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University of West Florida has a full schedule for its first Division I season.
The Argos will open against Southern Illinois on August 27 to kick off the 11-game season, which includes five home games and seven United Athletic Conference games.
This is the first of a three-year probationary period for UWF, which means they’re eligible to win a UAC championship but won’t be able to compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. UWF finished 11-2 in its last season in Division II, falling to Newberry in the Super Region 2 semifinals.
Here’s what to know about every opponent from UWF’s first season. All times are Central time.
When: Aug. 27, 7 p.m.
Where: PenAir Field, Pensacola
Analysis: UWF’s first Division I game will come against a Salukis team that went 7-5 and beat eventual FCS runner-up Illinois State to end 2025. Quarterback DJ Williams was a Walter Payton Offensive Player of the Year finalist and is returning for his sixth and final year of eligibility.
When: Sept. 5, 6 p.m.
Where: Estes Stadium, Conway, Arkansas
Analysis: UWF’s first UAC game will come Labor Day weekend. The Bears finished 3-9 in 2025.
When: Sept. 19, 6 p.m.
Where: PenAir Field, Pensacola
Analysis: UWF’s first ever UAC home game will double as Family Weekend. The Governors finished 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the conference last year, ending the season with a heartbreaking 45-44 to Tarleton State in overtime. Redshirt junior quarterback Chris Parson was a finalist for the Walter Payton award for the top FCS offensive player last year, while redshirt sophomore linebacker Montreze Smith Jr. was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award for the FCS’s top freshman.
When: Sept. 26
Where: Houck Field, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Analysis: The Redhawks went 4-8 last year, including a 30-21 over North Alabama and a 59-31 loss to Southern Illinois. UWF will play both opponents in 2026 but come to Cape Girardeau for SEMO’s family weekend.
When: Oct. 3, 7 p.m.
Where: Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium, Abilene, Texas
Analysis: This will be the toughest game to this point on UWF’s schedule. Abilene Christian are two-time UAC champions and went 9-5 last year before falling to Stephen F. Austin in the second round of the FCS playoffs. ACU brings back its leading rusher in Ro’Vaughn Banks Jr. as well as two all-conference linemen in center Colter Lynch and right tackle Luke Roaten.
When: Oct. 10, 4 p.m.
Where: PenAir Field, Pensacola
Analysis: UWF’s Cancer Awareness game will feature a familiar opponent. The Argos beat the Riverhawks 31-24 last year. Northeastern State finished 2025 9-3, culminating in a 56-21 win over East Central in the First Americans Bowl.
When: Oct. 17, 4 p.m.
Where: PenAir Field, Pensacola Field
Analysis: Another familiar opponent comes to PenAir Field for homecoming. UWF won at West Alabama 23-16 a year ago. The Tigers finished 5-4 in 2025.
When: Oct. 24
Where: Roy Kidd Stadium, Richmond, Kentucky
Analysis: UWF returns to UAC play with a road trip to the Bluegrass State. This will be the Colonels homecoming game. Eastern Kentucky finished 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the UAC in 2025.
When: Nov. 7, 6 p.m.
Where: Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium, Florence, Alabama
Analysis: UWF hits the road again coming off a bye week. The Lions went 2-10 overall and 1-7 in the UAC and will be opening up a new stadium this fall.
When: Nov. 14, 2 p.m.
Where: PenAir Field, Pensacola
Analysis: UWF’s Senior Day comes against what could be its toughest opponent in 2026. The Texans went 12-2 overall and 7-1 in the UAC, sharing the conference championship with Abilene Christian before falling to Villanova in the second round of the FCS playoffs. They also beat Army in the regular season and finished No. 6 in the final FCS rankings.
When: Nov. 21, 2 p.m.
Where: University Stadium, Carrollton, Georgia
Analysis: UWF’s inaugural Division I season ends with renewing an old rivalry. The Argos lead 5-3 in the all-time series, with the last meeting a 49-21 UWF win in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: West Florida football 2026 Division I schedule and opponents
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The Argos will open against Southern Illinois on August 27 to kick off the 11-game season, which includes five home games and seven United Athletic Conference games.
