BRIGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) announced its preseason poll for the 2026 football season on Thursday, as voted on by the MIAA head coaches. The Adrian College football team received 17 points, including one first-place vote, and was projected to finish third in the conference.

The Bulldogs are coming off an 8-2 season in which they finished 5-2 in MIAA play. Adrian's two conference losses, against Hope College and Alma College, were decided by a combined three points. The Bulldogs entered the final game of the season with an opportunity to earn a share of the MIAA Championship but fell short.

Adrian will begin the 2026 season with a challenging non-conference schedule. The Bulldogs open against Ohio Northern University, which narrowly missed earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament last season. Adrian will then hit the road to face Mount St. Joseph and Thiel College before beginning MIAA play.

In conference action, the Bulldogs will travel to Alma College, Hope College, the University of Olivet, and Albion College. Adrian will host Calvin University, Trine University, and Kalamazoo College.

Hope College was selected as the unanimous preseason favorite, receiving all seven first-place votes. Alma College was projected to finish second, followed by Adrian in third. Calvin was picked fourth, with Trine fifth and Albion sixth. Kalamazoo and Olivet rounded out the preseason poll.

The Bulldogs will open the 2026 season on Saturday, September 5, at 1 p.m. at Docking Stadium.