For the fifth consecutive year, the Keiser Seahawks have been picked as the favorite to claim the Sun Conference title; the league announced on Friday. The 2026 Sun Conference Preseason Football Coaches' Poll was voted on by the conference's eight head coaches.
 
Keiser is coming off a 2025 season where their made their fourth straight National Championship appearance, posting a 12-1 overall record. Keiser recorded five all-Americans (NAIA & AP) as well as the AFCA NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year (Peter Davila) and AFCA Region I Coach of the Year Myles Russ. The Seahawks won their seventh straight conference title while producing 13 All-Sun Conference Honorees, including the SUN Offensive Lineman of the Year, SUN Defensive Lineman of the Year, SUN Linebacker of the Year, SUN Defensive Player of the Year, SUN Assistant Coach of the Year, and SUN Coach of the Year. 
 

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Top of the League

• The Seahawks totaled 49 points, including seven first-place votes to finish atop the preseason poll
• St. Thomas was selected to finish second with 41 points to go along with one first-place votes
• Southeastern earned the third spot with 38 points

A Look Back at Last Season

• Keiser finished the year with a 12-1 record (7-0 SUN)
• The Seahawks won the team's fourth straight Sun Conference title, going a perfect 7-0 in league action
• Ranked No. 2 in the nation during the entire season
• The Seahawks made their fourth straight NAIA National Championship appearance
• Head Coach Myles Russ was named the Sun Conference Coach of the Year (second straight award)
• The Seahawks registered 13 All-Sun Conference Honorees, including the SUN Offensive Lineman of the Year (Tyler Carlson), SUN Defensive Lineman of the Year (Tai Lologo), SUN Linebacker of the Year (Eli Bertrand), and the SUN Defensive Player of the Year (Tai Lologo)
• The team also produced three AFCA All-Americans (Tai Lologo, Tyler Carlson, and Elisha Edwards) and two AP All-Americans (Tyler Carlson and Tai Lologo)
• Offensively, Keiser recorded 2,370 yards on the ground with 35 rushing touchdowns (No. 2 all-time at Keiser)
• The Seahawk's passing game tallied 3,485 yards (school record) with 27 passing touchdowns (No. 2 all-time at Keiser)
• KU produced 5,855 yards of total offense were the second most in program history
• The Seahawks set the school record for yards of total offense, posting 692 versus Thomas (Ga.)
• Keiser's ground game set another program record, boasting three 100-yard rushers in the same game (at Warner – 11/15)
• Keiser's offense averaged 39.3 points per game (No. 15 in the NAIA)
• Defensively, the Seahawks allowed 17.3 points per contest (tied for No. 12 in the NAIA)

 

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2026 Sun Conference Preseason Football Coaches' Poll
(first place votes in parentheses).

1) Keiser – 49 points (7)
2) St. Thomas – 41 points (1)
3) Southeastern – 38 points
4) Webber Int'l – 29 points
5) Florida Memorial – 28 points
6) Ave Maria – 15 points
7) Warner – 14 points
8) Thomas – 10 points
 

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The 2026 season kicks off on Saturday, September 5, as the Seahawks travel to Anderson, South Carolina, to take on the Anderson Trojans. Kickoff from Spero Financial Field at Melvin & Dollie Younts Stadium is set for 6:00 PM.

Keiser Seahawks 2026 Football Schedule
 

Date	Opponent	Location	Time (ET)
Sept. 5	at Anderson (S.C.)	Anderson, S.C.	6:00 PM
Sept. 12	Bethel (Tenn.)	McKenzie, Tenn.	4:00 PM
Sept. 26	CUMBERLANDS (KY.)	West Palm Beach, Fla.	3:00 PM
Oct. 3	at Thomas (Ga.)*	Thomasville, Ga.	4:00 PM
Oct. 10	FLORIDA MEMORIAL*	West Palm Beach, Fla.	6:00 PM
Oct. 17	at St. Thomas*	Miami Gardens, Fla.	12:00 PM
Oct. 24	at Webber Int'l*	Babson Park, Fla.	1:30 PM
Oct. 31	AVE MARIA*	West Palm Beach, Fla.	1:00 PM
Nov. 7	at Southeastern*	Lakeland, Fla.	2:00 PM
Nov. 14	WARNER*	West Palm Beach, Fla.	6:00 PM

*-Sun Conference Games
All Home Games are played at the Keiser Multi-Purpose Field.
Game dates are subject to change. 
Times and Ticket information will be announced at a later date.
 

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Get the latest information on the team by following @keiserfootball on Instagram and @keiserfootball on X.
 
General athletic news can be found at KUSeahawks on Facebook, @kuseahawks on Instagram, and @kuseahawks on X.