TOPEKA, Kan. – Head coach Atiba Bradley, sophomore quarterback Tillman Martin and redshirt senior defensive back Peyton McKee represented Missouri Southern Monday afternoon at the 2026 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Football Media Day held at Washburn University's Bill Sneed Indoor Athletic Facility.
 
Atiba Bradley
Bradley enters his sixth season at the helm of the Lions program in 2026. He led MSSU to wins over Midwestern State, Southwestern Baptist and Nebraska Kearney in 2025 (3-8, 1-8 MIAA) as seven Lions earned All-MIAA football honors including 2026 offensive returners quarterback Tillman Martin and wide receiver Isaiah Padello.
 
Tillman Martin
Tillman earned 2025 All-MIAA Honorable Mention laurels as a true freshman. He threw for 2,506 yards with 17 touchdowns. The Liberty, Missouri, native, had a quarterback rating of 136.90 and a completion percentage of 59.49 (188-for-316). He also added four touchdowns on the ground. 
 
Martin threw for over 100 yards in all but one game in 2025 and surpassed 200 yards six times in 2025. He was named the MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week on Sept. 8, 2025, after throwing for 446 yards to lead the Lions to a 38-31 victory over Southwest Baptist. He completed 18-for-27 passing with four touchdowns and ranks second all-time for passing in a single game at MSSU.
 
Peyton McKee
McKee made 30 stops (17 solo, 13 assists) in 2025 over nine games. He also made two tackles for loss for four yards to go with two quarterback hurries.
 
McKee, a Springdale, Arkansas, native, made a season-high seven tackles at Pittsburg State on Nov. 1, 2025, and returns as one of the top Lion defensive backs in 2026. He had three or more tackles in six games in 2025 including each of the last three contests.
 
Missouri Southern opens the 2026 season at Midwestern State on Saturday, Aug. 29 in Wichita Falls, Texas.


 
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced Monday the results of the preseason coaches and media polls for the 2026 football season. MIAA head coaches selected Pittsburg State to reclaim the MIAA crown in the 2026 season. Media members who cover MIAA teams picked Northwest Missouri as their favorites to win the 2026 title. 

Central Oklahoma was tabbed third in both the coaches and media preseason polls. 

Central Missouri and Fort Hays State traded places for fourth and fifth in the coaches and media polls. MIAA head coaches ranked the Mules fourth and the Tigers fifth, while media members ranked the Tigers fourth and the Mules fifth.

MIAA head coaches and media members had the same MIAA teams ranked 6-10, beginning with Emporia State in sixth, Nebraska Kearney in seventh, Washburn eighth, Missouri Western ninth, and Missouri Southern in tenth.
 
The 2026 NCAA Division II officially kicks off on Thursday, August 27, and concludes with the final regular season contests on Saturday, November 14.