HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana University and HCU officials have agreed to move the 2026 football season opener up to Thursday, Aug. 27.
 
The Lions will welcome HCU to Strawberry Stadium to kick off 2026, opening the season with a Southland Conference game for the first time since 2020 and only the third time since the program returned prior to the 2003 season.
 
The 2026 opener will mark the fourth time Southeastern has opened the season on Thursday under ninth-year head coach Frank Scelfo. The Aug. 27 opener will also be the first time SLU has opened the season at home since 2019 and will be the earliest the Lions have ever opened the season.
 
Southeastern will open spring practice Feb. 24.
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on X, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and follow @lionupfootball on Instagram.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics observes a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.