Emporia State football has announced their schedule for 2026. The Hornets will open up the season in Week 0 with a road trip to Minot State Saturday, August 29. The Hornets stay out on the road for their MIAA opener heading to “The Jungle” to face 2025 NCAA Playoff qualifier Pitt State September 5. ESU’s home opener is set for Week 2 against non-conference foe Michigan Tech from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Huskies finished 7-4 in 2025 and were 4-3 in the GLIAC. The Hornets stay home the next week to face Nebraska-Kearney before taking their bye week on September 26. The Hornets will play a third-straight home game against Missouri Western before returning to Joplin the next week to face Missouri Southern. ESU wraps October with home games against Central Oklahoma and Central Missouri ahead of a Halloween game at Northwest Missouri. Senior Day is set for November 7th against Washburn before wrapping the year at Fort Hays State November 14. ESU will have one stretch playing 5 of 6 games at home in the middle of the season. It is the first Hornet football schedule to not feature a Thursday night game since 2021. ESU finished 2025 with a 5-6 record while going 4-5 in the MIAA. It was the first losing season for Hornet football since 2021. Kickoff times will be announced at a later date. Play-by-play coverage is planned for all Hornet football games on Mix 104.9. The Hornets open up spring practice beginning March 24.
ESU Hits the Gridiron on the Road to Begin 2026
Courtesy ESU Athletics.
