EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Men's Soccer senior midfielder Garrett Morris was selected to the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Players to Watch List for the 2026 season on Thursday.
 
Morris was nominated to the list by the Ohio Valley Conference's head coaches. After battling an injury in the 2025 season, Morris looks to bounce back in a big way for the Screaming Eagles on the field and continue his leadership throughout the 2026 season.
 
The 2026 OVC Preseason Predicted Order of Finish was also announced on Thursday. The Screaming Eagles were projected eighth in the OVC this season. USI is coming off a 2-10-5 season, 1-4-5 in conference. USI enters the 2026 season starting a new era under first-year Head Coach Mads Kaiser, who previously was with Saint Francis University and led his teams to a 28-22-15 record throughout his tenure at the program.
 
Lindenwood University was voted as the team predicted to win the OVC, collecting 11 of the 16 first-place votes. Houston Christian University and Southern Illinois Edwardsville University tied for second, with HCU receiving two first-place votes and SIUE getting three first-place votes.
 
USI opens the season on the road, August 20, against the University of Milwaukee.  The Screaming Eagles make their home debut on September 2 against Horizon League opponent Indiana University Indianapolis. USI looks for revenge after falling to IU Indy a year ago in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in the final minutes of the match.
 
At the end of the season, the conference's top six teams will qualify for the 2026 OVC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament on the campus of Lindenwood in St. Charles, Missouri, on November 8-14.
 
2026 OVC Men's Soccer Predicted Order of Finish
 1. Lindenwood (11 first-place votes)- 94 points
 2. HCU (2) - 80
      SIUE (3)  - 80
4. Eastern Illinois  - 52
5. UTRGV - 46
6. UIW - 42
7. Western Illinois - 36
8. Southern Indiana - 18
 
2026 OVC Men's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch
Conner Bayliss (CB, So.), Eastern Illinois
Ryan Okerayi (F, Sr.), HCU
Luca Bartoni (F, Sr.), Lindenwood
 Mathias Clausen (D, So.), SIUE
Garrett Morris (MF, Fifth Year), Southern Indiana
 Diego Robles (F, Jr.), UIW
 Mouhamed Pouye (MF, Sr.), UTRGV
 Xavier Gagnon (F, Sr.), Western Illinois