Conway, Ark.- The University of Central Arkansas announces their 2026 football schedule. Due to some changes with reclassification for North Dakota State University and United Athletic Conference expansion, the Bears made some adjustments to their 2026 schedule. The Bears will now play a balanced twelve game schedule with six home games and six road games, including five non-conference match-ups and seven UAC match ups. The Bears will have a bye on October 3^rd.

The Bears non-conference opponents will include games at UT Martin to start the season on August 27^th, the University of Central Oklahoma on September 12^th at home, at Southeast Missouri State on September 19^th, at Florida State University on September 26^th and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on October 24^th at home.

The UAC schedule will include four match-ups on the Stripes as we welcome newcomers West Florida on September 5^th, North Alabama on October 31^st, West Georgia on November 7^th and Austin Peay on November 21^st. The Bears UAC match-ups on the road will include games at Abilene Christian on October 10^th, at Tarleton State on October 17^th and at Eastern Kentucky on November 14^th.

Five of the Bears six home games will have a theme this Fall. September 5^th will be our "Home Opener", September 12^th will be "Family Weekend/Band Day", October 24^th will be "Hall of Fame Weekend", October 31^st will be "Homecoming" and November 21^st will be "Senior Day/Salute to Service".

Head Coach Nathan Brown on the addition of West Florida to the UAC and the Bears 2026 schedule. "I'm excited about the edition of West Florida, I think for the future of the United Athletic Conference, as far as the football side of things, it's a big deal. You're talking about a team over the last decade in Division 2 football that has been one of the powerhouse programs. So, it adds instant credibility to our conference. It's obviously a great addition." Coach Brown went on about both additions to the schedule, "I'm excited about the opportunity to host another home non-conference game with UTRGV. I have a lot of respect for that program and what they're doing, Coach Travis Bush is a good friend of mine, I have a lot of respect for the how he runs a program, they really made a splash last year in the Southland Conference and they are one of the premier up and coming programs at Division 1 FCS football. So I think it's going to be a great challenge. We are obviously excited. To get both West Florida and UTRGV at home. One of those being a conference game with West Florida and the other being a non-conference game, but putting us at six home games. I mean, that's huge. When you've got a 12-game schedule and half your games are at home, that's a big deal, we play well at home, typically. And so, playing two formidable opponents, on the stripes is a great opportunity for our program."

The Bears will conclude their Spring Season with their annual Spring Game this Saturday, April 11^th at 1:00 p.m. on the Stripes.

You can find the full schedule and all of the details at www.ucasports.com