August 18, 2026
MADISON, S.D. — Dakota State (S.D.) was picked to finish second in the 2026 Frontier Conference East Division Football Coaches' Preseason Poll, announced Tuesday by the conference office.
The Trojans collected 31 points and received one first-place vote in the preseason balloting. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.
Defending East Division champion Montana Tech was selected as the preseason favorite, collecting six first-place votes and 36 points. Rocky Mountain (Mont.) was third with 23 points, followed by Dickinson State (N.D.) fourth with 22 points. Valley City State (N.D.) was fifth with 17 points, Mayville State (N.D.) sixth with 12 points and MSU-Northern seventh with six points.
Dakota State enters the 2026 season after a successful debut campaign in the Frontier Conference. The Trojans finished runner-up in the East Division standings last fall with a 5-1 record and posted an 8-2 overall mark. DSU's only divisional setback came against Montana Tech, which went undefeated in East Division play and advanced to the NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) quarterfinals before falling to College of Idaho.
Dakota State closed the season on a five-game winning streak and was ranked No. 25 in the final NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll.
Dakota State rolled past Valley City State 40-7 at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field, followed by a 44-14 road victory over Mayville State. The Trojans returned home to defeat Rocky Mountain 38-7 before completing their regular season with a 50-3 victory over MSU-Northern.
The Trojans outscored their opponents 326-165 during the 2025 season and finished a perfect 5-0 at home. Dakota State's eight victories were its most since the 2017 team finished 8-3.
Dakota State begins its 2026 season Aug. 29 when it hosts rival Dakota Wesleyan at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field at 7 p.m. The Trojans begin Frontier East Division play Oct. 3 when defending division champion Montana Tech visits Madison.
The East Division champion will receive an automatic berth to the NAIA Football Championship Series, which begins Nov. 21.
Below is the complete list of the 2026 Frontier Conference Football East Division Coaches' Preseason Poll:
| 2026 Frontier Conference Football East Division Coaches' Preseason Poll |
| RANK |
SCHOOL (FIRST PLACE VOTES) |
POINTS |
| 1 |
Montana Tech (6) |
36 |
| 2 |
Dakota State (S.D.) (1) |
31 |
| 3 |
Rocky Mountain (Mont.) |
23 |
| 4 |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
21 |
| 5 |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
17 |
| 6 |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
12 |
| 7 |
MSU-Northern |
6 |
