Cullowhee, N.C. – For the second time ahead of the 2026 season, Western Carolina football landed among those receiving votes, this time in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches Poll unveiled on Monday by the coaching organization. WCU was listed as the second team just outside the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 released back on Aug. 3.
It's the third straight season that WCU has appeared in the AFCA FCS Preseason Coaches Poll, as the Catamounts entered both the 2024 and 2025 seasons at No. 19.
WCU is among seven Southern Conference teams to appear in the AFCA Preseason Coaches poll, two inside the Top 25 and five receiving votes. Tennessee Tech was penciled in as a preseason No. 15, the highest in the SoCon, two spots ahead of defending league champion Mercer at No. 17. ETSU edged WCU by a vote, fifth and sixth in line among the "others receiving votes" with 21 and 20 points, respectively, with Furman (12), Chattanooga (9), and Wofford (5) also receiving votes from the coaches' panel.
Additionally, WCU's opening opponent, Eastern Kentucky, was also among others receiving votes in the coaches poll, matching UTC with nine points.
Defending national champion Montana State received 25 of the possible 26 first-place votes to rank first in the preseason poll, just ahead of in-state rival Montana at No. 2. South Dakota State earned the final first-place nod to tip the scales at No. 3 in the preseason, with Illinois State and Tarleton State rounding out the Top Five.
Western Carolina concluded its preseason camp over the weekend, turning its attention to the 2026 season-opener as classes commence in Cullowhee on Monday.
Catamount head football coach
Kerwin Bell will be one of four featured guests on Monday evening's "Catamount Coaches Show," live on-location at Catamount Jaxe in Cullowhee for the 2026 Fall Sports Preview, presented by Stanberry Insurance. The show begins at 6 p.m. and airs on the WCU Athletics Facebook page (fb.com/catamountsports) and the department's YouTube channel (youtube.com/catamountsports).
Western Carolina looks to 'Blackout Whitmire' as the Catamounts open the 2026 season under the new lights against Eastern Kentucky, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. In addition to the first 3,500 fans receiving FREE black WCU T-shirts, Catamount Athletics marketing will pass out 4,000 Blackout thunder sticks,
courtesy of The Everson. Before the game, one of the best FCS football traditions returns as we celebrate the 15th Annual Freshmen Run, as WCU's Class of 2030 runs through the pregame tunnel to lead out the Catamount football team.
Also highlighting the jam-packed home opener, Catamount Athletics and
Vannoy Construction present a special drone light show,
produced by SkyElements, that will light up the western North Carolina sky as part of the festivities.
The home-opener is presented by Ingles and media partners Kiss Country and Star 104.3. Catamount Nation is encouraged to wear its black WCU gear to the game, as the team will wear its new all-black Nike 'Night Cat' uniform.
Both season and single-game tickets and gameday parking for all six home dates in #CatamountCountry are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports, FB.com/WesternCarolinaFootball), Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsfb).
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Monday, Aug. 17 – First day of classes for the 2026 fall semester – Cullowhee
Mon., Aug. 17 – Catamount Coaches Show – Fall Sports Preview (Catamount Jaxe, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Volleyball Exhibition – vs. Anderson (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Catamount Shootout Golf Tournament (Marion Lake Club, Nebo, N.C.)
Saturday, Aug. 29 – Catamount Football season-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky (7 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Volleyball Home Opener – vs. Gardner-Webb (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Sept. 13-15 – Men's Golf – JT Poston Invitational – (Waynesville Inn & Golf Club)
Friday, Oct. 2 – Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – (Sequoyah National, Cherokee)
