CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Citadel football released the program's 2026 schedule Thursday afternoon, battling a slate of eight Southern Conference adversaries -- notably including a home clash with league newcomer Tennessee Tech -- along with a high-caliber four-game non-conference set. The Bulldogs dive directly into the deep end to launch the campaign, trekking to the Upstate for a key SoCon road test at Wofford on Aug. 29 before shifting focus to a pair of out-of-conference matchups at Charlotte on Sept. 5 and against local rival Charleston Southern in the team's home opener on Sept. 12.
In addition to both the 49ers and Buccaneers outside league competition, The Citadel travels to South Carolina State on Oct. 3 before closing out the tab at Texas A&M, a fellow Senior Military College, on Oct. 17.
"The 2026 football schedule establishes a clear and demanding mission for our program," head coach
Maurice Drayton said. "It requires disciplined preparation, mental toughness and consistent execution against quality opponents, both at home and on the road. This schedule reflects the standard at the Citadel -- train with a purpose, compete with toughness and be prepared to answer the call every week."
After jumpstarting the home slate with the defense of the Lowcountry Boil Bowl on Sept. 12, The Citadel returns to the friendly confines of Johnson Hagood Stadium on three consecutive occasions to lock swords against Tennessee-based challengers, initially hosting Chattanooga for Hall of Fame Weekend on Sept. 26 before clashing with ETSU on Oct. 10 during Parents' Weekend and wrapping up the sequence on Oct. 24 with a welcome of SoCon rookie Tennessee Tech.
Following a Halloween trip to reigning conference champion Mercer on Oct. 31, The Citadel appropriately closes out the program's Charleston-centric schedule with a Homecoming dogfight against in-state rival Furman on Nov. 7. Finally, the Bulldogs conclude the season with a pair of tough out-of-state road battles, initially trekking to VMI on Nov. 14 to defend the Silver Shako in the 82nd edition of the Military Classic of the South before sticking around Appalachia for a Nov. 21 clash at Western Carolina.
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The Citadel Football | 2026 Schedule
| Date |
Opponent |
| Aug. 29 |
at Wofford* -- SoCon Opener |
| Sept. 5 |
at Charlotte |
| Sept. 12 |
vs. Charleston Southern -- Lowcountry Boil Bowl |
| Sept. 19 |
-- BYE WEEK -- |
| Sept. 26 |
vs. Chattanooga* -- Hall of Fame Weekend |
| Oct. 3 |
at South Carolina State |
| Oct. 10 |
vs. ETSU* -- Parents' Weekend |
| Oct. 17 |
at Texas A&M |
| Oct. 24 |
vs. Tennessee Tech* -- Leaders in Philanthropy |
| Oct. 31 |
at Mercer* |
| Nov. 7 |
vs. Furman* -- Homecoming |
| Nov. 14 |
at VMI* -- Military Classic of the South |
| Nov. 21 |
at Western Carolina* |
*Southern Conference Game
-- #FireThoseCannons --
