TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M has been tabbed as the favorite to win the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference volleyball championship, according to the league's preseason coaches' poll released this week, as the Rattlers pursue a third consecutive league title.

FAMU received 200 points and six first-place votes, edging out Prairie View A&M, which collected 190 points and five first-place votes. Jackson State was picked third with 170 points, followed by Alabama A&M (167, four first-place votes) and Alabama State (164, one first-place vote) to round out the top five.

Bethune-Cookman was picked sixth with 154 points. Southern (107, one first-place vote), Texas Southern (98), Grambling State (93), Alcorn State (52), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (51) and Mississippi Valley State (32) completed the 12-team predicted order of finish.

The Rattlers enter the season as the two-time defending SWAC champions, and their preseason ranking, which included the most first-place votes of any team in the league, signals that FAMU remains the program to beat as it chases a third straight crown. The preseason poll is voted on by the conference's head coaches, who are prohibited from voting for their own programs.