CARMEL, Ind. -- The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference has announced the results of the 2026 Football Preseason Poll, conducted by the league's head coaches. The Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineers have been picked to finish fourth in the poll results for the upcoming season. 

Hanover has been unanimously selected as the favorite to claim the 2026 HCAC title, earning 36 points and six first-place votes. The Panthers won the league last season with an undefeated 6-0 conference record, and represented the HCAC in the NCAA Tournament. Mount St. Joseph finished second in the results with 31 points and one first-place vote, and Franklin rounded out the top three teams with 24 points. 

Rose-Hulman landed in the fourth spot with 21 points. They were followed by Bluffton (17), Anderson (11), and Manchester (7) to finish out this season's poll. 

The Fightin' Engineers finished last season with the third-best conference record in the league at 3-3. They were tied with Bluffton and Franklin, who also posted 3-3 conference records last season. 

The team returns six All-HCAC honorees from the 2025 campaign. This includes First Team All-HCAC defensive back Antonio Barnes and Second Team All-HCAC and Third Team All-Region defensive back Wyatt Bell.

Other returning All-HCAC student-athletes include linebacker Rudy Griffing, linebacker Austin Hastings, defensive lineman Augustus Shryock, and running back Alexander Marsteller.

The Fightin' Engineers are led by Head Coach Jeff Sokol, entering his 16th season at the helm of the football program. 

Rose-Hulman will open their 2026 season at home against DePauw on Saturday, September 5, at 7 PM. 

HCAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL RESULTS:
1) Hanover - 36 (6)
2) Mount St. Joseph - 31 (1)
3) Franklin - 24
4) Rose-Hulman - 21
5) Bluffton - 17
6) Anderson - 11
7) Manchester - 7