DENVER, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference released their Preseason Coaches' Poll and All-Conference teams for football on Wednesday (July 22) afternoon at the CAVEA Theatre on the Campus of MSU Denver.
Colorado Mesa was picked to finish fifth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing in a tie for fourth place during the 2025 season. The Mavericks finished 6-5 last season and 5-4 in the conference, tied with Colorado School of Mines whom they defeated on October 24.
Colorado Mesa earned a total of 52 points that came with a second-place vote and a third-place vote as selected by the league's 10 sponsoring schools. Coaches could not vote for their own institution.
CSU Pueblo was picked to repeat as the RMAC Champion with 80 points including eight first place votes and one second place vote. Western Colorado was picked second with 69 total points with one first place votes, five second place votes and two third place votes. Colorado School of Mines was picked third with 62 points on two second place votes and four third place votes.
2025 NCAA Playoff team Chadron State was picked fourth with 60 points on one first place vote, one second place vote, and three third place votes.
The Mavericks had four players named to the Preseason All-RMAC team. Three of the four selections came on the offensive side of the ball with
Alex Turpin earning a spot at tight end and seniors
Calem Grimble and
Cooper Mumford earning spots across the offensive line.
Turpin played in all 11 games in 2025 and caught 22 passes for 180 yards and four touchdowns while Grimble and Mumford played in and started all 11 games on the left side of the offensive line.
Senior defensive back
Gibson Leafgreen was named to the Preseason All-RMAC Team on the defensive side of the ball. In 2025, he played in 11 games and finished with 56 total tackles, four passes defended and two interceptions.
Colorado Mesa will kick the season off on Thursday August 27 when they host perennial power Minnesota State at Stocker Stadium.
