Skyhawks Picked As OVC Preseason Favorite
7/16/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – After winning four of the last five conference championships, the University of Tennessee at Martin football program was once again tabbed as the preseason favorite with the release of the 2026 predicted order of finish leading up to Ohio Valley Conference Football Media Day presented by Shaw Sports Turf.
The Skyhawks have won or shared four of the past five OVC Championships (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and have won FCS Playoff games in each 2021 and 2024. UTM begins its 21st season under head coach Jason Simpson. Simpson needs just three Conference victories to move into second-place in League history.
UT Martin picked up six of the eight first-place votes in topping the poll with 47 points. Southeast Missouri picked up one first-place vote and 38 points, one point ahead of Lindenwood who received the other first-place vote. Gardner-Webb was picked fourth (30) and followed by Charleston Southern (26), Western Illinois (23), Eastern Illinois (14) and Tennessee State (9).
The 2026 campaign begins on Thursday, August 27 with five games, including a Conference contest as Lindenwood hosts Charleston Southern.
The 2026 season marks a return to the OVC identity for the football brand. The return to the OVC identity follows three successful years of partnership with the Big South Conference under the names Big South-OVC Football Association (2023, 2024) and OVC-Big South Football Association (2025). The move reflects the league's continued evolution and its commitment to providing a unified, streamlined home for its football programs.
Schools who will play OVC football in 2026 are Charleston Southern University (Charleston, SC), Eastern Illinois University (Charleston, IL), Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC), Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO), Southeast Missouri State University (Cape Girardeau, MO), Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN), University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, TN) and Western Illinois University (Macomb, IL).
The Skyhawks have won or shared four of the past five OVC Championships (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and have won FCS Playoff games in each 2021 and 2024. UTM begins its 21st season under head coach Jason Simpson. Simpson needs just three Conference victories to move into second-place in League history.
UT Martin picked up six of the eight first-place votes in topping the poll with 47 points. Southeast Missouri picked up one first-place vote and 38 points, one point ahead of Lindenwood who received the other first-place vote. Gardner-Webb was picked fourth (30) and followed by Charleston Southern (26), Western Illinois (23), Eastern Illinois (14) and Tennessee State (9).
The 2026 campaign begins on Thursday, August 27 with five games, including a Conference contest as Lindenwood hosts Charleston Southern.
The 2026 season marks a return to the OVC identity for the football brand. The return to the OVC identity follows three successful years of partnership with the Big South Conference under the names Big South-OVC Football Association (2023, 2024) and OVC-Big South Football Association (2025). The move reflects the league's continued evolution and its commitment to providing a unified, streamlined home for its football programs.
Schools who will play OVC football in 2026 are Charleston Southern University (Charleston, SC), Eastern Illinois University (Charleston, IL), Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC), Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO), Southeast Missouri State University (Cape Girardeau, MO), Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN), University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, TN) and Western Illinois University (Macomb, IL).
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