RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Tuesday, the Great American Conference unveiled its annual preseason coaches poll for football prior to the start of the opening day of in-person media day, which was held at Oaklawn in Hot Springs. In that poll, Arkansas Tech was picked fifth among the 12-team league.
 
Last season, the Wonder Boys, who were under the new direction of first-year head coach Roy Thompson, were picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll. The Wonder Boys ended up placing in a tie for fourth with a regular season record of 7-4. It was the first winning season for the program overall and in GAC play since the 2017 season.
 
Overall, the Wonder Boys finished the 2025 season 7-5 as they earned an invitation to participate in the Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot against West Texas A&M. In what was a highly-competitive game throughout, the Wonder Boys fell just short right at the end.
 
Year two under Thompson looks to once more improve upon preseason coach rankings as there is a tremendous mix of impact returners and an influx of impressive newcomers, freshmen and transfers alike.
 
Thompson and the Wonder Boys will open up fall camp in the month of August and will be preparing to open their 2026 season at home at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium against Southwestern Oklahoma on Thursday, September 3. Kick-off for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
HOW THE POLL SHOOK OUT
Picked to repeat as conference champions was Harding. The Bisons, now under first-year head coach Roddy Mote, were unanimous picks as they received 11 of the 12 first-place votes (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams). Ouachita Baptist received the remaining first-place vote and slotted second with 103 points.
 
Southern Arkansas and Henderson State were three and four in the poll with SAU totaling 99 points and Henderson 95. The Wonder Boys tallied 78 points and were followed in sixth place by East Central with 68. 
 
Southwestern Oklahoma and Southeastern Oklahoma were seventh and eighth, respectively, with SWOSU getting 67 points and Southeastern 53. Arkansas-Monticello, Oklahoma Baptist, Southern Nazarene and Northwestern Oklahoma rounded out the bottom four spots in the preseason poll.