The Lindenwood Lions will open up the new college football season with a home game against Charleston Southern, Thursday night at Hunter Stadium. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Lindenwood Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 1 – Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0-0) at Lindenwood Lions (0-0)
Date/Time – August 27, 2026 – 6 pm
Location – Hunter Stadium — St. Charles, MO
Watch – ESPN+
Listen — 89.1 The Wood
Live Stats – Sidearm Stats

ST. CHARLES, MO — The Lindenwood University football team will kick off its 2026 season, Thursday night, when it hosts Charleston Southern in an Ohio Valley Conference matchup at Hunter Stadium.

Lindenwood is coming off an up-and-down 2025 season, in which the Lions went 6-6 overall. The year began with the Lions battling injuries and losing their first two games, but ended with the team winning three of its final four, including upset wins over Tennessee State and Eastern Illinois, and a season-finale beatdown in the Game Ball Brawl rivalry game against Southeast Missouri State.

This season, the new-look Lindenwood squad hopes to begin the year with better results that could put the team in contention for a conference championship which could put the Lions in possession to earn a spot in the FCS playoffs.

Charleston Southern went 5-7 last year, which included a 35-28 loss to Lindenwood, in a game where the Lions trailed by three touchdowns in the first half, but scored four touchdowns in the second half — three in the fourth quarter — to come back and win.

That loss was part of a 1-6 start for the Buccaneers, who like Lindenwood, rebounded at the end of the year and won four of their last five games.

Players to Watch: St. Louis-area native and former East St. Louis High star Robert “Pops” Battle will make his first collegiate start for the Lions. The junior signal caller has served as Lindenwood’s backup QB for the first two years of his college career, but he’ll get his chance to finally start this season.

In high school, Battle led East St. Louis to three state championship game appearances — winning one. For his career, Battle posted more than 10,000 total yards, with 8,791 passing yards and 2,224 rushing yards. He also put up 92 total touchdowns and 12 two-point conversions.

Battle finished his high school career as East St. Louis’ all-time leading passer and had the third-most ever in Illinois state history.

Other top players for the Lions are expected to be the running back combo of Steve Hall and Jared Rhodes — both All-OVC-Big South selections last year — and wide receiver Jalen Smith, who caught 40 passes for 771 yards and four touchdowns last year.

Charleston Southern will bring several top notch offensive players to Hunter Stadium, including running back Hakeem Watters, wide receiver Mekhi Campfield, and wide receiver/kick returner Quay Kindell, who were all preseason all-conference selections.

The Buccaneer defense is led by returning all-American linebacker Steve Zayachkowsky, who was recently named on the preseason watch list for Buck Buchanon Award, which is given to the top defensive player in FCS football.

Up Next: Lindenwood will be on the road next week, traveling to New York for a matchup against Stony Brook. Kickoff next Thursday night is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on FloCollege.com.

2026 LINDENWOOD LIONS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTV
August 27, 2026 (Thursday)6:00 p.m.HomeCharleston Southern*Hunter Stadium
September 3, 2026 (Thursday)6:00 p.m.AwayStony BrookStony Brook, N.Y.
September 12, 2026 (Saturday)6:00 p.m.AwayMissouri StateSpringfield, Mo.
September 26, 2026 (Saturday)12:00 p.m.AwayEastern MichiganYpsilanti, Mich.
October 10, 2026 (Saturday)1:00 p.m.HomeSoutheast Missouri State*Hunter Stadium
October 17, 2026 (Saturday)2:00 p.m.AwayEastern Illinois*Charleston, Ill.
October 24, 2026 (Saturday)2:00 p.m.HomeChicago StateHunter Stadium
October 31, 2026 (Saturday)1:00 p.m.HomeTennessee State*Hunter Stadium
November 7, 2026 (Saturday)1:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. central)AwayGardner-Webb*Boiling Springs, N.C.
November 14, 2026 (Saturday)2:00 p.m.AwayTennessee-Martin*Martin, Tenn.
November 21, 2026 (Saturday)2:00 p.m.HomeWestern Illinois*Hunter Stadium

* – denotes Ohio Valley Conference game