LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Shepherd University has been picked to finish third in the 2026 PSAC East Preseason Poll.  For the third consecutive year, the Kutztown Golden Bears were selected No. 1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's Eastern Division Football Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches. 
 
In 2026, Kutztown earned the maximum six first-place votes and are the three-time defending PSAC champions. The Golden Bears return eight starters from an offense that led the PSAC in scoring (42.9 points per game) and rushing (218.8 yards per game.) On defense, six starters are back from the 2025 team that was tops in the conference in points allowed (14.1) and overall defense (270.5 yards allowed per game.)
 
East Stroudsburg, voted No. 2 in the East, scored 32.8 points per game (fourth-most in the PSAC) and return seven starters on offense and six from a defense that allowed 331.2 yards per game, the third-best mark in the conference.
 
The No. 3 team in the poll is Shepherd, which ended the season on a seven-game win streak and returns All-PSAC East selections OL Josh Crummitt, WR Kordell Batten, and Daishaun Alexander.

West Chester earns the No. 4 spot and returns a healthy stable of running backs led by Future Robertson and Mikhail Johnson in addition to a solid interior core on the defensive line led by Jack Fry, Anthony Delle Donne, Debrick Johnson, and Seamus McCain back for their senior seasons.
 
Bloomsburg was voted No. 5 in the 2026 poll and returns 10 starters (including seven of its top eight tacklers) from what should be one of the most experienced defenses in the conference

Shippensburg comes in at No. 6 in this year's poll. The Raiders have a new head coach in Drew Gallardy, just SU's third head coach in the past 35 years. He is a 2010 alum of the program and former team captain under longtime head coach Rocky Rees.

Millersville ranks No. 7 and also has a new head coach, with Drew Folmar taking the reigns. Folmar, a Millersville Athletics Hall of Famer and former record-setting quarterback, had a long history of success as an offensive coordinator at the Division 1 level, most recently at Bucknell.

2026 PSAC Football Eastern Division Preseason Poll 

EASTERN DIVISION

1. Kutztown (6)
2. East Stroudsburg 
3. Shepherd (1)
4. West Chester
5. Bloomsburg
6. Shippensburg
7. Millersville
 
*number of first-place votes in parentheses