AFCA Preseason Poll

WACO, Texas – The Saint John's University football team was ranked No. 11 in the 2026 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Preseason Top 25 poll released Monday, Aug. 24.

Six teams in NCAA Region 6 were ranked in the top 25, all in the top 12: Bethel (No. 2), Wisconsin-Platteville (No. 6), Wisconsin-River Falls (No. 7), Wisconsin-La Crosse (No. 10), SJU (No. 11) and Wisconsin-Whitewater (No. 12). Wisconsin-Oshkosh (53), Linfield (47), Chapman (22), Whitworth (16) and Wisconsin-Stout (6) received votes.

The ranking for all six teams matched D3football.com's Preseason Top 25 poll released July 20.

The Johnnies open the 2026 season by hosting No. 10 Wisconsin-La Crosse for a 1 p.m. kickoff Sept. 5 in Clemens Stadium and welcomes No. 2 Bethel to Collegeville Oct. 3 as part of Family Weekend.