By: SOU Sports Information
ASHLAND – Eleven days from opening the 2026 season, the Southern Oregon University football team got the No. 4 spot in Tuesday's Frontier Conference West Division coaches' poll.
College of Idaho was picked to repeat as champion in the seven-team West after going 6-0 in divisional play last year. The Yotes, who went on to advance to the semifinal round of the NAIA Championship Series, received six of seven first-place votes.
Carroll (Mont.) was second and Montana Western was third in the poll, followed by SOU. Eastern Oregon, Arizona Christian and Simpson (Calif.) rounded it out.
The injury-plagued Raiders went 2-4 in the West last season, a year removed from an 8-3 campaign. This fall they return seven starters on offense, six on defense, and 2024 Frontier Offensive MVP
Gunner Yates, the running back who was available for only a handful of snaps last season after a record-breaking sophomore year.
The Raiders start the season – which will be
Berk Brown's fourth as head coach – Aug. 29 at Simpson (Calif.) in a non-divisional matchup. They'll host Western Oregon on Sept. 1 in the Wolves' first visit to Raider Stadium since 2010.
Montana Tech was the favorite in the Frontier's East Division poll. SOU visits the Orediggers on Sept. 19.
The winners of both divisions will qualify automatically for the NAIA Championship Series.
The NAIA Top 25 preseason poll will be released next week, along with a complete season preview.
| Frontier Conference West Division Preseason Poll |
| RANK |
SCHOOL |
POINTS (1st-place votes |
| 1 |
 |
36 (6) |
| 2 |
 |
30 |
| 3 |
 |
27 (1) |
| 4 |
 |
20 |
| 5 |
 |
17 |
| 6 |
 |
11 |
| 7 |
 |
6 |
