The Lindenwood Lions will be in Springfield on Saturday night to take on Missouri State. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Lindenwood Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 3 – Lindenwood Lions (1-1) at Missouri State Bears (0-1)
Date/Time – September 12, 2026 – 6 pm
Location – LaValle Stadium — Springfield, MO
Watch – ESPN+
Listen — 89.1 The Wood
Live Stats – Stat Broadcast

SPRINGFIELD, MO — The Lindenwood Lions will be on the road again this week, when they head down to Springfield to take on Missouri State, for an in-state matchup at Robert Plaster Stadium.

Both clubs are coming off losses last week. Lindenwood led going into the fourth quarter on the road at Stony Brook, last Thursday, but couldn’t hold on and lost 36-32.

Missouri State got walloped, 50-0, by No. 8-ranked Texas A&M.

Saturday’s 6 p.m. meeting with the Lions will be Missouri State’s 2026 home opener.

Lindenwood QB Robert “Pops” Battle has thrown for 351 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns this season. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Players to Watch: Offensively, the ground game continues to be effective as the Lions are second in the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing yards per game (162.5) and rushing touchdowns (4).

Three of those rushing scores have come from Robert “Pops” Battle, which ties him for the OVC lead. He nearly leads the team in rushing with 113 yards on the ground this season. Despite not having a passing touchdown so far this season, Battle has gone 33-for-49, completing 67 percent of his passes and compiling 351 yards through the air.

Drew Krobath and Jalen Smith led the ariel attack as both wideouts had 80 or more receiving yards Thursday night. Both receivers have 100+ yards through two games, while averaging more than 14 yards per reception. So far this season, Lindenwood has three wide receivers, three running backs, and two tight ends with a reception.

Lindenwood has had some early red zone struggles, generating one touchdown on five visits. Despite that, Will Graham has had a strong start to his season. After making five field goals all of last season, the senior kicker has drilled five already in 2026. He converted all three attempts against the Seawolves, including a career-long 50 yarder, surpassing his previous long of 36. As a result, he was tabbed OVC Specialist of the Week.

Against Texas A&M, Missouri State was held to just 67 total yards and managed just four first downs. The Bears got pummeled by one of the top teams in the country. But most expect MSU to come out and try to show that opening night performance was just one bad night.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Lindenwood RB Steve Hall will be back to lead the Lions offensive attack this season. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Up Next: Lindenwood will be on the road for its third straight game, next Saturday, when the Lions head north to face Eastern Michigan.

Kickoff next Saturday is slated for noon, and that game will also be streamed live on ESPN+.

Lindenwood’s next home game will be on Saturday, October 10, when the Lions host the annual “Game Ball Brawl” showdown against Southeast Missouri State.

2026 LINDENWOOD LIONS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTVResults
August 27, 2026 (Thursday)6:00 p.m.HomeCharleston Southern*Hunter StadiumW, 20-17 (1-0)
September 3, 2026 (Thursday)6:00 p.m.AwayStony BrookStony Brook, N.Y.L, 36-32 (1-1)
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