2026 SoCon football schedule announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference’s 40-game league football schedule for 2026 is set to get under way Saturday, Aug. 29, with The Citadel visiting Wofford.
 
The next SoCon games are two weeks later on Sept. 12, when Furman visits two-time defending SoCon champion Mercer. Tennessee Tech will also make its conference debut that day as the Golden Eagles welcome Samford.

Another solo SoCon game follows on Sept. 19, when Wofford heads to Chattanooga. Four league games are set for the next three weeks.

The first SoCon Saturday, with all 10 squads playing a conference game, is Oct. 31, with a full slate following in the next two weeks as well. 

Regular season play wraps up on Saturday, Nov. 21, with the opening round of the FCS playoffs starting the following weekend. Three league games are set for the final day of the regular season.
 
Full broadcast schedules will be announced later, but all 10 schools’ home games will air on ESPN+ if not selected for national or regional broadcast. 

The opening of the 2026 SoCon football schedule begins with SoCon Media Day on July 21, 2026. Details regarding the event will be released on a future date.

2026 Southern Conference football schedule (league games only)
Aug. 29

The Citadel at Wofford

Sept. 12
Furman at Mercer
Samford at Tennessee Tech

Sept. 19
Wofford at Chattanooga  
 
Sept. 26
Chattanooga at The Citadel
Western Carolina at ETSU
VMI at Samford
Tennessee Tech at Wofford

Oct. 3
Chattanooga at ETSU
Wofford at Furman

Mercer at VMI

Tennessee Tech at Western Carolina
 
Oct. 10
ETSU at The Citadel

Furman at Tennessee Tech

Western Carolina at Mercer

Samford at Chattanooga
 
Oct. 17
Mercer at Samford

VMI at Wofford
 
Oct. 24
Tennessee Tech at The Citadel
ETSU at VMI

Samford at Furman

Chattanooga at Western Carolina
 
Oct. 31
The Citadel at Mercer

Tennessee Tech at ETSU

Western Carolina at Furman

Wofford at Samford

VMI at Chattanooga
 
Nov. 7
Furman at The Citadel

Samford at ETSU

Mercer at Chattanooga

VMI at Tennessee Tech

Wofford at Western Carolina
 
Nov. 14
The Citadel at VMI

ETSU at Wofford

Chattanooga at Furman

Mercer at Tennessee Tech

Western Carolina at Samford
 
Nov. 21
The Citadel at Western Carolina

ETSU at Mercer

Furman at VMI