JACKSON, Miss. - Belhaven Football was selected third in the 2026 USA South Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the league office announced Friday. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
The Blazers received 35 points, placing them behind defending conference champion LaGrange and Huntingdon. Brevard finished one point behind Belhaven in fourth.
LaGrange took the top spot with 48 points and six first-place votes after going 7-0 in conference play and winning the program's first USA South championship last season. Huntingdon received 40 points and one first-place vote, while Brevard collected the remaining first-place vote.
Only six points separated Huntingdon, Belhaven and Brevard, setting up what anticipates to be a competitive race near the top of the conference.
Belhaven is coming off a 6-4 season in which it finished 5-2 in USA South play. The Blazers opened the conference schedule with five straight wins, defeating Brevard, N.C. Wesleyan, Greensboro, Methodist and Southern Virginia.
Since joining the USA South for football in 2022, Belhaven has gone 23-8 in conference games and captured the 2023 league championship.
The Blazers kick off the 2026 season on Thursday, Sept. 3, when they travel up the road to Millsaps in the Riverside Rumble. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Belhaven's home-opener will be against East Texas Baptist next Saturday, Sept. 12, at 6:00 p.m.
2026 USA South Coaches Preseason Football Poll
| Rank |
Institution |
Points |
| 1 |
LaGrange (6) |
48 |
| 2 |
Huntingdon (1) |
40 |
| 3 |
Belhaven |
35 |
| 4 |
Brevard (1) |
34 |
| 5 |
N.C. Wesleyan |
23 |
| T-6 |
Greensboro |
18 |
| T-6 |
Southern Virginia |
18 |
| 8 |
Methodist |
8 |
First-place votes are listed in parentheses.
For the full release from the USA South, click here.
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