CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced on Wednesday the 2026 Field Hockey Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's ten head coaches. The Miami RedHawks were selected as the preseason favorite to take home the regular season title, as well as the MAC Tournament Championship.

The RedHawks received 81 points and nine first place votes, while the UMass Minutewomen received one first place votes and a total of 73 points to finish second in the poll. 

Appalachian State was picked third with a total of 62 points, followed by James Madison with 60 points of its own. Kent State was next in fifth place with 44 points while Ohio sat in sixth with 42 points, followed by Central Michigan, Ball State, Bellarmine, and Longwood.

Miami begins the season where it left off in 2025, ranked tenth nationally in the NFHCA DI Preseason Poll. The RedHawks will look to secure their ninth consecutive regular season crown and MAC tournament title after defeating UMass, 2-1, in double overtime of last year’s championship before advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight season.

The MAC Field Hockey season begins on Friday, August 28th. The season will culminate with the MAC Field Hockey Championship, hosted by Miami University on November 4-7 in Oxford, Ohio.

2026 MAC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Miami – 81 points (9)
2. Massachusetts – 73 points (1)
3. Appalachian State – 62 points
4. James Madison – 60 points
5. Kent State – 44 points
6. Ohio – 42 points
7. Central Michigan – 31 points
8. Ball State – 28 points
9. Bellarmine – 15 points
10. Longwood – 14 points
 
MAC Tournament Champion: Miami (9), Massachusetts (1)