OTTAWA, Kan. - The Ottawa University football team was selected to finish second in the 2026 KCAC Football Dr. Ted Kessinger Division Preseason Media Poll, the conference announced Monday.
The Braves received 87 total points from the 18 media members who participated in the poll, placing OU behind preseason favorite Evangel University.
Ottawa's No. 2 selection comes after the Braves finished second in the Kessinger Division standings in 2025 with a 4-1 divisional record. OU closed last season on a four-game winning streak and enters 2026 looking to build on that strong finish.
Evangel was the unanimous choice to win the Kessinger Division, receiving all 18 first-place votes and 108 total points. Ottawa followed with 87 points, while Tabor College was picked third with 72 points.
Bethel College was selected fourth with 44 points, followed by Bethany College in fifth with 40 points and Avila University in sixth with 27 points.
The media poll mirrors the top two spots in the Kessinger Division Preseason Coaches' Poll, where Evangel was also selected first and Ottawa second.
The Braves also had a strong presence on the 2026 KCAC Football Dr. Ted Kessinger Division Preseason Team, with 14 Ottawa players earning preseason honors as voted on by the division's head coaches.
In 2025, Ottawa finished one game behind Evangel in the Kessinger Division standings. The Valor went 5-0 in divisional play, followed by the Braves at 4-1 and Tabor at 3-2. Bethel, Bethany and Avila each finished 1-4.
2026 KCAC Football Dr. Ted Kessinger Division Preseason Media Poll
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
First-Place Votes |
| 1 |
Evangel University |
108 |
18 |
| 2 |
Ottawa University |
87 |
— |
| 3 |
Tabor College |
72 |
— |
| 4 |
Bethel College |
44 |
— |
| 5 |
Bethany College |
40 |
— |
| 6 |
Avila University |
27 |
— |
