Emporia State athletics has announced home football start times for the 2026 season, including several historic firsts. The home opener is set for 1:00 p.m. on September 12 in Week 3 against Michigan Tech, the latest opening day for the Hornets at Welch Stadium since 2010. Nebraska-Kearney is in town the next week for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff and the game will be the only MIAA game in that window that week. It is believed that it will be the first-ever home kickoff at that time in school history. It’s back to normal the next week following a bye for an October 3 1:00 p.m. kickoff against Missouri Western. ESU returns home for back-to-back games starting on October 17 against Central Oklahoma. Then it’s another historic first as ESU hosts Central Missouri for Homecoming on October 24 kicking off at 7:00 p.m. It’s believed to be the first night homecoming game in school history. ESU wraps up the home slate with Senior Day hosting Washburn in the Turnpike Tussle with the Kansas Turnpike Trophy on the line for the second time at 1:00 p.m. on November 7. Season tickets are available now at esuhornets.com. The season opener is on the road at Minot State on Thursday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m. Mix 104.9 will once again be the radio home of Hornet athletics in 2026-27.
ESU Unveils Historic Home Football Schedule
Courtesy ESU Athletics.
