(Topeka, KS) — Northwest Missouri St. football was picked to win the league by the media and tabbed to finish second by the coaches.
MIAA head coaches selected Pittsburg State to reclaim the MIAA crown in the 2026 season. The Gorillas enter the upcoming season with high aspirations once again, following a 10-3 season last fall (8-1 MIAA). The defending MIAA Co-Champions claimed their third MIAA title in the last four seasons and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II national playoffs for the program’s fourth straight postseason appearance. The Gorillas return eight starters from last season, including First Team All-MIAA selections Luke Niggemann (TE), Kuron Parchmon (WR) and Austin Schmitt (K).
Media members who cover MIAA teams picked Northwest Missouri as their favorites to win the 2026 title. Northwest Head Coach John McMenamin was named the MIAA Coach of the Year in his first season after guiding the Bearcats to a 9-3 record (8-1 MIAA) in 2025 that included a share of the program’s 32nd MIAA regular season title. Northwest was the only MIAA team to join the Gorillas in the postseason, extending the Bearcats’ NCAA Division II record to 27 total playoff appearances. The Bearcats have 11 starters back on the 2026 roster, highlighted by their First Team All-MIAA offensive lineman Kaleb McCullough and the reigning Co-Freshman of the Year, quarterback Zechariah Owens.
Central Oklahoma was tabbed third in both the coaches and media preseason polls. The Bronchos finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 6-5 and 6-3 in the MIAA. Returning for the Bronchos is Second Team All-MIAA quarterback Jett Huff, who earned All-America honors last season after throwing a league-high 18 touchdowns. Huff also owned the MIAA’s top passer rating at 152.1 and ranked second in the league with 246.7 yards per game.
Central Missouri and Fort Hays State traded places for fourth and fifth in the coaches and media polls. MIAA head coaches ranked the Mules fourth and the Tigers fifth, while media members ranked the Tigers fourth and the Mules fifth. Both Central Missouri and Fort Hays State went 5-4 against MIAA opponents last season.
MIAA head coaches and media members had the same MIAA teams ranked 6-10, beginning with Emporia State in sixth, Nebraska Kearney in seventh, Washburn eighth, Missouri Western ninth, and Missouri Southern in tenth.
The 2026 NCAA Division II officially kicks off on Thursday, August 27, and concludes with the final regular season contests on Saturday, November 14. The MIAA’s 12-week schedule features 63 MIAA matchups and 19 non-conference contests. To view the official week-by-week schedule for all 10 MIAA football teams, visit theMIAA.com/football.
2026 MIAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLLS
| COACHES POLL | MEDIA POLL |
|---|---|
| 1. Pittsburg State [7] | 1. Northwest Missouri [19] |
| 2. Northwest Missouri [3] | 2. Pittsburg State [10] |
| 3. Central Oklahoma | 3. Central Oklahoma [1] |
| 4. Fort Hays State | 4. Central Missouri |
| 5. Central Missouri | 5. Fort Hays State |
| 6. Emporia State | 6. Emporia State |
| 7. Nebraska Kearney | 7. Nebraska Kearney |
| 8. Washburn | 8. Washburn |
| 9. Missouri Western | 9. Missouri Western |
| 10. Missouri Southern | 10. Missouri Southern |
