WATERLOO, Ont. - After spending last season atop the national rankings heading into the playoffs, the Laurier Golden Hawks football team will open 2026 ranked No. 4 in the U SPORTS preseason poll released Thursday.
Laurier has extended a remarkable run of national recognition, appearing in the U SPORTS football Top 10 for the 29th consecutive ranking dating back to October 19, 2021.
The Golden Hawks collected 102 total points in the rankings, including 39 points in the national media poll and 63 points through the U SPORTS Elo rating system. Laurier trails only defending Vanier Cup champion Montréal, Laval, and Saskatchewan, while sitting ahead of defending OUA Yates Cup champion Queen's.
The ranking follows another strong season for the Golden Hawks, who climbed to No. 1 in the final U SPORTS rankings released before their Yates Cup showdown with Queen's.
Laurier is one of four OUA programs featured in the preseason top 10, joining the Gaels (No. 5), Western (No. 6) and Windsor (No. 9).
Montréal claimed the No. 1 spot after receiving all seven first-place votes following its Vanier Cup championship season, while Laval and Saskatchewan round out the top three.
Regina, Saint Mary's, Windsor and StFX round out the national top 10.
Laurier's near-top ranking was bolstered by an impressive Elo score of 63 points, second only to Montréal nationally. The U SPORTS football rankings combine the national media poll and the Elo ranking system, with each accounting for 50 per cent of a team's total rating.
The Elo model adjusts a team's rating after every game based on the result, the strength of the opponent and the expected outcome. Upset victories generate larger gains, while unexpected losses result in more significant declines.
Laurier begins its 2026 season on Saturday, August 29 at home against the Gueph Gryphons. Kickoff at University Stadium is set for 6pm.
Single-game and season ticket packages are available at
tickets.laurierathletics.com
| Rank |
Team |
Conference |
Media points |
Elo points |
Total |
| 1 |
Montréal |
RSEQ |
70 |
70 |
140 |
| 2 |
Laval |
RSEQ |
51 |
56 |
107 |
| 3 |
Saskatchewan |
CW |
57 |
49 |
106 |
| 4 |
Laurier |
OUA |
39 |
63 |
102 |
| 5 |
Queen's |
OUA |
51 |
35 |
86 |
| 6 |
Western |
OUA |
36 |
42 |
78 |
| 7 |
Regina |
CW |
25 |
21 |
46 |
| 8 |
Saint Mary's |
AUS |
15 |
28 |
43 |
| 9 |
Windsor |
OUA |
7 |
14 |
21 |
| 10 |
STFX |
AUS |
1 |
7 |
8 |
