RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference released its preseason football poll on Tuesday. Henderson State was ranked fourth in the twelve team conference.

The Reddies received 96 votes from the league's head coaches.

Defending league co-champions Harding (119 votes) and Ouachita Baptist (108) finish with the No. 1 and 2 ranks, respectively. Both teams finished the regular season with a 10-1 record and appeared in the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs. Southern Arkansas was selected third in the poll with 99 votes, just three ahead of the Reddies.

Below Henderson State, Southeastern Oklahoma (72 votes), East Central (68), and Arkansas Tech (66) were the only other teams to gather at least 50 votes in the poll.

The Reddies check in in the top four for the sixth consecutive year, following an 8-3 campaign. Coach Greg Holsworth enters his second season as head coach, looking to build on last season's success; his 2024 team earned the most wins ever in a head coach's first season, and the highest winning percentage in nearly 100 years.

HSU returns three All-GAC performers from 2024: All-American tight end Cayden Davis, senior quarterback Andrew Edwards, and running back Jeremiah Davis. Cayden Davis was named the first All-American tight end in Henderson State's football history with his second team D2CCA accolade; he also was named to the Don Hansen honorable mention team.

Henderson State opens fall camp on Friday, August 7. The season opener will take place at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field on September 4 against Southern Nazarene. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.