2026 Non-Conference Schedule Thread

[ESU Warrior]

Yes. ESU gains nothing from an automatic win against Pace. As someone else said, we've graduated past them.

Was informed this is the final year of the contract they signed years ago. If ESU did want to get out they would have to pay a decent chunk (for some schools that decent chunk would probably be a drop in the bucket). I wouldn't mind seeing that TIffin game though.

[Ship69]

I think that is a fair way to do it. Ship needs to gain some program confidence and needs a win like that to start the year.

Hope the new coach will instill a little fire. I think they'll have some good players, but they're still young and inexperienced on the o-line, and that makes it difficult to put something together. Like a lot of teams, they just need to get some of their kids to stick around longer.

[Fightingscot82]

Yes. ESU gains nothing from an automatic win against Pace. As someone else said, we've graduated past them.

I disagree. Pace is bad team and an OWP anchor. But playing a bad team is always better than not playing any game, especially playing a D2 game in region. I believe teams only get better by playing more football, so playing as many games as possible no matter the opponent generally is good. Playing a bad team in Week 1 accomplishes that goal and allows for enough room for error to work out kinks before a much tougher PSAC schedule begins. As always, a win to start the year, and a convincing win, is good for team confidence and momentum.

[EastStroud13]

Was informed this is the final year of the contract they signed years ago. If ESU did want to get out they would have to pay a decent chunk (for some schools that decent chunk would probably be a drop in the bucket). I wouldn't mind seeing that TIffin game though.

That's a long contract, goodness gracious!.Hopefully the next contract isn't as long.

[Finchwidget]

https://dupanthers.com/sports/football/schedule/2026

Gannon at Davenport 8/29

[cwfenn]

Lackawanna did not apply for D2 membership this year. Not sure why not, but that means they'll be a non-D2 opponent and presumably non-conference.

Interestingly enough, their web site says that they’re having PSAC football games next season:
https://lackawannafalcons.com/sports...26-2027-season

[Ship69]

Interestingly enough, their web site says that they’re having PSAC football games next season:
https://lackawannafalcons.com/sports...26-2027-season

Their plan is certainly very ambitious. It's going to be a big jump from playing the Lebanon Valley JV team to Slippery Rock.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Their plan is certainly very ambitious. It's going to be a big jump from playing the Lebanon Valley JV team to Slippery Rock.

Their biggest change is going be following NCAA rules and regulations.

The Wild West days of JUCO are done.

[Fightingscot82]

Their biggest change is going be following NCAA rules and regulations.

The Wild West days of JUCO are done.

Hopefully they don't hire someone from Shepherd to do compliance.

[ctrabs74]

At the end of the season I was told West Virgina Tech and Wesleyan were the two they were considering. However, since then Coach Duda retired (due to an illness), and I have not heard anything from the new staff on an OOC. I would imagine Coach Ross would want to do his own thing, so if I hear anything I will update here.

West Virginia Wesleyan at Clarion on Sept. 3 confirmed on Clarion's website.

Good news: Clarionettes get a virtual bye week to start the season.
Bad news: Awaiting the Clarionettes the following week: a trip to beautiful downtown Kutztown to take on the KUBs.

[ctrabs74]

Only teams left to confirm OOC games:

Bloomsburg
Lackawanna
Seton Hill

[Ram040506]

Hopefully they don't hire someone from Shepherd to do compliance.

Mean!

[Inkblot]

Interestingly enough, their web site says that they’re having PSAC football games next season:
https://lackawannafalcons.com/sports...26-2027-season

Seems like they'll be playing a D2 schedule as a non-D2 team. Edward Waters did that for a year or two.

[Horror Child]

Lackawanna did not apply for D2 membership this year. Not sure why not, but that means they'll be a non-D2 opponent and presumably non-conference.

So while the following (from the Lackawanna thread) is factual, it's not applicable:

Provisional D2 members count as D2 opponents for selection purposes.

[Horror Child]

I totally get the local appeal to West Chester-Lincoln. I'd think there is considerably less anticipation around Ship with visiting the Lions (0-10 in the CIAA last season) the week before.

(For what it's worth, the Raiders just finished outscoring them 45-8 in a weekend baseball sweep ...)

If there was that much local appeal to West Chester-Lincoln, it would have happened at least once before 2026.