Football Picked Second in 2026 OVC Preseason Poll

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri was picked second in the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll released prior to league's annual Football Media Day event.

SEMO collected 38 points and one first-place vote in the voting by OVC Head Coaches and Communications Directors.

UT Martin is this year's preseason favorite with 47 points and six of the eight possible first-place votes.

Lindenwood (37 pts.), Gardner-Webb (30 pts.), Charleston Southern (26 pts.), Western Illinois (23 pts.), Eastern Illinois (14 pts.) and Tennessee State (9 pts.) complete the eight-team poll.

SEMO had seven players among the OVC's Players to Watch, including running back Khyair Spain, offensive lineman Rashad Turner, wide receiver/punt return specialist Jobe Bryant, kicker Justin Keller, defensive lineman McCoy Casey, linebacker Cole Dutkovich and defensive back Adrian Patterson.

The Redhawks, under the direction of 13th-year Head Coach Tom Matukewicz, kick off the season at Missouri Valley Football Conference member Indiana State on Aug. 29.

2026 OVC Football Predicted Order of Finish
1. UT Martin (6 first-place votes)                           47 points
2. Southeast Missouri (1)                           38
3.  Lindenwood (1)                                           37
4. Gardner-Webb                                              30
5. Charleston Southern                                                26
6. Western Illinois                                            23
7. Eastern Illinois                                              14
8. Tennessee State                                          9

2026 OVC Football Preseason Players to Watch

QUARTERBACK
Cole LaCrue (Jr.), Eastern Illinois
Cole Pennington (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Daylin Lee (Sr.), Tennessee State
Cason Carswell (So.), Western Illinois

RUNNING BACK
Hakeem Watters (So.), Charleston Southern
Charles Kellom (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Carson Gresock (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Steve Hall (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
Khyair Spain (Jr.), Southeast Missouri
Zack Simmons-Brown (So.), Tennessee State
Tommy Ansley (Jr.), UT Martin
Ihson Jackson-Anderson (Sr.), Western Illinois

WIDE RECEIVER
Mekhi Campfield (Sr.), Charleston Southern
Landers Green (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Jalile Bost (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Jalen Smith (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
Jobe Bryant (So.), Southeast Missouri
Cam Bulluck (So.), Tennessee State
Phaizon Wilson (R-Sr.), UT Martin
Christian Anaya (Sr.), Western Illinois

TIGHT END
Kaden Strickland (Grad.), Charleston Southern
Alex Ginnever (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Collin Carroll (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Aaron Duncan (So.), Tennessee State
Kaleb Costner (Grad.), UT Martin
David Hargro (Sr.), Western Illinois

OFFENSIVE LINE
Ethan Hunt (Grad.), Charleston Southern
Rahfeeq Katumbusi (So.), Eastern Illinois
Will Fitzpatrick (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Andrew Swingle (R-So.), Lindenwood
Rashad Turner (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Breon Brown (So.), Tennessee State
Travis Gray (R-Sr.), UT Martin
James Durand (Jr.), Western Illinois

ALL-PURPOSE
Max Loveall (So.), Eastern Illinois
Anthony Taylor (So.), Tennessee State
Chris Franklin (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Kennedy McGill (Sr.), Western Illinois

PLACEKICKER
Drew Schiller (So.), Eastern Illinois
Andrew Bontekoe (So.), Gardner-Webb
Will Graham (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
Justin Keller (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Brandon Sims (So.), UT Martin
Britton Watts (So.), Tennessee State

DEFENSIVE LINE
CJ Landrum (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Aidan Archibald (So.), Eastern Illinois
AJ Mebane (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Andrew Zook (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
McCoy Casey (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Bryce Gray (So.), Tennessee State
Broderick Tommie Jr. (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Keshawn Harrington-McKinney (Jr.), Western Illinois

LINEBACKER
Steve Zayachkowsky (Sr.), Charleston Southern
Ja'Wuan Nickson (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Tre Yanez (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Jacob Waller (R-Sr.), Lindenwood
Cole Dutkovich (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Sammy Taylor (Jr.), Tennessee State
Jamarcus Smith (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Nick Reinicke (Jr.), Western Illinois

DEFENSIVE BACK
Anthony Paulk (R-So.), Charleston Southern
Saipeti Maiava Jr. (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Josiah Harris (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Carter Johnson (So.), Lindenwood
Adrian Patterson (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Syncere Safeeullah (Jr.), Tennessee State
Trey Cotton (So.), UT Martin
Don Paul Keith (So.), Western Illinois

PUNTER
Aidan Bonde (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Davion Moore (So.), Tennessee State
Max Zuluaga (R-So.), UT Martin
Luke Droegemueller (Sr.), Western Illinois

KICK RETURN SPECIALIST
Quay Kindell (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Jacarre Fleming (So.), Eastern Illinois
CJ Bennett (So.), Lindenwood
Jaden Jones (So.), Tennessee State
Israel Hiraldo (So.), Western Illinois

PUNT RETURN SPECIALIST
Quay Kindell (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Devin Whitlock (Jr.), Eastern Illinois
CJ Bennett (So.), Lindenwood
Jobe Bryant (So.), Southeast Missouri
Anthony Taylor (So.), Tennessee State
Deuce Oliver (R-So.), UT Martin

LONG SNAPPER
Ross Rambo (R-So.), Charleston Southern
Jacob Mull (So.), Gardner-Webb
Steven Nelson (So.), Tennessee State
Hayden King (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Ben Bergfeld (Jr.), Western Illinois

Players Mentioned

Jobe Bryant

McCoy Casey

Cole Dutkovich

Justin Keller

Adrian Patterson

Khyair Spain

Rashad Turner

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Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Football at Indiana State on Aug 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Football at Iowa State on Sep 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Football at Southern Illinois on Sep 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Football versus Central Arkansas on Sep 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Football versus West Florida on Sep 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Football at Lindenwood on Oct 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Results

Completed Event: Football versus Lindenwood on November 22, 2025 , Loss , 13, to, 30

Completed Event: Football at Western Illinois on November 15, 2025 , Win , 22, to, 17

Completed Event: Football at Gardner-Webb on November 8, 2025 , Loss , 24, to, 27

Completed Event: Football versus Charleston Southern on November 1, 2025 , Loss , 17, to, 23

Completed Event: Football at #8 Tennessee Tech on October 25, 2025 , Loss , 23, to, 42

Completed Event: Football versus Eastern Illinois on October 18, 2025 , Win , 42, to, 13