ARLINGTON, Texas – The United Athletic Conference announced its 2026 Football Preseason Coaches Poll and Preseason All-Conference Teams on Tuesday, with Central Arkansas selected to finish fifth in the league standings while placing three defensive standouts on the All-UAC Preseason Defensive Team. The Bears earned 43 points in the preseason poll, finishing behind co-favorites Abilene Christian and Tarleton State, Austin Peay and EKU.

The UAC Preseason Coaches Poll is as follows:
1. Abilene Christian (3 first-place votes) – 65; Tarleton State (3) – 65
3. Austin Peay (2) – 62
4. EKU – 48
5. Central Arkansas – 43
6. West Georgia – 39
7. North Alabama – 37
8. West Florida – 33

Representing the Bears on the All-UAC Preseason Defensive Team were junior defensive lineman Trevion Traylor, junior linebacker Ashtyn Williams, and senior defensive back Marcus Washington.

Traylor, a junior from Russellville, Ark., started all 12 games last season. He finished with 41 total tackles, including 18 solo stops and 23 assists, while leading the team with eight tackles for loss. Traylor also recorded one sack, one fumble recovery, two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup.

Williams, a junior from Little Rock, Ark., started all 12 games and ranked second on the team with 70 total tackles. He totaled 36 solo tackles and 34 assists while adding two tackles for loss and one pass breakup.

Washington, a senior from D'Iberville, Miss., started all 12 games and finished with 62 total tackles, including 34 solo stops and 28 assists. He also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one quarterback hurry and five pass breakups.

"We are excited and looking forward to the 2026 season", said UCA head coach Nathan Brown. "Anytime you start to see preseason polls and teams come out in the summer it just means the season is getting closer. We were picked in the middle of the pack and that is a deserved spot for us coming off of last year. We are excited to use it as motivation and look forward to the opportunity to jump higher than the 5th spot in the postseason polls."

Brown is equally excited to see three returning defensive leaders recognized by the league. "I am very happy for Trevion, Ashtyn, and Marcus", Brown said. "All three of those guys are returners from last year's defense. We have leaned heavily on their experience and leadership during the off season. The part that gets me excited with all three of them getting recognized is the fact that it is at all three levels of our defense. I do believe at the end of the year we will have some names on the All-Conference list that were left off to begin the season. We are confident in the group we have coming back and have added some very talented pieces to the mix. I think these three guys would tell you, it doesn't matter where we are now, it matters where we are in November."

The Bears open the 2026 season on Thursday, Aug. 27, at UT Martin.