(Tuesday, August 11; Sioux Center, Iowa) The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Preseason Football Coaches' Poll has been released, and the Dordt Defenders are picked second in voting by the conference's 11 head coaches.
2026 Schedule
2025 Season Stats
Dordt earned 91 points and four first-place votes in the annual balloting, with Morningside picked first with six first-place votes and 96 points. The two teams shared the GPAC championship last season.
Dordt finished the 2025 season with a 10-1 overall record and a 9-1 mark in GPAC play, advancing to the second round of the NAIA Football Championship Series for the second time in program history. Dordt returns 10 players who earned All-GPAC honors last season. The Defenders outscored opponents by an average of 38.3-15.2 while gaining 455 yards of offense per game and holding opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards per contest.
Dordt will open the 2026 season on August 28 on the road against Indiana Wesleyan and will host Hastings the following week in the GPAC opener for both teams on September 5. Dordt held on for a 31-26 win over Hastings last season.
Dordt's bye week is September 12, and the Defenders will host Morningside on September 19 in the second of five home games this season. Dordt concludes the regular season on November 14 against Northwestern in Orange City, Iowa.
2026 GPAC Preseason Football Coaches' Poll:
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| RANK |
SCHOOL |
POINTS |
1st Place Votes |
| 1 |
MORNINGSIDE |
96 |
6 |
| 2 |
DORDT |
91 |
4 |
| 3 |
NORTHWESTERN |
82 |
1 |
| 4 |
CONCORDIA |
67 |
|
| 5 |
MIDLAND |
60 |
|
| 6 |
HASTINGS |
59 |
|
| 7 |
MOUNT MARTY |
49 |
|
| 8 |
BRIAR CLIFF |
34 |
|
| 9 |
DAKOTA WESLEYAN |
32 |
|
| 10 |
DOANE |
25 |
|
| 11 |
WALDORF |
10 |
|
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