BILLINGS, Mont.- Under first-year Head Coach Randy Bandelow, Rocky Football has been selected to finish third in the 2026 Frontier Conference East Division Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Battlin' Bears garnered 23 total points in the voting process (coaches are not permitted to vote for their own teams). Rocky looks to build on a strong 2025 campaign, where the team finished third in the East Division with a 4-2 divisional record. Notably, their only two division losses came at the hands of Montana Tech and Dakota State—both of which concluded the season ranked inside the NAIA Top 25.

Despite being picked where they finished a season ago, Rocky Football will have a fresh look in 2026. Featuring a brand-new coaching staff and a roster infused with more than 60 incoming freshmen and transfers, a new era of Rocky Football begins on Thursday, August 26. The Bears will kick off their season in Glendive, Montana, against NCAA Division II University of Mary.

The full 2026 Frontier Conference Football East Division Coaches' Preseason Poll can be found below. 

2026 Frontier Conference Football East Division Preseason Poll

Rank	School	Points (First-Place Votes)
1	Montana Tech	36 (6)
2	Dakota State	31 (1)
3	Rocky Mountain College	23
4	Dickinson State	22
5	Valley City State	17
6	Mayville State	12
7	MSU-Northern	6