The 2026 Southland Conference football schedule is set, and the league returns ten football-playing members across Texas and Louisiana for a full nine-game round-robin. The Southland is one of the most competitive regional leagues in the FCS, with McNeese, Incarnate Word, and Southeastern Louisiana all recent playoff teams. Below is the full 2026 membership, the week-by-week conference schedule, the road to the FCS bracket, and a free printable standings tracker to follow the race all fall.
- Teams: 10 football-playing members
- Conference games: 9 per team
- Season window: August 29, 2026 to November 21, 2026
- Postseason: Champion earns the FCS playoff automatic bid
- Last updated: July 30, 2026
2026 Southland Conference Schedule
Every 2026 Southland conference game, week by week. Conference play opens Aug 29 and runs through the final weekend on November 21. Non-conference dates fill in around these matchups, and kickoff times plus TV are confirmed closer to each weekend.
| Date | Conference Games (Away at Home) |
|---|---|
| Aug 29 Sat | Houston Christian at Southeastern Louisiana Stephen F. Austin at McNeese |
| Sept 5 Sat | East Texas A&M at Stephen F. Austin |
| Sept 12 Sat | Northwestern State at East Texas A&M UTRGV at Nicholls |
| Sept 19 Sat | Houston Christian at Incarnate Word McNeese at UTRGV |
| Sept 26 Sat | East Texas A&M at McNeese Lamar at Nicholls Southeastern Louisiana at Northwestern State |
| Oct 3 Sat | Incarnate Word at Stephen F. Austin Nicholls at Houston Christian Northwestern State at Lamar UTRGV at East Texas A&M |
| Oct 10 Sat | Incarnate Word at Lamar Southeastern Louisiana at UTRGV |
| Oct 17 Sat | East Texas A&M at Houston Christian Lamar at Southeastern Louisiana McNeese at Northwestern State Stephen F. Austin at Nicholls UTRGV at Incarnate Word |
| Oct 24 Sat | Houston Christian at Lamar McNeese at Incarnate Word Nicholls at Northwestern State Southeastern Louisiana at Stephen F. Austin |
| Oct 31 Sat | Houston Christian at Stephen F. Austin Lamar at UTRGV Nicholls at McNeese Northwestern State at Incarnate Word Southeastern Louisiana at East Texas A&M |
| Nov 7 Sat | East Texas A&M at Nicholls Incarnate Word at Southeastern Louisiana McNeese at Houston Christian Stephen F. Austin at Lamar UTRGV at Northwestern State |
| Nov 14 Sat | East Texas A&M at Lamar Houston Christian at Northwestern State McNeese at Southeastern Louisiana Nicholls at Incarnate Word Stephen F. Austin at UTRGV |
| Nov 21 Sat | Incarnate Word at East Texas A&M Lamar at McNeese Northwestern State at Stephen F. Austin Southeastern Louisiana at Nicholls UTRGV at Houston Christian |
2026 Southland Members
Here are the 10 schools playing Southland football in 2026.
| School | Location | Nickname | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Texas A&M Lions | Commerce, TX | Lions | Memorial Stadium |
| Houston Christian Huskies | Houston, TX | Huskies | Husky Stadium |
| Incarnate Word Cardinals | San Antonio, TX | Cardinals | Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium |
| Lamar Cardinals | Beaumont, TX | Cardinals | Provost Umphrey Stadium |
| McNeese Cowboys | Lake Charles, LA | Cowboys | Cowboy Stadium |
| Nicholls Colonels | Thibodaux, LA | Colonels | John L. Guidry Stadium |
| Northwestern State Demons | Natchitoches, LA | Demons | Turpin Stadium |
| Southeastern Louisiana Lions | Hammond, LA | Lions | Strawberry Stadium |
| Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks | Nacogdoches, TX | Lumberjacks | Homer Bryce Stadium |
| UTRGV Vaqueros | Edinburg, TX | Vaqueros | UTRGV Stadium |
2026 Realignment: What Changed
The Southland has settled at ten football-playing members for 2026. UTRGV, which launched its football program in 2025, is the league’s newest addition, while East Texas A&M continues its climb through Division I after moving up from Division II as the former Texas A&M-Commerce. The tight Texas-Louisiana footprint keeps travel short and rivalries sharp.
How the 2026 Southland Season Works
The 2026 Southland football schedule gives each team 9 conference games between August 29, 2026 and November 21, 2026. Programs fill the rest of the schedule with non-conference opponents, and the league standings decide the automatic playoff bid plus seeding for teams in the hunt for at-large spots. Kickoff times and TV or streaming details are confirmed closer to each weekend.
Southland and the FCS Playoffs
The Southland champion earns the conference automatic bid into the 24-team FCS playoff. Southeastern Louisiana, Incarnate Word, and McNeese have all been recent bracket teams, so the round-robin race usually decides at least one postseason berth and, in strong years, an at-large spot or two. You can print the full postseason field with our 2026 FCS playoff bracket.
How to Watch Southland Football in 2026
Southland games are carried across ESPN platforms, including ESPN+, along with regional and conference streaming outlets. Exact network and start time for each game are confirmed in the weeks before kickoff, so bookmark this page and check back as the matchups firm up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are in the Southland for 2026?
10 teams play Southland Conference football in 2026. The Southland has settled at ten football-playing members for 2026. UTRGV, which launched its football program in 2025, is the league’s newest addition, while East Texas A&M continues its climb through Division I after moving up from Division II as the former Texas A&M-Commerce. The tight Texas-Louisiana footprint keeps travel short and rivalries sharp.
How many conference games does each Southland team play?
Each team plays 9 conference games in 2026, with non-conference dates added around them. FCS programs may now play a full 12-game regular season.
When does the 2026 Southland season start and end?
The 2026 Southland season runs from August 29, 2026 through the final regular-season weekend on November 21, 2026, ahead of the FCS playoffs.
How does the Southland make the FCS playoffs?
The Southland champion earns an automatic bid into the 24-team FCS playoff bracket, and additional teams can reach the field as at-large selections.
Is there a printable Southland schedule and standings tracker?
Yes. A free printable PDF standings tracker is available above, with every 2026 member listed and blank columns to fill in conference and overall records all season.
More 2026 FCS Coverage
Explore the rest of our FCS hub: the 2026 FCS football schedule and conference guide, the printable 2026 FCS playoff bracket, and every notable 2026 FCS vs FBS matchup.
