MEQUON, Wis. - The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) released its 2026 Football Preseason Poll on Thursday afternoon, as voted on by the league's head coaches.

Concordia was voted to finish second in the conference, earning 132 points and three first-place votes. Last year, the Falcons won the NACC, finishing 8-0 in conference play and 9-2 overall. They hosted the first-ever home NCAA Division Football Playoff game on campus before falling to No. 24 Coe College in the first round.

Aurora was picked as the favorite to win the conference with 149 points, earning 12 first-place votes. St. Norbert, Benedictine and Wisconsin Lutheran rounded out the top five teams.

The Birds open up the 2026 season against Ripon on Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. CST. They begin conference play on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. CST against Aurora.

2026 NACC Football Preseason Poll

1. Aurora - 149 (12)

2. Concordia University Wisconsin - 132 (3)

3. St. Norbert - 122

4. Benedictine - 115 (2)

5. Wisconsin Lutheran - 90

6. Lakeland - 74

7. Concordia University Chicago - 59

8. Rockford - 38

9. Eureka - 31 (1)