Jackrabbits Open 2026 as Missouri Valley Football Conference Favorites

South Dakota State headlines 2026 MVFC preseason poll

South Dakota State has been picked as the favorite to finish at the top of the Missouri Valley Football Conference this season.

Defending national runner-up Illinois State and Youngstown State were picked to finish second and third in the conference’s annual preseason poll, released Tuesday. This is the fourth time the Jackrabbits, who earned 28 of the 36 first-place votes, have been picked to win the MVFC. SDSU has won five conference championships, all in the past 10 years.

The Redbirds had three first-place votes and were last picked to finish second in 2015.

Youngstown State received no first-place votes and was picked third most recently, in 2017.

North Dakota (2), South Dakota (2) and Southern Illinois (1) each earned at least one first-place vote, being tabbed fourth through sixth. Northern Iowa, Indiana State and Murray State were picked to finish in the bottom three.

Below is the full listing of this year’s MVFC preseason poll, including first-place votes and total points.

2026 Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll

1. South Dakota State (28) 312

2. Illinois State (3) 256

3. Youngstown State 235

4. North Dakota (2) 211

5. South Dakota (2) 196

6. Southern Illinois (1) 186

7. Northern Iowa 99

8. Indiana State 80

9. Murray State 45