James Madison enters the 2026 season as the clear East Division frontrunner in preseason polls, buoyed by strong returning talent on both sides of the ball and continuity despite a head coaching change. Old Dominion and Marshall sit close behind in projections, with their paths hinging on early nonconference results and divisional matchups. In the West, Troy leads expectations after recent title contention, though Louisiana Tech’s addition and teams like Southern Miss and Arkansas State add depth. Early September kickoffs and injury reports from fall camp will quickly shape trader views on division winners advancing to the December championship, with cross-division games later providing key tiebreaker context.