DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football program has announced its 11-game schedule for the upcoming 2026 season.

WSU will open its slate at home against former GLIAC rival Northwood.  This year's contest will have a 6 p.m. kickoff at Tom Adams Field on Thursday, Sept. 3.  The Warriors and Timberwolves have met 41 times before with WSU holding a 21-20 advantage.  The schools met 36 times as GLIAC/MIFC foes from 1975-2021, along with five non-conference affairs (1987-88-89-92-2010).  The Warriors have won the last three meetings and eight of the last 10, including a 56-21 triumph on Oct. 30, 2021, in the last match-up.

The following week, WSU will travel to Hillsdale to face the Chargers.  The schools have met 58 times before with HC holding a 39-18-1 advantage.  The last 42 meetings (1975-2016) were as GLIAC rivals.  The first 16 battles came between 1926 and 1974.  Wayne State has won five of the last seven meetings, with two of those contests going into overtime (WSU 27-24 at Hilldale on Oct. 22, 2011; and HC prevailing 31-24 on Nov. 14, 2015).  The squads have not met since a 41-30 Warrior triumph on Oct. 1, 2016, in Detroit.

The week three contest has WSU hosting Wisconsin-La Crosse for a 1 p.m. kick-off.  The schools have met just twice before with the Division 3 powerhouse Eagles recording a 28-21 win at Tom Adams Field in 2022, and then UWL upending Wayne State 31-22 this past fall in Wisconsin.

The Warriors conclude the first month of the season and its non-conference slate with a return game at Quincy on Sept. 26th.  WSU and the Hawks have met just twice previously with Wayne State notching a 33-7 road win at Quincy in 2019, and QU claiming a 31-14 win in Detroit this past fall.

The GLIAC schedule in 2026 consists of the same seven teams as the last two years but in a different order.

WSU will visit Grand Valley State on Oct. 3rd for the first league contest of the season.

The Warriors first home league game of the year (Oct. 10) has the Roosevelt Lakers visiting Tom Adams Field for the second-time ever.  Wayne State prevailed 38-14 in the inaugural match-up in Detroit on Nov. 9, 2024.  This year's battle will take place during Homecoming/Hall of Fame weekend with a 1 p.m. kick-off.

Saginaw Valley State will travel to Motown for the Oct. 17th contest, which will be WSU's second night home game of the season with a 6 p.m. kick-off.

After traveling to Davenport for a game on Oct. 24th, Wayne State will close out the month of October by entertaining Northern Michigan for a noon kick-off on Oct. 31st.

The Warriors Senior Day will take place on Saturday, November 7th with a 1 p.m. kick-off vs. defending national champion Ferris State.

For the second consecutive season, WSU will conclude the regular season in the Upper Peninsula, this time with a match-up at Michigan Tech.  Wayne State has not concluded a regular season in Houghton since 2013.

Football season tickets for the 2026 campaign are on sale, and single-game tickets will be available starting with the spring game.

Alumni, W Club members, and Faculty & Staff who would like discounted tickets should email Kyle Lewis, Ticket & Merchandise Supervisor, at kyle.lewis3@wayne.edu to receive the password for YOUR discounted rate.