This is the first of a three-year probationary period for UWF, which means they’re eligible to win a UAC championship but won’t be able to compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. UWF finished 11-2 in its last season in Division II, falling to Newberry in the Super Region 2 semifinals.
Here’s what to know about every opponent from UWF’s first season. All times are Central time.
Southern Illinois
When: Aug. 27, 7 p.m.
Where: PenAir Field, Pensacola
Analysis: UWF’s first Division I game will come against a Salukis team that went 7-5 and beat eventual FCS runner-up Illinois State to end 2025. Quarterback DJ Williams was a Walter Payton Offensive Player of the Year finalist and is returning for his sixth and final year of eligibility.
Central Arkansas
When: Sept. 5, 6 p.m.
Where: Estes Stadium, Conway, Arkansas
Analysis: UWF’s first UAC game will come Labor Day weekend. The Bears finished 3-9 in 2025.
Austin Peay
When: Sept. 19, 6 p.m.
Where: PenAir Field, Pensacola
Analysis: UWF’s first ever UAC home game will double as Family Weekend. The Governors finished 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the conference last year, ending the season with a heartbreaking 45-44 to Tarleton State in overtime. Redshirt junior quarterback Chris Parson was a finalist for the Walter Payton award for the top FCS offensive player last year, while redshirt sophomore linebacker Montreze Smith Jr. was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award for the FCS’s top freshman.
Southeast Missouri State
When: Sept. 26
Where: Houck Field, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Analysis: The Redhawks went 4-8 last year, including a 30-21 over North Alabama and a 59-31 loss to Southern Illinois. UWF will play both opponents in 2026 but come to Cape Girardeau for SEMO’s family weekend.
Abilene Christian
When: Oct. 3, 7 p.m.
Where: Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium, Abilene, Texas
Analysis: This will be the toughest game to this point on UWF’s schedule. Abilene Christian are two-time UAC champions and went 9-5 last year before falling to Stephen F. Austin in the second round of the FCS playoffs. ACU brings back its leading rusher in Ro’Vaughn Banks Jr. as well as two all-conference linemen in center Colter Lynch and right tackle Luke Roaten.
Northeastern State
When: Oct. 10, 4 p.m.
Where: PenAir Field, Pensacola
Analysis: UWF’s Cancer Awareness game will feature a familiar opponent. The Argos beat the Riverhawks 31-24 last year. Northeastern State finished 2025 9-3, culminating in a 56-21 win over East Central in the First Americans Bowl.
West Alabama
When: Oct. 17, 4 p.m.
Where: PenAir Field, Pensacola Field
Analysis: Another familiar opponent comes to PenAir Field for homecoming. UWF won at West Alabama 23-16 a year ago. The Tigers finished 5-4 in 2025.
Eastern Kentucky
When: Oct. 24
Where: Roy Kidd Stadium, Richmond, Kentucky
Analysis: UWF returns to UAC play with a road trip to the Bluegrass State. This will be the Colonels homecoming game. Eastern Kentucky finished 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the UAC in 2025.
North Alabama
When: Nov. 7, 6 p.m.
Where: Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium, Florence, Alabama
Analysis: UWF hits the road again coming off a bye week. The Lions went 2-10 overall and 1-7 in the UAC and will be opening up a new stadium this fall.
Tarleton State
When: Nov. 14, 2 p.m.
Where: PenAir Field, Pensacola
Analysis: UWF’s Senior Day comes against what could be its toughest opponent in 2026. The Texans went 12-2 overall and 7-1 in the UAC, sharing the conference championship with Abilene Christian before falling to Villanova in the second round of the FCS playoffs. They also beat Army in the regular season and finished No. 6 in the final FCS rankings.
West Georgia
When: Nov. 21, 2 p.m.
Where: University Stadium, Carrollton, Georgia
Analysis: UWF’s inaugural Division I season ends with renewing an old rivalry. The Argos lead 5-3 in the all-time series, with the last meeting a 49-21 UWF win in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: West Florida football 2026 Division I schedule and opponents
Continue reading...
