RIO GRANDE VALLEY – Entering its second season of play, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros football team was picked to finish fourth in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll on Monday.
The Vaqueros tied for third in the Southland in their inaugural season, going 5-3 in conference play. Their only losses were on the road to the three teams the Southland sent to the FCS Playoffs, including defending conference champion and preseason favorite Stephen F. Austin (SFA), second place Southeastern, and third place Lamar, which were picked to finish in that order again while receiving at least one first place vote each, with SFA earning six for 77 points, Southeastern getting three for 75 points, and Lamar receiving the final first place vote for 67 points. UTRGV received 50 points.
UIW was picked to finish fifth with 48 points, followed by McNeese (46), Nicholls (36), East Texas A&M (25), Houston Christian University (16), and Northwestern State (10).
2026 Southland Conference Football Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team |
Points (First Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Stephen F. Austin |
77 (6) |
| 2. |
Southeastern |
75 (3) |
| 3. |
Lamar |
67 (1) |
| 4. |
UTRGV |
50 |
| 5. |
UIW |
48 |
| 6. |
McNeese |
46 |
| 7. |
Nicholls |
36 |
| 8. |
East Texas A&M |
25 |
| 9. |
Houston Christian University |
16 |
| 10. |
Northwestern State |
10 |
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