DELAND, Fla. – Stetson Football was selected 10th in the 2026 Pioneer Football League Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced Monday afternoon.
The preseason poll is voted on by the league's 11 head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own teams.
The Hatters enter their second season under head coach Mike Jasper after closing the 2025 campaign with momentum, winning two of their final three games. Stetson returns a strong core of veteran leadership while welcoming a talented group of newcomers as the program continues preparations for the 2026 season.
Defending PFL champion Drake was picked to finish second with 88 points, narrowly behind preseason favorite San Diego, which collected 90 points and five first-place votes. St. Thomas rounded out the top three with 87 points, followed by Dayton, Butler, Marist, Presbyterian, Morehead State, Davidson, Stetson and Valparaiso.
Stetson opens the 2026 campaign on Thursday, Aug. 27, with a road contest at nationally ranked South Dakota State before hosting Webber International in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium. The Hatters begin Pioneer Football League play on Saturday, Sept. 26, when they travel to Davidson.
The 2026 season marks the 34th campaign for the Pioneer Football League. Nine of the league's 11 programs will be in action during Week Zero before conference play begins in late September.
2026 PFL Preseason Coaches' Poll
- San Diego – 90 (5 first-place votes)
- Drake – 88 (5)
- St. Thomas – 87 (1)
- Dayton – 69
- Butler – 67
- Marist – 52
- Presbyterian – 47
- Morehead State – 38
- Davidson – 33
- Stetson – 22
- Valparaiso – 12
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
