BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Alabama State University soccer team has been picked eighth out of nine teams in the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Poll, collecting 46 points from the voting system by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
2025 SWAC Regular Season Champion and Tournament Championship runner-up Jackson State came away as the favorite to be crowned the best in the league, collecting 110 points along with six first place votes. Tournament Champion Grambling State, who was neck-and-neck with JSU throughout last season, followed in the voting with 97 points and one first place vote.
Five teams topped ballots, as Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, and Texas Southern were all headliners ahead of the 2026 campaign. Those three teams came in third through fifth, earning 92, 85 and 65 points, respectively. That trio is followed by Prairie View A&M (63 pts.), Southern (52 pts.), ASU and Arkansas Pine-Bluff (20 pts.)
A young and energized squad will take the pitch for second-year head coach
Alicia Wilson and the Hornets, with the 2025 season beginning with home scrimmages against Southern Union (Sun., Aug. 9 at 1 p.m.) and Mobile (Mon., Aug. 10 at 1 p.m.) and continuing with its first regular season contest against Southern Mississippi (Thurs., Aug. 13 at 6 p.m.) all at ASU Soccer Complex.
FOLLOW ALABAMA STATE ATHLETICS
For complete coverage of Alabama State athletics, follow the Hornets on social media at @BamaStateSports (
Instagram andÂ
X), Alabama State (
Facebook), or visit the official home of Alabama State athleticsÂ
bamastatesports.com
Â
