Tessa McNeil

Football August 18, 2026 Claire Gay, UMW Sports Information

UMW Football Chosen Third in 2026 Frontier Conference West Division Football Coaches Poll

DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western football team was picked to finish third in the 2026 Frontier Conference West Division Football Coaches' Preseason Poll, the league office announced Tuesday.

Defending West Division Champ College of Idaho was elected to repeat with 36 points in the poll (six first place votes. Carroll narrowly edged UMW in the second spot with 30 points while Western picked up 27 (one first place vote).

Southern Oregon (20), Eastern Oregon (17), Arizona Christian (11), and Simpson (6), round out spots four-through-seven in the poll.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

The East and West Division winners will both earn an automatic bid to the 2026 NAIA Football Championship Series. 13 automatic bid and seven at-large bids will make up the 20-team field.

2026 Frontier Conference West Division Football Coaches' Preseason Poll

Rank	Team	Points	First-Place Votes
1.	College of Idaho	36	6
2.	Carroll	30
3.	Montana Western	27	1
4.	Southern Oregon	20
5.	Eastern Oregon	17
6.	Arizona Christian	11
7.	Simpson	6

2025 SEASON LOOKBACK
Montana Western finished third in the West Division a 7-3 overall in 2025. The Bulldogs topped the Frontier in points per game (43.1), total offense per game (449.4), passing yards per game (336.0), and tied for first in sacks (31). They also ranked in the top three in touchdowns (57), field goals made (nine), and third down conversions (64).

2026 ROSTER PREVIEW
The Bulldogs are returning 34 letter winner from the 2025 squad.

Two-time All American and 2025 Frontier West Offensive Player of the Year Eli Nourse is back for his senior season. He will don the no. 18 legacy jersey for Western this season.

Nourse will pair up with redshirt-junior Seth Shook, who led the team with 13 receiving touchdowns and earned 2025 First Team All-Conference recognition last season.

On the offensive side running back duo Jakob Humphrey (Second Team All-Conference and Aidan Lammers (FC Honorable Mention), who combined for 780 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025, as well as Second Team All-Conference offensive linemen Ethan Larson and Dylan Christman are also back for the Red and Black.

All-American Long-Snapper Jacob Westberry and FC First Team All-Conference Kicker Maclain Burckley return to the special teams' unit.

On the defensive side, Second Team All-Conference defensive back Connor Dunlea is set for his sophomore campaign.

Linebacker Tyler Schoen (third on team in tackles for loss and sacks), defensive lineman Liam Rowe (19.0 tackles, 2.0 TFLS, 2.0 sacks), and linebacker Canyon Sargent (14.0 tackles, one interception) are all back on the defensive side of the ball as well.

CALLING THE SHOTS
Head Coach Ryan Nourse is back for his 13^th season at the helm of Bulldog football. His 71 wins are the most in program history.

Nourse is joined by Defensive Coordinator Riley Martello (fifth season), Co-Offensive Coordinators Jed Heffernan (sixth season) and Tyler Murray (first season), Justin Hurd (third season), Rich Coppin (second season), and Tristin Rodriguez (fourth season).

Martello, Heffernan, and Murray all played under Nourse in their collegiate careers.

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs kick off the 2026 slate Sept. 5 at MSU-Northern. First kick is set for 1 p.m. MT.

For complete coverage of UMW Football, be sure to follow us on social media at @umw_football (Instagram), @UMW_Football (X), and @Montana Western Football (Facebook) or visit our official website at UMWBulldogs.com.

#GOBULLDOGS!

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Players Mentioned

#18 Eli Nourse: WR; 5' 10"; Senior

#93 Liam Rowe: DL; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#24 Canyon Sargent: LB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#9 Seth Shook: WR; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#38 Jacob Westberry: LS; 5' 6"; Redshirt Junior

#6 Maclain Burckley: K/P; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#77 Dylan Christman: OL; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#20 Connor Dunlea: DB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#25 Jakob Humphrey: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

#37 Aidan Lammers: RB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#67 Ethan Larson: OL; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior

#45 Tyler Schoen: DL; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#18 Eli Nourse
: 5' 10"; Senior
: WR

#93 Liam Rowe
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: DL

#24 Canyon Sargent
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: LB

#9 Seth Shook
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#38 Jacob Westberry
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Junior
: LS

#6 Maclain Burckley
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: K/P

#77 Dylan Christman
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: OL

#20 Connor Dunlea
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DB

#25 Jakob Humphrey
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: RB

#37 Aidan Lammers
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#67 Ethan Larson
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior
: OL

#45 Tyler Schoen
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: DL