FARMINGTON, Utah – Southern Utah football re-enters the Big Sky Conference looking to exceed expectations, as the Thunderbirds were selected sixth in the Big Sky Football Preseason Coaches Poll and seventh in the league's Preseason Media Poll, the conference office announced Monday.
The coaches projected Southern Utah to finish sixth with 82 points, while the media placed the Thunderbirds seventh with 273 points in one of the deepest Football Championship Subdivision conferences in the nation.
Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald Said
"When we arrived at Southern Utah, our goal was to build a program that could consistently compete for championships. Every season we've taken another step forward, and I think these polls reflect a modest amount of respect our players and staff have earned. At the same time, giving our football program the opportunity to earn a lot more respect moving forward. Returning to the Big Sky is an exciting challenge, and our team is ready to embrace it."
The preseason recognition comes as Southern Utah returns to the Big Sky from the United Athletic Conference, where the Thunderbirds established themselves as one of the league's premier programs under Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald.
Since taking over the program in 2022, Fitzgerald has engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds in the FCS. The Thunderbirds have steadily climbed the standings with four straight seasons of improvement, posting back-to-back 7-5 campaigns in 2024 and 2025.
Southern Utah recorded consecutive top-three finishes in the United Athletic Conference, narrowly missing the FCS Playoffs in each of the last two seasons. Along the way, the Thunderbirds earned the program's first victory over an FBS opponent in more than a decade with a 27-24 road win at UTEP.
The Thunderbirds have also built a reputation for developing elite talent and playing an exciting brand of football. Southern Utah has produced an All-American in each of Fitzgerald's four seasons at the helm while developing the nation's leading FCS rusher in consecutive years. Joshua Dye highlighted that success in 2025 by rushing for 1,831 yards and 28 touchdowns, earning national recognition alongside teammates who became finalists for both the Walter Payton Award and the Buck Buchanan Award.
Reigning National Champion Montana State was selected as the preseason favorite in both polls, followed by Montana and UC Davis.
Southern Utah opens the 2026 season on Aug. 29 with a road matchup against Montana before returning to Eccles Coliseum for its home opener against Weber State on Sept. 5 in the first Big Sky home game for the Thunderbirds since 2022.
Tickets
Single game and season tickets for the upcoming Southern Utah Football campaign are now available, giving fans the chance to lock in their seats for an exciting new era in Cedar City. With the Thunderbirds' return to the Big Sky, now is the time to secure your spot at Eccles Coliseum and be part of the action all season long. For more information and to purchase, visit tbirdtickets.com.
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