Bears picked third in Southland preseason football poll
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Coming off a season in which it tied for second place in the Southland Conference, Central Arkansas was tabbed to finish third in league play in 2016.
Picked ahead of the Bears were the two teams from the SLC to make the FCS playoffs – Sam Houston State and McNeese.
Sam Houston State topped both the coaches’ and the sports information directors’ polls, grabbing nine of 11 first-place votes and 10 of 11 first-place votes, respectively.
UCA was third in both polls.
The Bears return 10 preseason all-conference selections to a team that won four of their last five games to conclude the year.
2016 Southland Conference Preseason Polls
Coaches’ Poll
| Rank | School (First-place votes) | Points |
| 1. | Sam Houston State (9) | 99 |
| 2. | McNeese (2) | 92 |
| 3. | Central Arkansas | 79 |
| 4. | Lamar | 67 |
| 5. | Stephen F. Austin | 60 |
| 6. | Southeastern Louisiana | 57 |
| 7. | Northwestern State | 45 |
| 8. | Abilene Christian | 40 |
| 9. | UIW | 29 |
| 10. | Nicholls | 26 |
| 11. | Houston Baptist | 11 |
Sports Information Directors’ Poll
| Rank | School (First-place votes) | Points |
| 1. | Sam Houston State (10) | 100 |
| 2. | McNeese (1) | 86 |
| 3. | Central Arkansas | 84 |
| 4. | Lamar | 67 |
| 5. | Stephen F. Austin | 66 |
| 6. | Northwestern State | 48 |
| 7. | Southeastern Louisiana | 42 |
| 8. | UIW | 39 |
| 9. | Abilene Christian | 37 |
| 10. | Nicholls | 26 |
| 11. | Houston Baptist | 10 |