The Abilene Christian Wildcats and Tarleton State Texans have been picked to finish atop the United Athletic Conference in the 2026 college football season.
In an internal preseason coaches poll voted on by UAC football coaches released Tuesday, Abilene Christian and Tarleton were tabbed the league’s head coaches as the preseason favorites to win the conference championship in 2026.
Both ACU and Tarleton received three first-place votes each among the league’s head coaches in the preseason poll, with Austin Peay also receiving two votes.
For the Wildcats, it marks the first time since 2011 — when ACU competed in the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference — that they have been tabbed the preseason favorites to win a conference title.
Abilene Christian is coming off back-to-back UAC football conference championships and trips to the FCS Playoffs in 2024 and 2025.
The Wildcats boast an 18-10 overall record and a 14-2 record in UAC conference games during that two-year stretch.
Tarleton, meanwhile, is also coming off back-to-back FCS Playoff appearances after also clinching a share of the 2025 UAC conference title with Abilene Christian. The Texans hold a 22-6 overall record and a 13-3 mark in UAC conference play during that period.
UAC conference title favorites ACU and Tarleton will renew their rivalry at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville.
Here’s a complete look at the UAC football preseason coaches poll:
First-place votes were worth eight points, second-place votes were worth seven points, etc.
T-1. Abilene Christian (3) – 65
T-1. Tarleton State (3) – 65
3. Austin Peay (2) – 62
4. Eastern Kentucky – 48
5. Central Arkansas – 43
6. West Georgia – 39
7. North Alabama – 37
8. West Florida – 33
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: ACU, Tarleton football voted preseason favorites in UAC coaches poll
