The WashU football team will open its 2026 NCAA Division III season on September 5, with a game at Rhodes College in Tennessee. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

CLAYTON, MO — The Washington University athletics department released the upcoming schedule for its 2026 football team on Friday.

The Bears, who will be playing their first season as affiliate members of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), after playing the previous eight seasons as affiliate members of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), will play 10 regular season games — one non-conference contest and one game against each of the other nine members of the NCAC.

“The schools of the NCAC are pleased to partner with Washington University in St. Louis, an outstanding institution that shares our values around intercollegiate athletics and the student-athlete experience,” said Michael Frandsen, president of the NCAC and Wittenberg University. “We look forward to meeting the Bears on the gridiron in 2026.”

“This is a wonderful move for NCAC football,” stated Executive Director Keri Alexander Luchowski. “It just makes sense to partner with an institution that aligns with the NCAC philosophy of highly competitive athletics within a rigorous academic environment.

“I’m so pleased to formally welcome the Bears back into the NCAC Football family. We last worked together as part of a scheduling agreement with the UAA football-playing members; I look forward to re-establishing these relationships in the coming years throughout conference competition.”

The WashU Bears went 8-3 and played in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl last season. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

WashU will begin the new season on September 5, with a non-conference game against Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.

The Bears home opener and NCAC debut will come the following week, on September 12, when they’ll host DePauw University at Francis Olympic Field.

Weeks 3 and 4 will both be road games for WashU, against Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.

The Bears’ second home game this fall will come on October 3, with a matchup against John Carroll University.

WashU will get its bye week in Week 5, before going on the road for two straight games again in Weeks 6 and 7. The Bears will play Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, on October 17, and Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., on October 24.

The Bears will be back home on October 31, with a game against Denison University, before playing their road finale on November 7 against Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.

WashU’s fourth and final home game will come on November 14, with a matchup against the College of Wooster.

“We are excited about our acceptance into the North Coast Athletic Conference in the sport of football. We look forward to competing for championships while prioritizing the student-athlete experience in the competitive arena and in the classroom,” WashU Chancellor Andrew D. Martin said. “I am grateful to the NCAC member institutions and their leaders for their partnership and warm welcome. WashU looks forward to competing and making memories with this storied conference.”

The new allegiance with the NCAC will be for football only. Most other WashU teams, including both soccer teams, both basketball teams, and the baseball, softball, and volleyball teams play in the University Athletic Association (UAA).

2026 WASHU BEARS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
September 5, 2026 (Saturday)7 p.m.AwayRhodes CollegeMemphis, Tenn. / Crain Field
September 12, 2026 (Saturday)1 p.m.HomeDePauw University*Francis Olympic Field
September 19, 2026 (Saturday)1 p.m.AwayWittenberg University*Springfield, Ohio / Edwards-Maurer Field
September 26, 2026 (Saturday)1 p.m.AwayOberlin College*Oberlin, Ohio / Dick Bailey Field
October 3, 2026 (Saturday)1 p.m.HomeJohn Carroll University*Francis Olympic Field
October 17, 2026 (Saturday)1 p.m.AwayKenyon College*Gambier, Ohio / McBride Field
October 24, 2026 (Saturday)1 p.m.AwayWabash College*Crawfordsville, Ind. / Little Giant Stadium
October 31, 2026 (Saturday)1 p.m.HomeDenison University*Francis Olympic Field
November 7, 2026 (Saturday)1 p.m.AwayOhio Wesleyan University*Delaware, Ohio / Selby Stadium
November 14, 2026 (Saturday)1 p.m.HomeThe College of Wooster*Francis Olympic Field

* – denotes North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) opponent