JACKSON, Miss. — Belhaven University’s football team was ranked third in the 2026 USA South Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the league announced Friday. Coaches could not vote for their own teams. The Blazers received 35 points, placing them behind defending conference champion LaGrange and Huntingdon College.
LaGrange, which went 7-0 in conference play and won its first USA South championship last season, secured the top spot with 48 points and six first-place votes. Huntingdon tallied 40 points and one first-place vote, while Brevard College finished fourth with 34 points and one first-place vote. Only six points separated Huntingdon, Belhaven, and Brevard, indicating a competitive race at the top of the conference, according to the league.
Belhaven finished last season with a 6-4 record, including a 5-2 mark in conference play. The team opened the 2025 season with five straight wins over Brevard, N.C. Wesleyan, Greensboro, Methodist, and Southern Virginia. Since joining the USA South for football in 2022, Belhaven has compiled a 23-8 record in conference games and won the 2023 league title.
The Blazers will begin their 2026 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 3, when they travel to Millsaps College for the Riverside Rumble. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Their home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 12, against East Texas Baptist at 6 p.m.
The full preseason poll includes LaGrange at No. 1, Huntingdon at No. 2, Belhaven at No. 3, and Brevard at No. 4. N.C. Wesleyan, Greensboro, Southern Virginia, and Methodist follow in the rankings, with Methodist receiving no first-place votes.
For more updates on Belhaven athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like the team on Facebook. Fans can also support Belhaven football through Team Green Giving.
