HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University football team will report to campus Monday one month ahead of the 2026 season opener.
 
The Lions will officially open fall practice Tuesday at 9 a.m. As its done since Southeastern head coach Frank Scelfo took over the program prior to the 2018 season, SLU will hold split-squad practices for the first four days of fall camp with half the team working out at 9 a.m. and the other half practicing at 10:30 a.m.
 
The team will come together as a full team for the first time Saturday, Aug. 1 at 9 a.m. Practices during fall camp will be held Monday-Saturday at 9 a.m. until the beginning of the fall semester Wednesday, Aug. 19. From that point forward, weekday practices will be held at 3:50 p.m. throughout the season.
 
Southeastern will be working towards its fifth NCAA FCS playoffs appearance under Scelfo, who is entering his ninth year in Hammond. SLU finished 9-4 overall last season and returned to the postseason for the first time since 2022.
 
The Lions will be replacing 26 seniors from last season's squad. The 2026 roster features a strong nucleus of key returners – including veterans eager to step in a bigger role – and talented newcomers poised to make an immediate impact.
 
Scelfo will be among the Southeastern head coaches in attendance at Wednesday's One Stop, One Roar event at 6 p.m. at Gnarly Barley to kick off the 2026-27 SLU Athletics season.
 
SLU will host a Season Ticket Pickup Party in conjunction with the Lions' 9 a.m. practice on Saturday, Aug. 15. The SLU football team will also help welcome Southeastern students back to campus on Tuesday, Aug. 18 for the annual Strawberry Jam at 6:30 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
 
Southeastern will also participate in the Hammond Downtown Development's Hot August Night Friday, Aug. 22, hosting Lionpawlooza at 5 p.m. in Railroad Park.
 
The 2026 season of Inside Southeastern Football with Frank Scelfo will debut Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. at Brady's. After the season debut, the show will air Mondays at 7 p.m. through the end of the 2026 campaign on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 97.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM), which will also again broadcast every Lion football game in 2026.
 
Southeastern will open the 2026 season at home, hosting HCU at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 in Strawberry Stadium.
 
2026 Southeastern Football Key Preseason Dates
July 27 – Players report for fall camp
July 28 – First practice | 9 a.m.
July 29 – One Stop, One Roar | 6 p.m. | Gnarly Barley
Aug. 15 – Season Ticket Pickup Party | 9 a.m.
Aug. 18 – Strawberry Jam | 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 19 – First day of classes
Aug. 22 – Lionpawlooza | 5 p.m. | Railroad Park
Aug. 25 – Debut episode of Inside Southeastern Football with Frank Scelfo | 7 p.m. | Brady's
 
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 /LionUpAthletics 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.