GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Saginaw Valley State football team was picked to finish fifth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the 2026 GLIAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll. The poll was announced on Friday afternoon at the GLIAC Football Media Event held in Grand Rapids.  

SVSU finished with 28 points, just three shy of fourth-place Davenport, and six behind third-place Michigan Tech. Ferris State topped the poll with 49 points after receiving seven of the eight first-place votes. Grand Valley State earned one vote and totaled 43 points to claim second. Northern Michigan (18), Roosevelt (11), and Wayne State (10) rounded out the poll.  

The Cardinals open the 2026 season under first-year head coach Michael Engle after a 6-5 campaign a season ago. 

The 2026 season kicks off on Thursday, August 27 at 7 p.m., when SVSU hosts McKendree for the annual "Red Feather Classic" inside Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium. 

Season tickets are available now at the ticket page on svsucardinals.com. Packages start at $80, with premium seatback packages set at $100. 

2026 GLIAC Football Coaches Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
1. Ferris State – 49 (7) 
2. Grand Valley State – 43 (1) 
3. Michigan Tech – 34 
4. Davenport – 31 
5. Saginaw Valley State – 28 
6. Northern Michigan – 18 
7. Roosevelt – 11 
8. Wayne State -  10