RICHMOND, Va. – The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) announced its 2026 football preseason coaches' poll and preseason All-Conference awards on Wednesday, with the University at Albany picked 11^th in the 13-team field.
 
Highlighting the individual recognitions, linebacker Dillon Dunathan earned a spot on the Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention Team.
 
Dunathan enters 2026 following a strong 2025 campaign. A CAA Honorable Mention selection last season, he anchored the Great Danes' defense by appearing in 10 games and leading the unit with 71 total tackles, including 33 solo stops and 4.5 tackles for loss. 
 
The Great Danes officially kick off the 2026 season at home on Friday, August 28, playing host to New Hampshire at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium. Season tickets are available now and can be purchased online or by calling the UAlbany Ticket Office at 518-442-DANE (3263).
 
2026 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish
1. Rhode Island (12 first-place votes), 144
2. Monmouth, 119
3. Elon, 115
4. New Hampshire, 106
5. Stony Brook (1 first-place vote), 105
6. Towson, 93
7. Maine, 88
8. Campbell, 56
9. Bryant, 50
10. Sacred Heart, 49
11. UAlbany, 35
12. North Carolina A&T, 28
13. Hampton, 26
 
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