The 2026 Patriot League football schedule is set, and the league enters a new era at ten football-playing members with Villanova and William and Mary arriving from the CAA. The Patriot League blends longtime academic rivals with two of the most successful recent programs in the FCS, and its champion now earns an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. 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 Patriot League Conference Schedule
Every 2026 Patriot League 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 | Bucknell at Richmond Colgate at Fordham Lafayette at Georgetown Lehigh at Holy Cross William & Mary at Villanova |
| Sept 5 Sat | Villanova at Bucknell Holy Cross at Colgate Lehigh at Georgetown |
| Sept 12 Sat | William & Mary at Lehigh |
| Sept 19 Sat | Georgetown at Richmond Fordham at William & Mary |
| Sept 26 Sat | Holy Cross at Lafayette Colgate at Villanova |
| Oct 3 Sat | Fordham at Lehigh Holy Cross at William & Mary Richmond at Lafayette |
| Oct 10 Sat | Bucknell at Georgetown Richmond at Fordham |
| Oct 17 Sat | Lafayette at Bucknell Georgetown at Colgate Villanova at Fordham |
| Oct 24 Sat | Bucknell at Holy Cross Colgate at Richmond Georgetown at William & Mary Lafayette at Fordham Lehigh at Villanova |
| Oct 31 Sat | Bucknell at Lehigh William & Mary at Colgate Richmond at Holy Cross Villanova at Lafayette |
| Nov 7 Sat | Fordham at Bucknell Colgate at Lehigh Holy Cross at Georgetown Lafayette at William & Mary Richmond at Villanova |
| Nov 14 Sat | Bucknell at William & Mary Lafayette at Colgate Georgetown at Fordham Villanova at Holy Cross Lehigh at Richmond |
| Nov 21 Sat | Colgate at Bucknell Fordham at Holy Cross Georgetown at Villanova Lehigh at Lafayette William & Mary at Richmond |
2026 Patriot League Members
Villanova and William & Mary are new for 2026, joining from the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
| School | Location | Nickname | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucknell Bison | Lewisburg, PA | Bison | Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium |
| Colgate Raiders | Hamilton, NY | Raiders | Andy Kerr Stadium |
| Fordham Rams | Bronx, NY | Rams | Jack Coffey Field |
| Georgetown Hoyas | Washington, DC | Hoyas | Cooper Field |
| Holy Cross Crusaders | Worcester, MA | Crusaders | Fitton Field |
| Lafayette Leopards | Easton, PA | Leopards | Fisher Stadium |
| Lehigh Mountain Hawks | Bethlehem, PA | Mountain Hawks | Goodman Stadium |
| Richmond Spiders | Richmond, VA | Spiders | Robins Stadium |
| Villanova Wildcats | Villanova, PA | Wildcats | Villanova Stadium |
| William & Mary Tribe | Williamsburg, VA | Tribe | Zable Stadium |
2026 Realignment: What Changed
Villanova and William and Mary left the CAA for the Patriot League in 2026, growing the league to ten football-playing members and adding two immediate national contenders. Villanova joins as a football associate while continuing to compete in the Big East for its other sports, and William and Mary brings one of the most tradition-rich programs in the FCS. The rest of the lineup, from Colgate and Holy Cross to Fordham and Richmond, is unchanged.
How the 2026 Patriot League Season Works
The 2026 Patriot League 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.
Patriot League and the FCS Playoffs
The Patriot League champion earns the conference automatic bid into the 24-team FCS playoff. With Villanova and William and Mary now in the fold alongside recent bracket team Holy Cross, the league projects as a potential multi-bid conference, so seeding and at-large positioning carry real weight down the stretch. You can print the full postseason field with our 2026 FCS playoff bracket.
How to Watch Patriot League Football in 2026
Patriot League 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 Patriot League for 2026?
10 teams play Patriot League football in 2026. Villanova and William & Mary are new for 2026, joining from the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
How many conference games does each Patriot League 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 Patriot League season start and end?
The 2026 Patriot League season runs from August 29, 2026 through the final regular-season weekend on November 21, 2026, ahead of the FCS playoffs.
How does the Patriot League make the FCS playoffs?
The Patriot League 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 Patriot League 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.
