HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana University announced its 2026 football schedule Tuesday in conjunction with the Southland Conference's release of next fall's nine-game league slate.
 
Southeastern, which finished 9-4 overall and 7-1 in SLC play in 2025 on the way to the sixth NCAA FCS playoff appearance in school history, will open up the season with a SLC contest for only the third time since the program's return in 2003.
 
The Lions will play host to HCU Aug. 29 in Strawberry Stadium to open a 12-game slate. SLU is 9-1 all-time versus the Huskies and earned a 38-14 win in Houston last October.
 
SLU opens its nonconference slate Sept. 5 at South Alabama. Southeastern last met the Jaguars in 2023 with USA pulling away in the second half for a 35-17 win.
 
The Lions will the return home to close out a home-and-home series with North Alabama Sept. 12. The two teams met in 2021 with SLU earning a 49-28 road victory in the season opener.
 
Southeastern closes nonconference play Sept. 19 at ULM. The 49^th all-time meeting between the Lions and Warhawks will be the first since 2018, when two-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year Frank Scelfo engineered a near upset of his alma mater in his debut on the SLU sidelines.
 
Southeastern opens its SLC road slate Sept. 26 at Northwestern State. SLU has won the last 15 meetings with the Demons, including a 49-0 Homecoming win in 2025.
 
After a bye, the Lions will make their first trip to Edinburg, Texas to face league foe UTRGV Oct. 10. Southeastern claimed a 45-31 win over the Vaqueros last September in Hammond in the visitors' first-ever Southland Conference game.
 
SLU will celebrate Homecoming Oct. 17, welcoming Lamar to Strawberry Stadium. The battle of two 2025 NCAA FCS playoff participants will be Southeastern's chance to avenge its lone league loss of 2025 – a 14-12 defeat in Beaumont, Texas.
 
The top two teams in the 2025 SLC standings face off Oct. 24, when the Lions travel to defending league champion SFA. The two teams did not meet last fall and SLU will be making its first trip to Nacogdoches, Texas since the 2016 season.
 
Halloween will feature a battle of the Lions, as Southeastern travels to face East Texas A&M in Commerce, Texas. SLU has won the last three meetings in the series, most recently having overwhelmed ET, 59-14, last November in Hammond.
 
The Lions return home Nov. 7 to host McNeese. Southeastern shutout the Cowboys, 38-0, last season in Lake Charles and currently have a six-game winning streak in the series.
 
UIW will visit Strawberry Stadium Nov. 14 for Senior Day. SLU earned its first win in San Antonio since 2016 with a 10-7 victory last November.
 
Southeastern will close out the 2026 regular season at Nicholls Nov. 19 for the annual River Bell Classic. The Lions ended a trend of the road team winning in the series that dated back to 2019 with a 38-26 home victory over the Colonels in the 2025 regular season finale.
 
SLU will open spring practice Feb. 24.
 
2026 Southeastern Football Schedule
Aug. 29 | HCU*
Sept. 5 | at South Alabama
Sept. 12 | North Alabama
Sept. 19 | at ULM
Sept. 26 | at Northwestern State*
Oct. 10 | at UTRGV*
Oct. 17 | Lamar* (Homecoming)
Oct. 24 | at SFA*
Oct. 31 | at East Texas A&M*
Nov. 7 | McNeese*
Nov. 14 | UIW* (Senior Day)
Nov. 19 | at Nicholls*
 
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.