MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Coming off an 8-6-3 season and an appearance in the Southern States Athletic Conference Quarterfinals, UT Southern has been tabbed to finish tied for fifth in the 2026 SSAC Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll, the league office announced Wednesday.
The Firehawks earned 87 points in the voting and share the fifth spot with conference newcomer Xavier University (La.), placing just one point ahead of Dalton State in a tightly contested middle tier of the conference standings.
UT Southern enters the season with momentum after one of the program's most memorable campaigns in recent history. Last season, the Firehawks recorded a signature victory over then-No. 1 Dalton State, snapping the Roadrunners' 39-match unbeaten streak while also ending their 50-match home unbeaten run that stretched back to November 9, 2019.
Head coach Bret Boylan begins his fourth season at the helm with a 27-18-7 career record and has steadily elevated the Firehawks' standing within one of the NAIA's premier conferences.
The preseason poll once again highlights the depth of the SSAC, with perennial powers Life, William Carey, Faulkner, and Mobile occupying the top four spots. UT Southern and Xavier are tied for fifth, while only one point separates the Firehawks from seventh-place Dalton State.
The Firehawks' 2026 schedule features matchups against each of the four teams ranked ahead of them in the poll, including nationally-ranked programs Life and William Carey. UT Southern will also face Xavier and Andrew for the first time as conference opponents.
The top eight teams at the conclusion of the regular season will qualify for the 2026 SSAC Championship. Quarterfinal matches will be played at campus sites on Oct. 30-31, while the semifinals and championship will be contested at the Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex in Montgomery, Alabama.
2026 SSAC Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll
1. Life – 141 (9 first-place votes)
2. William Carey – 131 (2)
3. Faulkner – 114
4. Mobile – 98
5. UT Southern – 87
5. Xavier (La.) – 87
7. Dalton State – 86
8. Thomas – 56
9. Blue Mountain – 55 (1)
10. Point – 35
11. Brewton-Parker – 34
12. Andrew – 12
With a veteran core, a proven coaching staff, and a schedule featuring four of the conference's top-five preseason selections, the Firehawks will look to outperform their preseason projection and secure another trip to the SSAC Tournament in 2026.
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