CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes have been picked to finish third in the 2026 Lone Star Conference Football Preseason Poll announced during the league's annual media day on Thursday at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.
 
The Buffs made an appearance in the program's seventh bowl game in 2025 as they defeated Arkansas Tech in the Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot. WT finished the season riding a four-game win streak with an 8-4 overall record. Josh Lynn guided the Buffs to the most victories in a season since 2021 as well as the most LSC wins since 2012.
 
Defending LSC Champion Central Washington claimed 16 of the possible 30 first place votes for a total of 276 points to sit atop of the poll followed by Western Oregon (nine first place, 247), West Texas A&M (one first place, 217), Angelo State (one first place, 215), UT Permian Basin (two first place, 203), Texas A&M-Kingsville (162), Eastern New Mexico (one first place, 125), Midwestern State (112), Western New Mexico (58) and Sul Ross State (35).
 
The preseason poll is voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members. Western Oregon quarterback Jordan McCarty and Central Washington linebacker Brycen Indell were selected as the 2026 Lone Star Conference Football Preseason Players of the Year.
 
West Texas A&M senior running back Contae Cason along with junior defensive back Miles Hill were named to the Players to Watch List along with 18 other student-athletes from across the league.
 
The LSC regular season will begin as early as Thursday, Aug. 27 with ASU, ENMU, WT and WNMU kicking off that day. MSU, SRSU, TAMUK, UTPB and WOU will start Saturday, Aug. 29, while CWU gets going Saturday, Sept. 5. All 10 league teams will play nine conference games to determine the conference champion.
 
The first season of LSC football was in 1931. TAMUK boasts a conference-best 27 championships, with its first coming in 1959 and last in 2009. ASU (also 1978, 1984 and 1987) and WT (1986, 2005-2007 and 2012) have won five LSC crowns each. MSU (2011-2012, 2017 and 2021) was won four times, while ENMU (1991 and 2013) and SRSU (1950 and 1965) have prevailed two times each.
 
To follow LSC football this season, click here. Fans can also watch games live on FloCollege and find live scoring updates on the LSC Scoreboard powered by StatBroadcast.
 

Rank	School (First Place)	Total Points
1	Central Washington (16)	276
2	Western Oregon (9)	247
3	West Texas A&M (1)	217
4	Angelo State (1)	215
5	UT Permian Basin (2)	203
6	Texas A&M-Kingsville	162
7	Eastern New Mexico (1)	125
8	Midwestern State	112
9	Western New Mexico	58
10	Sul Ross State	35