INDIANAPOLIS - As preseason camp is underway this week and the start of the 2026 football season in on the horizon, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference has released the Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday (August 5).

The Panthers were voted to finish seventh by the head coaches of the ten teams in the conference. Ohio Dominican received 42 points in the voting. 

2025 G-MAC regular season co-champion Ashland was voted as the preseason favorite with 87 points and six first-place votes with Northwood close behind in second place, garnering 85 points and four first-place votes. 

Findlay, the other co-champ in 2025, was ranked third with 74 points, ahead of Tiffin at 66 points and Hillsdale at 61 points, rounding out the top five. 

Walsh (51 points) was slotted sixth in front of Ohio Dominican tallying 42 points. Lake Erie (36 points), Thomas More (25 points) and Kentucky Wesleyan (18 points) round out the ten teams in the poll. 

Ohio Dominican finished 2025 with a 5-5 record overall and was 4-5 in conference play. 

The season opens in just 23 days at Morehead State on August 27th. The first conference matchup is September 19th at Ashland. 

2026 Great Midwest Football Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Ashland - 87 points (6 first place votes)
2. Northwood - 85 points (4 first place votes)
3. Findlay - 74 points 
4. Tiffin - 66 points
5. Hillsdale - 61 points
6. Walsh - 51 points
7. Ohio Dominican - 42 points
8. Lake Erie - 36 points
9. Thomas More - 25 points
10. Kentucky Wesleyan - 18 points