BELTON, Texas – University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football enters the 2026 season among the nation's top programs once again, earning the No. 21 spot in the D3football.com Preseason Top 25, released Monday.
The Cru, who finished 7-3 in 2025, are one of three programs from Texas ranked in the preseason poll, joining No. 14 Trinity (Texas) and No. 15 Hardin-Simmons. Mary Hardin-Baylor will face a pair of nationally ranked opponents during the regular season with home games against No. 24 Endicott and No. 15 Hardin-Simmons. Endicott finished the 2025 season with a 9-2 overall ranking, while Hardin-Simmons (9-2) shared the American Southwest Conference title with UMHB after splitting last season's contests. The Cru will also open the season at Rowan, who is listed in the receiving votes category.
Defending national runner-up North Central (Ill.) opens the season as the unanimous No. 1 team in the D3football.com poll after receiving all 25 first-place votes. Bethel checks in at No. 2, followed by Mount Union at No. 3, Johns Hopkins at No. 4 and Wheaton (Ill.) at No. 5.
The D3football.com Top 25 is voted on by a national panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country. The poll is released weekly throughout the regular season.
The Cru will open the 2026 campaign on Friday, September 4th at Rowan.
