The 2026 NAIA Football season kicks off with 48 games across three days in Week 0, 2026, beginning Thursday, August 27, at 6 p.m. in the Eastern Time Zone. The NAIA Family of Broadcast Networks will feature 12 of the 48 games, with 12 more scores to track on the PrestoSports NAIA Scoreboard.
Central Oklahoma at (RV) Texas Wesleyan, 6 p.m. CT
#16 St. Thomas (Fla.) at (RV) Cumberland (Tenn.), 6 p.m. CT
(RV) OUAZ (Ariz.) at #5 Montana Tech, 6 p.m. MT
(RV) Taylor (Ind.) at (RV) Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), 7 p.m. CT
#12 Marian (Ind) at #7 (II) UIndy, Thursday 6 p.m. ET
#24 Northwestern (Iowa) at Western Illinois, Thursday, 6 p.m. CT
Montana State-Northern at #11 Carroll (Mont.), Thursday, 6 p.m. MT
#23 Reinhardt (Ga.) at #6 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), Thursday, 7 p.m. ET
(RV) MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) at Nelson (Texas), Saturday, 11 a.m. CT
#17 Saint Francis (Ind.) at #14 Campbellsville (Ky.), Saturday, 11 a.m. CT
#20 Georgetown (Ky.) at Butler, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
Lane at (RV) Bethel (Tenn.), Saturday, 6 p.m. CT
(RV) St. Francis (Ill.) at Illinois State, Saturday, 6 p.m. CT
#9 Friends (Kan.) at Bethany (Kan.), Saturday, 6 p.m. CT
Saint Mary (Kan.) at #19 Evangel (Mo.), Saturday, 6 p.m. CT
Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at #25 Dakota State (S.D.), 7 p.m. CT
UCO at Texas Wesleyan, Thursday, 6 p.m. CT
The NAIA’s 2026 broadcast coverage begins where the 2025 season ended, as Texas Wesleyan hosts Central Oklahoma at Fort Worth’s Crowley ISD Multipurpose Stadium Thursday night at 6 p.m. on Urban Edge Network. The Rams begin the Fran Johnson Era after a 7-5 campaign in 2025, when an offense averaging more than 32 points per game helped carry Texas Wesleyan back to the NAIA Football Championship Series. Quarterback Cole Francis returns after throwing for 2,488 yards and 14 touchdowns while completing 55 percent of his passes. UCO was 6-5 a year ago.
St. Thomas (Fla.) at Cumberland (Tenn.), Thursday, 6 p.m. CT
No. 16 St. Thomas travels to Cumberland in the 6 p.m. CT hour on Urban Edge Network, bringing one of the NAIA’s most experienced defenses with 10 starters returning in 2026. All-Sun defensive back Keyon Martin headlines that group after breaking up 14 passes and adding two interceptions last season. Both teams won seven games in 2025, and Cumberland returns quarterback Jake Parker, who threw for more than 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns, along with leading target Jarrius Rogers. The Phoenix defense is anchored by Mid-South Defensive Player of the Year Cannon Johnson, who recorded 68 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions last season.
OUAZ (Ariz.) at Montana Tech, Thursday, 6 p.m. MT
The westernmost team in the Sooner Athletic Conference heads to the Frontier East Thursday night on NAIA Network, as OUAZ visits No. 5 Montana Tech. The Spirit went 8-1 last season and return 13 starters, including receiver Marques Reese and All-SAC defenders Alex Cordova and Justice Sosnicki from a defense that allowed just 14.6 points per game. Montana Tech counters with one of the NAIA’s top returning passing combinations. Frontier East Offensive Player of the Year Jarrett Wilson completed an NAIA-best 74.3 percent of his passes, while Levi Torgerson led the association with 103 receptions, 1,370 receiving yards and 2,446 all-purpose yards in 2025.
Taylor (Ind.) at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), 7 p.m. CT
A pair of teams receiving votes open the season on NAIA Network, as Olivet Nazarene hosts Taylor in a rematch of last year’s 48-42 overtime thriller won by the Tigers. ONU returns MSFA Midwest Offensive Player of the Year Christian Dhue-Reid at quarterback after he threw for more than 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2025. Taylor counters with a strong ground game led by Nathan Parker, who rushed for 1,360 yards, averaged 123.6 yards per game and scored 21 touchdowns last season. After combining for 90 points a year ago, the MSFA cross-divisional rivals could be set for another entertaining season opener.
Graceland (Iowa) at William Penn (Iowa), 7 p.m. CT
For the third straight season, No. 13 William Penn opens Week 0 against a Heart opponent, hosting North Division rival Graceland in the season’s first Heart Clash of the Week on Urban Edge Network. The Statesmen won their Week 0 openers against William Woods in both 2024 and 2025. Graceland brings back quarterback CJ Brooks, who threw 14 touchdown passes and averaged 212 passing yards per game, along with 1,100-yard rusher Javon Minor, who averaged nearly 113 yards per game. William Penn counters with an experienced secondary featuring All-Heart North performers Marquis Harry and Jeremiah Dennard.
