The WashU Bears will host their 2026 home opener on Saturday. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

WashU Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 2 – #15 DePauw Tigers (1-0) at WashU Bears (1-0)
Date/Time – September 12, 2026 – 1 pm
Location – Francis Olympic Field — Clayton, MO
Watch – North Coast Network
Live Stats – Sidearm Stats

CLAYTON, MO — The Washington University football team will host its 2026 home opener, Saturday afternoon, and make its debut in a new conference, when it takes on No. 15-ranked DePauw University.

The Bears will be making their debut in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), after 18 seasons in the University Athletic Association (UAA).

Both teams will come into Saturday’s matchup with 1-0 records after both winning their season openers last week.

WashU and DePauw have played previously, though its been nearly 15 years since the last time the Bears and Tigers faced one another. DePauw holds the series lead 10-1, though all but one of those games — the teams’ last meeting in 2012 — occurred before 1990.

WashU QB Levi Moore threw for three touchdowns and ran for two others in the Bears’ win over Rhodes College last week. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

Players to Watch: The Bears had a statement win over Rhodes in the 2026 season opener last week, winning 73-0. WashU’s 73 points marks the third-most ever scored by a Bears’ team in program history.

Senior quarterback Levi Moore completed 10-of-14 passes for 212 yards with three touchdowns. The senior, second-yard starter, also ran for 21 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns.

Sophomore running back Karsten Cornell had a career-high 108 yards on 17 attempts to lead the WashU running game, while senior receiver Drew Bomar caught three passes for 92 yards and scored two touchdowns.

On defense, freshman free safety Gavin Conjar led the Bears with five solo tackles to lead the Bears in his college debut.

The WashU defense held Rhodes College to zero points and just 120 yards in last week’s season opener. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

DePauw had to rally from behind to win its opener. The Tigers trailed 16-7 at halftime, but scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to comeback and defeat Rose-Hulman, 31-23.

The big play in that game turned out to be a scintillating 82-yard punt return by junior speedster Gray Schmittel, who missed most of last season with an injury, but made his presence felt in DePauw’s 2026 season opener.

DePauw will also bring a top-notch running game to Francis Olympic Field, led by senior Carson Johnson, who had 148 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown in last week’s win. Junior quarterback Scott Ballentine threw for 167 yards, a touchdown, and an interception for the Tigers as well.

On defense, DePauw was led by sophomore linebacker Jackson Cain, who had six tackles (five solo), and junior end Chris Green, who had two quarterback sacks and a key fumble recovery.

WashU QB Levi Moore threw for 1,853 yards and 21 touchdowns, while also rushing for 659 yards and 17 touchdowns to lead the Bear offense last season. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

Up Next: The Bears will be back on the road next weekend, when they’ll travel to Springfield, Ohio, to take on Wittenberg.

Kickoff is set for noon, next Saturday, and the game will be streamed live on the North Coast Network.

2026 WASHU BEARS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date	Time	At	Opponent	Location	Results
September 5, 2026 (Saturday)	7 p.m.	Away	Rhodes College	Memphis, Tenn. / Crain Field	W, 73-0 (1-0)
September 12, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Home	#15 DePauw University*	Francis Olympic Field
September 19, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Away	Wittenberg University*	Springfield, Ohio / Edwards-Maurer Field
September 26, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Away	Oberlin College*	Oberlin, Ohio / Dick Bailey Field
October 3, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Home	John Carroll University*	Francis Olympic Field
October 17, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Away	Kenyon College*	Gambier, Ohio / McBride Field
October 24, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Away	Wabash College*	Crawfordsville, Ind. / Little Giant Stadium
October 31, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Home	Denison University*	Francis Olympic Field
November 7, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Away	Ohio Wesleyan University*	Delaware, Ohio / Selby Stadium
November 14, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Home	The College of Wooster*	Francis Olympic Field