C.
Jymiek Samson, DT, Sr., Clinton, N.C.
Jaylen Hinton, LB, Jr., Irmo, S.C.
Luke Raykovicz, DB, R-Jr., Waxhaw, N.C.

Emory & Henry
Josh Gooding, DL, Jr., Glen Allen, Va.
Connor Roberts, DL, Jr., Bluefield, Va.
Brennan Hanley, P, Jr., Smithtown, N.Y.
Cole Lambert, QB, Sr., Abingdon, Va.
Trey Secrist, OL, Sr., Buena Vista, Va.
Parker Prioleau, WR, Jr., Radford, Va.

Lenoir-Rhyne
Tye Roberson, RB, Sr., Laurens, S.C.
Rubens Joseph, OL, R-Jr., Marietta, Ga.
LJ Turner, RB, Sr., Palm Bay, Fla.
Carnell Ferguson, DL, So., Los Angeles, Calif.
Brodie Bradburn, LB, So., Carrollton, Ga.
KJ Whitehead, DB, Fr., Athens, Ga.

Mars Hill
Charlie Guinade, WR, Sr., Griffin, Ga.
Lukas Kachillo, QB, R-Jr., Mills River, N.C.
JT Way, RB, So., Atlanta, Ga.
Russell Barnette, DT, Sr., Asheville, N.C.
Jayden Alberty, C, Sr., Orlando, Fla.
Isaac Weaver, LB, Sr., Andrews, N.C.

Newberry
DeAndre Colman, WR, Jr., Hueytown, Ala.
Jonah Norris, RB, R-Jr., Lexington, S.C.
Mason Kidd, QB, R-Jr., Lawrenceville, Ga.
Mikey Blandin, LB, Sr., Charleston, S.C.
Avery McFadden, DB, R-So., Simpsonville, S.C.
Mason Grier, LB, So., Rock Hill, S.C.

Tusculum
Teddy Gleaton, QB, Jr., Waldorf, Md.
Cam Ferguson, RB, Sr., Rockmart, Ga.
Gabe McLamb, OL, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Malachi Jim-Lawson, DL, Jr., London, England
Jimi Olarinde, LB, Jr., Austell, Ga.
Cam Garnett, LB, Sr., Harlem, Ga.

UVA Wise
Daniel Thomas, RB, Jr., Middlesboro, Ky.
McCalan Beason, QB, So., Hoover, Ala.
Jack Tews, OL, So., Brandon, S.D.
KD Long, DL, Sr., Huntsville, Ala.
Jalen Pickens, LB, R-Jr., Gainestown, Ala.
Braylon Henry, DB, So., Birmingham, Ala.