The East Texas A&M University football team has learned its nine-game Southland Conference schedule for the 2026 season on Wednesday morning.
During the 2026 season, the Lions are slated to play three non-conference games and then face every other football-playing member of the Southland. This is the first season that the Lions will play every other team in the conference since joining the SLC in 2022.
The Lions host four conference foes at Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium and play five conference games on the road. The remainder of the 2026 schedule as well as information on season tickets will be released in the coming weeks.
The first conference game of the year comes at the defending Southland champion and 2025 NCAA FCS Quarterfinalist SFA on September 5. The Lions are making their first trip to Nacogdoches since 2023.
The home opener for the Lions comes on September 12 against Northwestern State, with the two teams playing in Commerce for the first time since 2022. The Lions won over the Demons in each of the past two seasons.
On September 26, East Texas A&M makes its third trip to Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the Division I era to face McNeese. The Lions are 1-1 at Cowboy Stadium over the past four years.
The second conference game at home comes against UTRGV on October 3. The Vaqueros, who are entering their second year of competition, will play in Commerce for the first time ever.
The Lions then face HCU on October 17 in Houston, playing in Husky Field for the first time since 2023. East Texas A&M has won two straight meetings over the Huskies in Commerce over the past two years and are 1-1 all-time in Houston.
A battle of Lions in Commerce is next on October 31 as Southeastern makes its first trip to Commerce since 2023. SLU played in the NCAA FCS Playoffs last season.
Following the game at Southeastern, the Lions head to Nicholls on November 7, playing against the Colonels for the first time since 2023 and playing in Thibodaux for the first time since 2022.
The final road game of the regular season comes at Lamar on November 14 as the two teams play in Beaumont for the first time since 2023.
The Lions close out the regular season at home for the fifth time in the last six seasons. In 2026, East Texas A&M hosts UIW on November 21. The Lions beat the Cardinals in San Antonio last season.
2026 LION FOOTBALL SOUTHLAND SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Site |
| Sept. 5 | at SFA | Nacogdoches |
| SEPT. 12 | NORTHWESTERN STATE | COMMERCE |
| Sept. 26 | at McNeese | Lake Charles, La. |
| OCT. 3 | UTRGV | COMMERCE |
| Oct. 17 | at HCU | Houston |
| OCT. 31 | SOUTHEASTERN | COMMERCE |
| Nov. 7 | at Nicholls | Thibodaux, La. |
| Nov. 14 | at Lamar | Beaumont |
| NOV. 21 | UIW | COMMERCE |
Article source and photo credit: East Texas A&M University Athletics
