Vulcans picked to finish 3rd in PSAC West
After making back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, the PennWest California football team was picked to finish third in the PSAC West preseason poll released by the league office Thursday afternoon.
The Vulcans were slotted third for the fifth time in six years after going 9-4 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA playoffs in 2025. Cal posted a pair of four-game winning streaks last year while facing five nationally ranked opponents and finished the year ranked No. 22 in the final poll.
Indiana was the preseason favorite for the first time since 2023 with five first-place votes. The Crimson Hawks were 7-4 last year after falling in the PSAC championship game and in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. Unlike last season, when IUP did not travel more than an hour from campus until its final regular-season game, the Crimson Hawks will face a more demanding opening stretch in 2026. IUP begins the season with three consecutive road games, including a Thursday night opener at Ashland before back-to-back crossover contests against PSAC East opponents.
Slippery Rock (6-4) was picked second and earned the remaining three first-place votes despite missing the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 2017 a year ago. Edinboro was fourth, followed by Clarion, Seton Hill, Lock Haven and Gannon.
In the PSAC East, Kutztown was the overwhelming favorite after advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA playoffs and winning its third consecutive PSAC championship. The Golden Bears received six first-place votes after posting a school-record 14 wins last season and repeating as NCAA Super Region One Champions.
East Stroudsburg was second in the poll, while third-place Shepherd (7-4) earned the remaining first-place vote. West Chester, Bloomsburg, Shippensburg and Millersville rounded out the poll.
The PSAC West will return to an eight-team division beginning this fall with Lock Haven back in the West for the first time since 2012. The PSAC East will play one fewer conference game this fall as Lackawanna transitions to NCAA Division II.
The PSAC Championship Game will be played on Nov. 14 at the site of the top team in the PSAC West standings.
Led by 11th-year head coach Gary Dunn, Cal opens the season by hosting Charleston of the Mountain East Conference for the second-straight season on Sept. 3.