KANSAS CITY, MO - Following a 3-0 start to the 2026 season, the University of the Cumberlands football team is receiving votes in the latest NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

 

UC has opened the season with three consecutive victories, defeating Union Commonwealth 41-28 in the Battle for the Brass Lantern before earning a 50-27 road win over Bluefield. The Patriots improved to 3-0 Saturday with a 35-21 victory over Warner at James H. Taylor, II Stadium.

 

Cumberlands has been one of the nation's more productive offenses through the opening three games, averaging 42.0 points and 503.7 yards of total offense per contest. The Patriots have accumulated 1,511 yards while averaging 8.5 yards per play, including 857 yards through the air and 654 on the ground.

 

Drew Gregg has directed the passing attack, completing 38-of-58 passes for 767 yards and six touchdowns. Cade Lamb leads UC with 260 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 10 receptions, while Michael Petty has hauled in a team-high 12 passes for 238 yards and a score. The Patriots are averaging 20.9 yards per completion through three games.

 

Juan Bullard Jr. has led the ground attack with 329 yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt. Jayden Clayton has added 170 yards and two scores as Cumberlands enters Week 4 averaging 218 rushing yards per game.

 

Defensively, UC has limited opponents to 365.7 yards per game while forcing six turnovers. The Patriots have recorded 16 tackles for loss, three interceptions and 18 pass breakups. Ritt Tankersley leads the team with 28 tackles, while JD DeRoche has added 23. Tion Garmon, Khalil Mollay and Brandon Burke have each recorded an interception.

 

Special teams has also played a role in the unbeaten start, highlighted by back-to-back MSC Special Teams Player of the Week Khalil Arman. Arman is a perfect 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts and 13-for-13 on extra points, accounting for a team-high 28 points. Four of his five field goals have come from 40 yards or longer, including a program-record-tying 47-yarder.

 

The Patriots are one of five Mid-South Conference programs represented in the poll. Lindsey Wilson leads the conference at No. 5, while Campbellsville climbed to No. 10 and Georgetown is tied for 24th. Cumberland University joins Cumberlands in the receiving-votes category. Grand View remains atop the national poll with all 13 first-place votes, followed by No. 2 Keiser, No. 3 Montana Tech, No. 4 College of Idaho.

 

For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on X - @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, YouTube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.