LATROBE, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College football team secured 37 first-place votes and 497 overall points to be selected first in the preseason poll at the 2026 Presidents' Athletic Conference Football Media Day in Latrobe, Tuesday afternoon.
 
The results of the league's preseason poll, voted on by PAC head coaches, sports information directors and members of the media, were announced following the annual season kickoff event, which was hosted by Saint Vincent College for a 19th-straight time.
 
W&J head football coach Mike Sirianni and senior defensive lineman Antoine Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa./Serra Catholic) represented the Presidents at the annual preseason event.
 
The Presidents enter the 2026 season with 42-consecutive winning seasons. That streak began in 1984, a season in which W&J made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. Last season, W&J picked up its 28th PAC Championship and made its 28th appearance in the NCAA Playoffs. The Presidents will look to repeat again as champions this coming season.
 
"Obviously we're very honored to be picked as the favorite to win the PAC," said Sirianni. "It shows how our program has been over the years. It means nothing though in terms of who is going to win the conference championship in 2026. We know how challenging the PAC is, we respect every team on our schedule and with the unbalanced scheduling, it's going to be very interesting how that plays out. So, there is going to be a different component to it this year, but we still know it needs to be won on the field."
 
W&J will look to Smith to be a disrupter on the W&J defense with seven other returning starters from a season ago. The Pittsburgh native was tabbed with All-PAC First Team, All-ECAC First Team and D3football.com All-Region Third Team honors following the Presidents' 2025 campaign. Coach Sirianni spoke on the senior standout and the impact he can have on any drive.
 
"I'm super proud of him. On the field, he's a game wrecker. He comes off the edge, and you better double him because if you don't, he's going to make you pay," stated Sirianni. "Antoine is one of our leaders. He's got a motor that never quits, and I'm excited to watch him finish his career with a great senior season."
 
W&J led the charge, being selected first with 37 first-place votes and 497 total points in the poll. who was one of four PAC teams to play in the postseason after earning an at-large bid to the NCAA playoffs, was selected second with five first-place votes and 453 points. Westminster College, who finished an 8-3 season with a victory in the Opendorse Bowl Series Extra Points Bowl, placed third with three first-place votes and 395 points. Ranking fourth was Case Western Reserve University with 361 points, followed by Geneva College, who earned an ECAC Bowl bid a season ago, with 339 points. The balloting was filled out by Allegheny College in sixth (250), Waynesburg University (222), Saint Vincent College (201), Hiram College (152), Thiel College (87) and Bethany College (one first-place vote, 79 points). Saint Francis University was not counted in the 2026 poll, but was represented at Media Day.
 

2026 PAC Football Preseason Poll (Predicted order of finish)
School	Points (first place votes)	2025 Record (PAC)
1. Washington & Jefferson College	497 (37)	8-3 (8-0)
2. Grove City College	453 (5)	8-3 (7-1)
3. Westminster College	395 (3)	8-3 (6-2)
4. Case Western Reserve University	361	4-5-1 (4-4)
5. Geneva College	339	6-5 (6-2)
6. Allegheny College	250	4-6 (4-6)
7. Waynesburg University	222	4-6 (4-4)
8. Saint Vincent College	201	2-8 (1-7)
9. Hiram College	152	3-7 (2-6)
10. Thiel College	87	1-9 (1-7)
11. Bethany College	79 (1)	1-9 (1-7)
Saint Francis University*		0-11 (0-7 NEC)

* - Ineligible for PAC Championship as school transitions from Division I