Wildcats Open at #15, Highest Division I Preseason Ranking
8/3/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football
The Abilene Christian football team is ranked No. 15 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, marking the Wildcats' highest preseason ranking in the Division I era.
ACU has been nationally ranked for 28 consecutive FCS polls, which is the 9th longest active streak. The Wildcats cracked the top 25 early in the 2024 season and have remained since.
The 2026 lid-lifter against Lamar will be the only FCS matchup between top 20 teams on the season's opening weekend. The Cardinals were voted No. 20 in the preseason poll. ACU defeated Lamar 38-20 in round one of the 2025 playoffs at Wildcat Stadium. This year's game starts a four-game regular season series between the two Texas programs.
READ: ACU Picked 1st in UAC Preseason Poll, 8 Wildcats on All-UAC Team
The United Athletic Conference has three teams ranked in the top 25 of the poll -- No. 5 Tarleton State, No. 15 ACU, and No. 17 Austin Peay. West Georgia was just outside the rankings, but did receive votes.
The Wildcats' first home game versus Stephen F. Austin is also on track to be a top 25 contest. The Lumberjacks were No. 13 in preseason ranking. Fans will also be able to see two other highly regarded teams come to Wildcat Stadium with No. 21 Mercer visiting Abilene on Sept. 26, and West Georgia, who is just outside the rankings but receiving votes, serving as the Homecoming opponent on Oct. 31.
In 2025, ACU went 5-2 against ranked opponents while leading the UAC in rushing defense, 3rd down offensive conversions, time of possession, and fewest penalty yards.
ACU football season tickets are on sale now at Tickets.ACUSports.com.
ACU has been nationally ranked for 28 consecutive FCS polls, which is the 9th longest active streak. The Wildcats cracked the top 25 early in the 2024 season and have remained since.
The 2026 lid-lifter against Lamar will be the only FCS matchup between top 20 teams on the season's opening weekend. The Cardinals were voted No. 20 in the preseason poll. ACU defeated Lamar 38-20 in round one of the 2025 playoffs at Wildcat Stadium. This year's game starts a four-game regular season series between the two Texas programs.
READ: ACU Picked 1st in UAC Preseason Poll, 8 Wildcats on All-UAC Team
The United Athletic Conference has three teams ranked in the top 25 of the poll -- No. 5 Tarleton State, No. 15 ACU, and No. 17 Austin Peay. West Georgia was just outside the rankings, but did receive votes.
The Wildcats' first home game versus Stephen F. Austin is also on track to be a top 25 contest. The Lumberjacks were No. 13 in preseason ranking. Fans will also be able to see two other highly regarded teams come to Wildcat Stadium with No. 21 Mercer visiting Abilene on Sept. 26, and West Georgia, who is just outside the rankings but receiving votes, serving as the Homecoming opponent on Oct. 31.
In 2025, ACU went 5-2 against ranked opponents while leading the UAC in rushing defense, 3rd down offensive conversions, time of possession, and fewest penalty yards.
ACU football season tickets are on sale now at Tickets.ACUSports.com.
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