Lock Haven picked seventh in PSAC West poll
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Fresh off its first winning season in 44 years, the Lock Haven football team has returned to campus and is preparing for its opener at Shippensburg on Saturday, Aug. 29, at noon.
As part of the 2026 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference virtual media day, the conference released the 2026 Preseason Coaches' poll and the Lock Haven football team was picked seventh in the PSAC Western Division.
Lock Haven is officially returning to the PSAC West for the first time since 2012, after the addition of Lackawanna to the PSAC East. Lackawanna games will not count toward conference standings and postseason awards during 2026.
In 2025, the Lock Haven football team secured its first winning season in 44 years, clinching their first winning season since 1981. The Bald Eagles finished the season 6-5 overall after going 4-3 in PSAC Eastern Division action.
The winning season was secured in large part because of tremendous play during the second half of the season.
After a 1-3 start, Lock Haven won five of the last seven games on the schedule.
The 5-2 run down the stretch put an exclamation point on an all-around sensational season for first-year coach Joe Battaglia and his coaching staff. The six wins are believed to be the most for a first-year Lock Haven coach since H.J. Kaiser led Lock Haven to seven wins in 1931.