The Tarleton State Texans have announced their 2026 football schedule, featuring an even split of home and road contests.
The Texans open their season at home in Stephenville with a visit from Celebration Bowl runners-up Prairie View A&M on Aug. 29. A trip to MAC foe Bowling Green follows on Sept. 12, with a trip to McNeese of the Southland Conference the following weekend.
Out-of-league play continues on Sept. 18 with a visit from Merrimack. The Texans are off the following week before welcoming first-year FCS program Chicago State Oct. 3 in a newly-revealed matchup. UAC play begins the following weekend with a trip to Clarksville, Tenn., to square off with Austin Peay. Central Arkansas helps the Texans celebrate Homecoming Oct. 17, with more miles logged for Tarleton the following week in the form of a trip to Carrollton, Ga., to battle West Georgia. A Halloween home date with Eastern Kentucky rounds out October’s slate.
Tarleton’s home slate winds down to start November, with a Senior Day tilt slated with Abilene Christian on Nov. 7. Another newly-released non-league game follows Nov. 14, as Tarleton heads to Sacramento State. A UAC visit to North Alabama on Nov. 21 closes the season.
Below is Tarleton State’s complete schedule for the 2026 season, plus a link to their schedule page which will be updated with kickoff times and TV as they are announced:
2026 Tarleton State Football Schedule
08/29 – Prairie View A&M
09/05 – at Bowling Green
09/12 – at McNeese
09/19 – Merrimack
09/26 – OFF
10/03 – Chicago State
10/10 – at Austin Peay*
10/17 – Central Arkansas*
10/24 – at West Georgia*
10/31 – Eastern Kentucky*
11/07 – Abilene Christian*
11/14 – at Sacramento State
11/21 – at North Alabama*
* UAC contest.
Tarleton finished last season 12-2 (7-1 UAC) and lost in the FCS playoff quarterfinals to No. 9 Villanova. The Texans are led by Todd Whitten, who has guided the Texans to a 126-59 record in 16 seasons at the helm.
This increases the number of games on Sacramento State’s 2026 football schedule to six.
And we care why? STINGERS OFF! A solid SPLAT! on the windshield. Don’t be late on adding Lincoln (CA) to the slate.
Does Chicago State have any players yet?
That October 3 game might be one of the ugliest mismatches in FCS history
How on earth do teams like Merrimack and Chicago State justify traveling to Brownwood, Texas, to play an FCS football game? Tarleton has much closer potential opponents, including the Southland and SWAC teams while Chicago State and Merrimack have many closer options, Merrimack especially.
I’d love to see how the economics for the long FCS road trips play out. It seems like quite a waste.
What a cheesecake schedule this is!!