NEW ORLEANS – Kentucky, Marshall and West Virginia were mentioned in the 2026 United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll to pace Sun Belt men’s soccer programs, after the league sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament in 2025.
 
The Wildcats were receiving votes in the initial poll as one of four teams from the league to advance to the NCAA Tournament a season ago. The Thundering Herd begin the year at No. 17 as the Mountaineers claimed the No. 23 preseason spot.
 
Kentucky tallied a 10-4-5 record last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in the last eight years.
 
Marshall has been ranked in every poll since entering the poll 2,481 days ago on October 19, 2019. The Thundering Herd finished the 2025 season with a 12-4-5 record after reaching their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament.
 
West Virginia finished last season 13-5-3 as one of four Sun Belt men’s soccer programs to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Mountaineers advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament last year after qualifying for the sixth time in the last seven years.