Dordt (Iowa) at Indiana Wesleyan, 6 p.m. ET
One of the season’s most anticipated non-conference matchups is a stand-alone on Friday, as No. 8 Dordt visits No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan on Urban Edge Network. Dordt went 10-1 and earned a share of the GPAC title in 2025, and quarterback Noah Strickfaden returns alongside targets Elliot Beal and Rhett Williams. They’ll face one of the NAIA’s most explosive offenses from a year ago, as Indiana Wesleyan returns 10 offensive starters from a unit that averaged nearly 50 points per game. Quarterback Arjun Lothe headlines that group after leading the NAIA with 3,939 passing yards while throwing 41 touchdowns, second-most among NAIA quarterbacks in 2025.
McPherson (Kan.) at Avila (Mo.), 1 p.m. CT
The early game on Urban Edge Network features No. 21 McPherson, coming off a 9-2 season, traveling to Avila for the debut of new Eagles head coach Ed Warinner, one of the NAIA’s highest-profile offseason hires. Warinner brings more than 40 years of coaching experience, including stops as offensive coordinator at Ohio State and Kansas. His new-look Avila offense faces a McPherson defense returning eight starters from a unit that allowed just 17 points per game. The Bulldogs also return quarterback Ryan Markarian, who threw for more than 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns while directing an offense that averaged 46.5 points per game, fifth-best in the NAIA.
Benedictine (Kan.) at Morningside (Iowa), 6 p.m.
Saturday night brings one of the most anticipated non-conference games of the 2026 NAIA season, as No. 3 Benedictine visits No. 7 Morningside on Urban Edge Network at 6 p.m. CT. The Ravens return seven starters from a defense that allowed fewer than 17 points per game and intercepted 20 passes during last year’s run to the NAIA Semifinals. Morningside returns 16 starters from its GPAC championship team, led by GPAC Offensive Player of the Year Drew Sellon, who led the NAIA with 18 touchdowns and 123.6 receiving yards per game. The Mustangs will look to avenge last season’s 38-34 loss at Benedictine.
Grand View (Iowa) at Peru State (Neb.), 6 p.m. CT
The defending national champions are next on Urban Edge Network, as Grand View puts its 28-game winning streak on the line at the Oak Bowl, one of the NAIA’s most historic venues. Championship Game MVP Dalten Van Pelt returns to lead a Vikings offense that averaged 39.1 points per game last season, while Grand View’s defense ranked second in the NAIA in opponents’ scoring at 12.7 points per game and allowed just 82 rushing yards per contest. Peru State counters with 20 returning starters, 10 on each side of the ball, including quarterback CJ Dixon, who threw for 2,580 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2025.
Kansas Wesleyan at Ottawa (Kan.), 6 p.m. CT
Kansas Wesleyan head coach Matt Middleton must replace starters at quarterback and running back, but the Coyotes return plenty of experience along the defensive front. Callum Armstrong and Diego Davis anchor a unit that helped KWU hold five opponents to 10 points or fewer last season, including each of its first four games. The duo combined for seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss, while the Coyotes limited opponents to just 107 rushing yards per game. Ottawa enters with sights set on contending in the KCAC’s Kessinger Division behind nine returning offensive starters. Quarterback Luke Edwards leads that group after throwing for 2,552 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025. The Coyotes and Braves renew a longstanding rivalry Saturday night at 6 p.m., on the Urban Edge Network.
Faulkner (Ala.) at Southeastern (Fla.), 7 p.m.
Saturday’s first NAIA Network broadcast originates from Lakeland, Fla., where No. 15 Southeastern looks to build on a 9-3 season and NAIA Football Championship Series appearance in 2025. Brady Nowlan and Jamil Jones headline an experienced Fire defense, with Nowlan returning after a team-high 78 tackles and Jones after leading the team with three interceptions. Faulkner enters 2026 as one of two NAIA independents, one year ahead of joining the Appalachian Athletic Conference in 2027. The Eagles return 12 starters, including eight on offense, led by running back Robin Harris, who rushed for 544 yards and six touchdowns last season.
College of Idaho at Eastern Oregon, 7 p.m. PT
Frontier West after dark takes center stage Saturday night in the final broadcast of the Week 0 Featured Series on NAIA Network, as No. 4 College of Idaho visits Eastern Oregon at 7 p.m. in the Pacific Time Zone. The Yotes return 16 starters from last year’s 11-2 team, including quarterback Caden Young, Frontier West First Team rusher Rylie Byington and leading tackler Tanner Steele. EOU counters with seven returning starters from a defense that allowed just 14.5 points per game, fourth-best in the NAIA. College of Idaho swept the Mountaineers last season, but by just 11 combined points. That included a 7-0 win at EOU, decided when the Yotes blocked a field goal and returned it for the game’s only touchdown with 1:10 remaining.
Victory Sports Network contributed to this story.
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