The 2026 Pioneer Football League schedule is set, and the PFL returns eleven members as the non-scholarship conference in the FCS. The Pioneer League stretches coast to coast, from San Diego to St. Thomas in Minnesota to Marist in New York, and its champion earns an automatic FCS playoff bid. 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: 11 football-playing members
- Conference games: 8 per team
- Season window: September 26, 2026 to November 21, 2026 (conference play)
- Postseason: Champion earns the FCS playoff automatic bid
- Last updated: August 4, 2026
2026 Pioneer Football League Conference Schedule
Every 2026 Pioneer Football League conference game, week by week. Conference play opens September 26 and runs through the final Saturday on November 21, with non-conference dates filling in earlier in the fall. Kickoff times plus TV are confirmed closer to each weekend.
| Date | Conference Games (Away at Home) |
|---|---|
| Sept 26 Sat | Butler at Valparaiso Drake at Davidson Presbyterian at Marist San Diego at St. Thomas |
| Oct 3 Sat | Davidson at San Diego Dayton at Drake Marist at Stetson St. Thomas at Presbyterian Valparaiso at Morehead State |
| Oct 10 Sat | Davidson at Presbyterian Drake at Valparaiso Morehead State at Dayton San Diego at Butler Stetson at St. Thomas |
| Oct 17 Sat | Dayton at Butler Marist at Drake Morehead State at Davidson Presbyterian at Stetson Valparaiso at San Diego |
| Oct 24 Sat | Butler at Drake Presbyterian at Valparaiso San Diego at Dayton Stetson at Morehead State St. Thomas at Marist |
| Oct 31 Sat | Butler at Presbyterian Davidson at St. Thomas Dayton at Stetson Drake at Morehead State Marist at San Diego |
| Nov 7 Sat | Morehead State at Marist San Diego at Drake Stetson at Davidson St. Thomas at Butler Valparaiso at Dayton |
| Nov 14 Sat | Butler at Marist Davidson at Dayton Drake at St. Thomas Presbyterian at Morehead State Valparaiso at Stetson |
| Nov 21 Sat | Dayton at Presbyterian Marist at Davidson Morehead State at Butler Stetson at San Diego St. Thomas at Valparaiso |
2026 Pioneer Football League Members
The PFL keeps all eleven members for 2026 as the non-scholarship conference in the FCS.
| Team | Location | Nickname |
|---|---|---|
| Butler | Indianapolis, IN | Bulldogs |
| Davidson | Davidson, NC | Wildcats |
| Dayton | Dayton, OH | Flyers |
| Drake | Des Moines, IA | Bulldogs |
| Marist | Poughkeepsie, NY | Red Foxes |
| Morehead State | Morehead, KY | Eagles |
| Presbyterian | Clinton, SC | Blue Hose |
| San Diego | San Diego, CA | Toreros |
| St. Thomas | St. Paul, MN | Tommies |
| Stetson | DeLand, FL | Hatters |
| Valparaiso | Valparaiso, IN | Beacons |
2026 Realignment: What Changed
The Pioneer Football League is stable for 2026 with its eleven members intact. The PFL remains the non-scholarship conference in the FCS, where programs compete without football scholarships but still play for an automatic bid into the 24-team FCS playoff.
How the 2026 PFL Season Works
The 2026 Pioneer Football League schedule gives each team 8 conference games, with conference play running from September 26, 2026 to November 21, 2026 and non-conference dates added earlier in the fall. The league standings decide the automatic playoff bid, and because the PFL is non-scholarship, that bid is the main road to the bracket. Kickoff times and TV or streaming details are confirmed closer to each weekend.
PFL and the FCS Playoffs
The Pioneer Football League champion earns an automatic bid into the 24-team FCS playoff. Because the PFL is a non-scholarship league, the automatic bid is the primary path to the bracket, which makes the conference race especially high stakes. You can print the full postseason field with our 2026 FCS playoff bracket.
How to Watch PFL Football in 2026
Pioneer League games are carried across ESPN platforms, including ESPN+, along with regional and school 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 PFL for 2026?
11 teams play Pioneer Football League football in 2026. The PFL is the non-scholarship conference in the FCS.
How many conference games does each PFL team play?
Each team plays 8 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 PFL season start and end?
The 2026 Pioneer League conference season runs from September 26, 2026 through November 21, 2026, ahead of the FCS playoffs.
How does the PFL make the FCS playoffs?
The Pioneer Football League champion earns an automatic bid into the 24-team FCS playoff bracket. Because the league is non-scholarship, the automatic bid is the primary path to the field.
Is there a printable PFL 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.
