RICHMOND, Ky. – The EKU football team released the dates for the 2026 season with some familiar names on the schedule.
The six non-conference games were added in with the six conference matchups that were announced in December as the Colonels enter their first season in a new conference.
EKU will have five home games, including two non-conference games at Roy Kidd Stadium. The schedule also features seven road matchups throughout the season, four of which are non-conference games.
The season will open on the road for the first two weeks with a trip to Western Carolina on Saturday, August 29, before heading south to face former Ohio Valley Conference rival Jacksonville State on Saturday, September 5, as the lone FBS opponent on the 2026 schedule.
The Colonels will open up the home slate hosting Chattanooga on Saturday, September 12, and Dayton the following Saturday, September 19 at Roy Kidd Stadium.
EKU will then head back on the road to face Southeastern Missouri State (SEMO) on September 26 marking the 30th all time meeting between the two programs.
The Colonels will then have two weeks of United Athletic Conference action at home against North Alabama (Oct. 3) and West Georgia (Oct. 10) before finishing non-conference play at Tennessee Tech on Saturday, October 17.
All game times will be announced at a later date but for a complete look at the schedule see below.
2026 EKU Football Schedule
* United Athletic Conference Game
| Date | Opponent |
| Aug. 29 | at Western Carolina |
| Sept. 5 | at Jacksonville State |
| Sept. 12 | vs. Chattanooga |
| Sept. 19 | vs. Dayton |
| Sept. 26 | at SEMO |
| Oct. 3 | vs. North Alabama* |
| Oct. 10 | vs. West Georgia* |
| Oct. 17 | at Tennessee Tech |
| Oct. 24 | Open Week |
| Oct. 31 | at Tarleton State* |
| Nov. 7 | at Austin Peay* |
| Nov. 14 | vs. Central Arkansas* |
| Nov. 21 | at Abilene Christian* |
