CLEVELAND, Ga. – Truett McConnell women's soccer will begin the 2026 season as the No. 8 ranked team in the NAIA preseason poll.
 
It is the highest the team has been ranked to start a season in program history. The Lady Bears also ended last season ranked eighth with a trip to the quarterfinals in the NAIA National Tournament.
 
Keiser, the defending national champions, start the season as the top ranked team in the country, receiving all 19 first-place votes. Rounding out the top five are University of the Cumberlands, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Oklahoma Wesleyan and Marian.
 
Ranked opponents on TMU's upcoming schedule include SCAD-Savannah, who is receiving votes, on Aug. 20, No. 2 ranked University of the Cumberlands on Aug. 27, No. 17 Southeastern on Aug. 31, No. 22 Georgia Gwinnett on Sept. 19 and Tennessee Wesleyan, who is receiving votes, on Sept. 23.
 
See the full NAIA preseason poll below.                
 
2026 NAIA Preseason Poll:
1. Keiser (19)
2. University of the Cumberlands (Ky.)
3. Embry-Riddle. Aeronautical University (Ariz.)
4. Oklahoma Wesleyan
5. Marian
6. Missouri Valley
7. John Brown
8. Truett McConnell
9. William Carey
10. College of Idaho
11. Indiana Wesleyan
12. Grace College
13. Life University
14. Taylor
15. MidAmerica Nazarene
16. Lindsey Wilson
17. Southeastern
18. Central Methodist
19. Cumberland (Tenn.)
20. Science & Arts
21. Spring Arbor
22. Georgia Gwinnett
23. Westcliff
24. Columbia
25. The Master's
RV: Aquinas, Xavier, Northwestern Ohio, Tennessee Wesleyan, Hastings, SCAD-Savannah, Southern Oregon, Tennessee Southern