Defending OVC champion Lindenwood has been predicted the preseason favorite ahead of the 2026 OVC men's soccer season.
The Lions, who were 6-2-2 in the regular season and then won a pair of games to claim the OVC Tournament, picked up 11 of 16 first-place votes and 94 points in the poll of league head coaches and communications directors.
HCU (who has been in the OVC Tournament Final each of the past two years) and SIUE (who won the regular season and tournament titles in 2023 and 2024) finished tied for second-place with 80 total points. The Huskies picked up two first-place votes while SIUE received three. The poll was founded out by Eastern Illinois (54), UTRGV (46), UIW (42), Western Illinois (36) and Southern Indiana (18).
The top six teams in the standings will qualify for the 2026 OVC Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament, which will take place November 8, 11 & 14 in St. Charles, Missouri on the campus of Lindenwood. It marks the second-straight year Lindenwood has hosted the event.
2026 OVC Men's Soccer Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
1. Lindenwood (11 first-place votes) - 94 points
2. HCU (2) - 80
SIUE (3) - 80
4. Eastern Illinois - 54
5. UTRGV - 46
6. UIW - 42
7. Western Illinois - 36
8. Southern Indiana - 18
Poll voted on by league head coaches and communications directors; teams received 7 points for a first-place votes, 6 for a second-place vote, etc. Voters could not vote for their own teams.
2026 OVC Men’s Soccer Players to Watch
Each team selected a "Player to Watch" to represent its team.
Conner Bayliss (Center Back, Sophomore), Eastern Illinois
Ryan Okerayi (Forward, Senior), HCU
Luca Bartoni (Forward, Senior), Lindenwood
Mathias Clausen (Defender, Sophomore), SIUE
Garrett Morris (Midfielder, Fifth Year), Southern Indiana
Diego Robles (Forward, Junior), UIW
Mouhamed Pouye (Midfielder, Senior), UTRGV
Xavier Gagnon (Forward, Senior), Western Illinois
Returning All-OVC Selections
Luca Bartoni (Forward, Senior), Lindenwood
Nathan Bessinger (Midfielder, Senior), Western Illinois
Ricardo Garcia (Midfielder, Senior), HCU
Nico Kross (Defender, Senior), HCU
Ryan Okerayi (Forward, Senior), HCU