DENVER, Colo.  The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference on Wednesday morning opened its 2026 Football Kickoff Broadcast with the release of the preseason coaches' poll and the preseason all-conference team, showing Western Colorado second in the poll and with seven preseason all-conference players.

The Mountaineers accumulated 69 points in the coaches' poll, earning one first-place vote, five second-place votes, and two third-place votes. Head coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.

The leader of the poll was Colorado State Pueblo with 80 points. The ThunderWolves garnered eight of ten possible first-place votes to claim the top spot, followed by Western, Colorado School of Mines (62 pts.), Chadron State (60) and Colorado Mesa (52) in rounding out the top five.

The preseason all-conference team included three players on offense, three on defense, and one special teams player.

Wide receiver Caden Measner, a 2025 second-team all-conference performer, was joined on the preseason All-RMAC offense by offensive linemen Taylor Nichols and Joseph Shepardson.

Defensive end Drew Johnson and inside linebacker Ian Loomis, both of whom were first-team all-conference selections in 2025, were joined on the 2026 preseason defense by defensive tackle Mikey Smith, a second-team All-RMAC player last season.

Defensive back Easton Peterson was named the preseason all-conference punt returner, after finishing 2025 as the second team returner.

Western opens its season on the road at West Texas A&M in a night game Thursday, August 27 in Canyon, Texas. The Mountaineer home opener follows on Thu., Sept. 3 in a 6 p.m. game against visiting Angelo State (Texas) University at Mojo Field at Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex.